Bought the car used with 42k miles on it. Had the car less than 5 months and put less than 6k miles on it. Driving home one night, car started to make a hollow rubbing sound, like something was rubbing against a fender. Was due for an oil change anyway so I took it in the next morning to have it looked at. According to the car fax, the transmission fluid had been changed by previous owner at 36k miles. When it was checked at 47,7-- miles, it was a little dirty but probably could've lasted until the next oil changed, but I figured what the hell, change it anyway.
Drove it to work when it was done, still making hollow noise but not losing power and it was still shifting smoothly (mechanic suggest it was probably dirt in a bearing and would work itself out. I live in a very rural area with roads that aren't the greatest. Got halfway home that night and the gears started failing, highest one first (IE doing 70mph, all of a sudden the rev count flies up and the car won't go better than 60). Got the car home (barely), took it to the dealer the next morning and was told the following day the transmission fluid was BURNT and had metal flakes. Picked up the car and the service manager showed me the fluid -- looked like tar.
Fought with GM for almost 2 weeks before finally getting them to replace the transmission and cover half the cost.
Picked the car up Friday night .. three days later and the transmission has gone out again.
The transmission started slipping all the sudden and violently slamming into gear, took it to dealer, told me the car needed a new transmission!! At this point my car had been in the shop more than I had it!! I have regular maintenance done on this car and ask the people at the dealership to please check the fluids because I cannot check the transmission fluid or put some in if it needs it due to the design of the car, WHO DOES THIS?!
The same as with other 2008 HHR owners, my car was well taken care of, oil regularly changed & fluids etc regularly checked at DEALERSHIP, it has under 50,000 miles on odometer & suddenly made the same kind of sound like a stick was caught under it that other owners describe. It also felt like it was slipping slightly when in second gear. I immediately took it to be checked out & repaired. The dealership said the transmission was shot & needs rebuilt which is costing $3000.00.
okay we are REALLY going to pursue a lawyer now. Not even 50k and the automatic transmission goes. This car is WELL MAINTAINED and NOT driven rough. This is it. See the photos ours is the black one....funny there is another HHR right beside it in the service bays....speaks for itself! They need a dedicated HHR crew!
This time it sounded like a stick was dragging under the car. It shifted real hard into and through gears. Heard from the dealership the tranny is wasted. WHY?
WILL UPDATE AS WE PROGRESS
Update from Jun 24, 2012: well the trans diff fell apart....under warranty... THANK GOD!...total rebuild of the trans, they say they "have never seen this happen"?!?!?!?!? Had the car for over a week...UNDER 50K THE TRANS DIFF FELL APART....WHY? The dealership does not know.....LEMON!
What is REALLY ironic....while our "jellybean" was in the shop it had one right next to it in the bay...see below...then when we picked it up ANOTHER HHR came in with problems.....they need a bay dedicated to HHR's!
- myhhrisapig,
Lusby, MD, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought the car used with 42k miles on it. Had the car less than 5 months and put less than 6k miles on it. Driving home one night, car started to make a hollow rubbing sound, like something was rubbing against a fender. Was due for an oil change anyway so I took it in the next morning to have it looked at. According to the car fax, the transmission fluid had been changed by previous owner at 36k miles. When it was checked at 47,7-- miles, it was a little dirty but probably could've lasted until the next oil changed, but I figured what the hell, change it anyway.
Drove it to work when it was done, still making hollow noise but not losing power and it was still shifting smoothly (mechanic suggest it was probably dirt in a bearing and would work itself out. I live in a very rural area with roads that aren't the greatest. Got halfway home that night and the gears started failing, highest one first (IE doing 70mph, all of a sudden the rev count flies up and the car won't go better than 60). Got the car home (barely), took it to the dealer the next morning and was told the following day the transmission fluid was BURNT and had metal flakes. Picked up the car and the service manager showed me the fluid -- looked like tar.
Fought with GM for almost 2 weeks before finally getting them to replace the transmission and cover half the cost.
Picked the car up Friday night .. three days later and the transmission has gone out again.
TBC....
- sampiper74, Marble Falls, TX, US