This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
when I went to push on the brake, the brake pedal went to the floor... I had No Brakes? This could have been a terrible accident had I been going faster.
The contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 37 mph, the brake pedal was abruptly depressed, but failed to engage in time. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The driver sustained injuries to the right toe and chest, which did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an undisclosed location. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified, but the local dealer was not. The failure mileage was 71,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the brake pedal was depressed as the front of the vehicle shook violently. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brakes failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rotors and outer tie rods failed and the rear brake pads needed to be dusted. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I have been hearing some clunking sounds but not sure where they are coming from. The right turn signal does not shut off by itself. Brake pedal feels very soft.
This happened when I first bought the car, we could not get the key out of ignition and it would not stay park. So I called dealer and got nowhere, I even made a complaint on here I believe stating someone is going to get hurt. Still to this day I can put the car in and out of gear without having to apply the brake!!! GM has known about this for a long time and there should be a recall. My car didn't have a warranty when I purchased it so they are no help. So I was able to take the shifter console apart and see what was happening, I got my key out and put it together and it did it again and again and again. We have just learned how to manipulate the car so we can drive it.
- Coloma, MI, USA
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Applied brakes at various speeds and the brakes pulsated and steering wobbles. Replaced the brake pads and turned the rotors and about a month later that same thing happens. This has been going on since 2011 and is still the same problem today even after putting on new rotors and brake pads..I only have about 38,000 miles on the car now.
On several occasions while driving the vehicle the electric power steering failed causing my son to have to pull over quickly as it was quite difficult for him to control the car. During one event he also described what seemed to be loss of brakes as he said he had the brake to the floor and was not stopping; he had to use the emergency brake; this occurred at the same time as the power steering loss. He has had several instances where he would try to accelerate without affect.
Vehicle was exiting parkway when loss of braking and steering occurred causing vehicle to collide with guardrail nearly head on. Air bags did not deploy. Major damage to front of vehicle as well as rear of vehicle as it swung around and struck the guardrail a second time with the rear of the vehicle before coming to rest across the roadway.
2013, when applying breaks on grade steering wheel violenty shaking. June 2013 if applying full breaks, steering wheel would also pull. Could not control vechile with shaking and pulling. Drove with hazards in slow lane at lesser speeds. Very bad situation. This siuation occured again this year (2014 may) while again on a grade. The shaking is voilent it very difficult to control the vechile. Drove with hazard again in slow lane..this is very dangerous and worse when turning. Good wayto kill yourself and others. I was at the dealer havign my ignition replaced and they said its normal and the rotors should be turned. I explain that the car was barely controllable. No standard rotor problem should make a car shake and pull that violently. These cars should be taken off the road. They are also no very compitent in windy conditions. I live in a mild climate zone and have driven many vechiles and my fisrt winter in the card was very very uncomfortable. That and the windows being copped are a huge visibilty issue. A design like this should have never been approve. Add to that poor parts to save money and these are just not safe. Not safe to those that own them or others. Also front end has ongoing front end suspension problem. I had perviosu issues with the radiator and guard that shoudl have been installed by the dealer but was not. As well as fauly door handles. Reapir bu dealer but now the door leaks. These are small things compared to the others. I would like the driving commision to do the right thing and have the company buy these cars back.. I appreciate the new iginition but that does nothing to help the breaking issues they call normal.
Vehicle was sitting while running my husbands knee bumped the key fob and the ignition switched to off. I checked and found there is very little resistance to the key turning off.
I have been experiencing problems with this vehicle every since I got it. Now with me reading these recalls come to find out this car is not safe at all. When I get to 60mph my car shakes. I thought it was the brakes but I have brand new brake put on. It still shakes when trying to ride on the highway. Is anyone else having these issues?
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while turning at 20 mph, steering wheel became very hard to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 05/28/14 MA updated 06/02/2014
While driving on a wet road at 30 to 35 miles per hour. The car shuts off when I topped a small hill and I lost all power. No place to pull off the road. I placed the car in park and turn the key to off and restarted. The engine light came on and the message displayed was engine power reduction. I drove 20 to 25 miles per hour to my destination the car would only go 30 miles per hour and the car shifted roughly and jumped. A nice guy there, turned the key to the on position 3 times before the engine light would go off. Called dealership and they said bring it in, I already had the recall letter and ask him if it could be related to the recall (as I am on a fixed income) he said no and it would cost $150 I have not had any other episodes and I hope I don't it was very scary. Glad I was going slow and not a busy road. I had previously removed the key fob and was only using my ignition key as per the recall letter instruction. Waiting for the next letter for the recall and hope the fix prevents it from happening again.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shake and the brake pedal would pulsate during braking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced both front rotors and the brake pads. The failure recurred and the vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000. Updated 08/13/12
Car has 38,000 miles at this time. Since 5,000 miles the car when brakes are applied the car would pulsate and shake at the steering wheel and front end. The higher the speed the more severe. This seems to be a characteristic of the model. I am reading on edmonds car forum about thousands of people with the same problems. The rotor warps prematurely causing the issues. The rotors are clearly not the grade needed for the car. GM has never addressed the complaints and should be pressured to recall the model and replace the deficient rotors.
These vehicles are dangerous! the problems with mine are on-going despite several repair or replacement attempts. The rotors have been replaced five times since purchasing it new. Braking at higher speeds is near impossible. The vehicle shakes, lurches shimmies and feels like the brakes have locked up. Stopping on a hill is a scary experience. The only reason GM has not been forced to recall these cars is because no one has died yet. It would be easier for me to detail what is right with the car than try to explain all of its problems. It now has 60,000 miles on it and I've been trying to resolve the issues with it since it was new. I am now being forced to stop payment and let them repossess it. I cannot sell it in good faith nor can I afford to continue paying for these issues since it is now out of warranty. The dealerships no longer want to deal with it because they have no clue how to fix the issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chatsworth, CA, USA