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.
Takara recall. While pressing on the break pedal to slow down or stop the entire steering wheel shakes uncontolabley. While driving on bumpy roads feels like the entire front end of the vehicle is going to fall apart. I have taken it into different places and they say everything is fine. Next stop is the dealer.
Power steering unexpectedly goes out while driving. When I first turn in car, it is fine and can drive but after about 5 minutes power steering goes out.
I was driving on the highway and the power steering light came on the instrument panel and my steering was hard to turn. It's very hard to steer like if I was driving an older model car with no power steering. Not very safe for me and the family
While driving my HHR ss a service ESC message appeared in the dic along with a chime like the dinging of no seat belt. Then a power steering message came after that. When this happens my steering wheel locks up and is hard to turn. I have heard that some of these steering columns have been recalled! why not the HHR ss!! I have been told that it is the angle position sensor and the entire steering column has to be replaced! when this first accurd my vehicle did have a warranty but they said that because it was deemed an angle position sensor that warranty would not cover it even though the whole steering column has to be replace because of it being a ss. This is a major problem that I have seen alot of HHR owners are having and this should be recalled!
Loss of power steering on highway. Nearly run over by logging truck trying to get to the shoulder. Restarted car and problem went away for a while. Now, the steering loss happens almost every time I drive. This is the same system that GM recalled for 2008-09 HHR's, (14V153000) and extended to the 2008 HHR through GM bulletin #14119. GM is refusing to acknowledge the recall!
Driving on a city street around 40 miles per hour when alarm sounds and I have no power steering. Very hard to turn drove home and it did it again today....also tire sensors alarm stating tires are deflated...when they are fine..
Whial driving the power steering assistance turns off/fails and the power steering light showes on dash. When you stop and cut the car off and back on it works again for a wial then fails again.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While the contact's wife was driving 55 mph, the rear passenger door independently opened and failed to latch. The contact also stated that the front and rear turn signal switch failed to properly operate. The contact had to manually deactivate the signal switch to turn off the signals. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger door latch and the turn signal lever/ switch assembly to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the power steering warning indicator illuminated. When attempting to accelerate from a stop, the steering became difficult to maneuver as if the power steering was not functioning properly. The contact had to manipulate the steering wheel until it functioned properly. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,291.
Vehicle stopped while driving 35 mph. Restarted car after a few minutes and had to manually turn the car. The steering wheel was very hard to turn. Car set for a while and problem still persisted.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact indicated that the power steering stopped working while driving approximately 45 mph. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to tillery Buick GMC (2221 autumn brush rd nw, los lunas, nm 87031, (505) 565-3333) for repairs. The mechanic at the dealer diagnosed that the initial diagnosis was that the motor power assist failed. The dealer repaired the vehicle. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the remedy did not resolve the recurring failure and the issue may be the column kit module. The manufacturer was not notified. The repair was not completed. The failure mileage was 79,223.
Electronic power steering suddenly goes out. Sometimes in the middle of a turn, an alert sound goes off, the words "power steering" shows on the dash where the odometer was and stiff manual steering suddenly replaces normal steering. That is very dangerous! in the process of trying to get back home, I found that turning off the engine seems to reset the power steering and it is back to normal. Then it works fine for quite a while before it happens again.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 30 mph, the power steering indicator illuminated and went into no power steering mode. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was an electrical issue. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 69,000.
While driving, I would keep constantly losing power steering. I would pull over, turn off vehicle and then restart vehicle to regain power steering. Then minutes later the loss of power steering would be experienced again. This is very dangerous at higher speeds and in the middle of higher speed turns.
Steering will lock up and loss of power steering will occur. This has happen while car is in motion or parked and engine turned on. When in motion will pull over and stop engine wait a while and power steering returns, when in parked will turn on engine if power steering is absent will turn off engine wait awhile and power steering will return, this has happen frequently.
So I purchased a 2008 Chevrolet HHR and have constantly had trouble with it! here goes the last one! the ESC message showed up in the dic with a message about the power steering! I took the car back to the dealership that I purchased it from. Was told that it was my steering angle position sensor and that I would have to replace the entire steering column. I have seen that this is a common problem with these vehicles! Chevrolet should be responsible for this and it should be recalled because there is no way that I'm paying $1400 to replace this! I purchased the best extended warranty and was told that this is not covered under them therfore it would be out of pocket! the car is extremely hard to steer while in this stage. So until a recall is made about this I would totally let every one I know to never purchase these vehicles! I will never ever purchase another car from that dealer!
Loss of power steering while driving under normal driving conditions. Receive a 3 chime warning and power steering warning appears on dash board as power steering is lost. Happened while turning on local streets.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Omaha, NE, USA