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.
I noticed a strong odor of fuel coming from under my car (a 2009 HHR LT2). After being driven I noticed fuel leaking out from under the car in front of the left rear wheel well. My husband got under there and notice that the two fuel lines are rusted through by the plastic clamp. I notified the dealership where I bought the car and I am taking it in today to be fixed.
Vehicle stationary. Noticed strong smell of fuel coming from exterior of the vehicle and a leak spot around the rear passenger side wheel. Moved the vehicle to insure the spot and smell was indeed coming from the HHR. Smell definitely coming from the HHR, not sure of the spot (was not setting in new location very long). Took the vehicle to the local car wash to clean (in case the smell was due to the possibility the fuel tank was overfilled during refueling). Drove the vehicle as normal for several weeks. Noticed the smell and spot again after parking for an extended period of time, the spot was much larger and smell was much stronger. Decided to move the vehicle further from the house (for safety reasons) until I could investigate further. Moved the vehicle to a remote driveway. It sat for several weeks, was going to move the vehicle back to the drive in front of the garage, so I could check work on it. The smell was very strong and the spot was very large. The vehicle would not start, it was out of fuel. When it was previously moved to the remote driveway, it had at least 1/4 tank of of fuel. This means that all of that fuel was in the driveway. I was glad I had moved it and that my granddaughter was never in the vehicle when I had been driving it weeks earlier. Had some friends help me get it moved back to where I could work on it. Found that the leak was somewhere above the passenger rear wheel under a foil like heat shield. Checked on-line, found there was a NHTSA investagation on this issue. Really - investagation! this leak is in close proximity of the exhaust system. The reason for the heat shield in the first place. Really glad my granddaughter had not been a passenger for sometime. Further 'investagation' on-line, this is very common issue on several models, especially in the midwest due to salt use for snow removal.
Gas smell and leaks resulting from fuel line corrosion. I own two 2009 Chevrolet Hhrs. I replaced fuel line on my first vehicle a year ago. Now the second vehicle needs same repair.
- Brighton, MI, USA
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Went to my dad's. parked in garage. My niece later commented she smelled gas. We checked furnace, then went out to garage to check the car. We found a sizeable puddle on the driver's side in front of the left side rear wheel. I backed the car out of the garage. Later we noticed a softball sized puddle under my car. Later I contacted a local mechanic who advised that this is a common problem with Chevy cobalts and Hhrs, that I should have it towed and under no circumstances should I drive it as he couldn't guarantee I would have enough time to get out of the car should something happen. When we noticed the fuel was leaking, the car was parked.
Reference ODI resume PE 20-011, car stored in a garage as a special interest vehicle, while accomplishing routine maintenance car was idling at the entrance of the garage. Near fire experience, fuel line ruptured just above left rear wheel spilling on to hot exhaust. Cut off engine, but pressure in the line kept spraying on to hot exhaust pipe, stood by with fire extinguisher until leak subsided.pulled back insulation around lines over exhaust and found the steel fuel line rusted through. There are several repair options, a GM shop charges over $1100, repalcement kits range from $95 up to nearly $600
I have fuel leaking from a fuel line in front of the left rear tire. I researched the issue and see that this is happening to others. What is recommended as a repair"?"
Saturday, October 10, 2020, I was at my dad's. my car was parked in the garage. My niece came up saying she smelled gas and was concerned. When we couldn't find an issue in the house, I said maybe it was my car. We went out to the garage and noticed a large puddle on the left side (driver's side) in front of the left rear wheel. I moved the car out to the driveway and we could see within seconds it had left a puddle the size of a softball. I left and drove home 30 minutes later. I took the car in to cassidy tire later that week. They were unable to find the leak, but the mechanic was pretty freaked out and told me my car was leaking gas. We called a local mechanic and he mentioned that this is a known issue with Chevrolet cobalts and Hhrs. I was told that I should definitely not drive the car wherever I take it as I might not be able to get out of the car safely should something happen. I've been out to the car a few times and the smell of fuel is noticeable. After googling the issue and finding an abc news report from July 2020 and another article about a potential recall and an investigation into the issue, I called a local Chevy dealer to mention the issue. I was told there was no recall for it on my VIN and that I should have it towed to them for repair and was given an estimate for the repair. What caused the leak" I can only guess that it is the corrosion of the metal" I don't know that I ever noticed the smell of gas before the 10th. I did take it in for an oil change late March, early April and no one mentioned an issue with fuel leaking or the smell of gas. I have had many cars in my lifetime and I have never experienced an issue like this.
For sometime I smelled gas every time I parked in the garage. One day my son smelled the gas and noticed a wet spot by the drivers side rear tire. Took it to the local Firestone dealer where they found a fuel leak.
The fuel line on my Chevrolet HHR 2009 rusted and had to be replaced at a cost to me of $1300. The insulated covering around the fuel line caused the rusting because it retained water. Smelled gas while it was stationary.
The fuel lines underneath the driver's side passenger door have rotted. They are dripping gas. It is happening right where the bracket holds the lines.
Drove to local city facility pulling small trailer full of grass clippings and tree branches. While unloading trailer, I started smelling a strong gasoline odor at the rear of the car, but could not find source. After arriving back home and unhooking trailer, gasoline odor was strong again, but still no source. After car sat for 30-45 minutes, a drip was noticed in front of the driver's side rear tire. Upon inspection, the gasoline drip was originating from the plastic shield which contains the gasoline feed line, fuel return line, and brake line. This shield is located between the frame and the muffler. When I called a towing service to tow my car to a local garage, the towing service acknowledged they had just fixed another HHR for a gas leak at the same place on the car. They noted it was quite common for the steel gas line to corrode inside this shielding. The garage that actually did the work on my car noted the fuel line from the tank to the engine was repaired.
Steel fuel line has rusted through and gushes gasoline at the well-known area of driver-side rear wheel well from inside the protective heat shield. Seems to be an overly common issue for Hhrs and this design of the fuel line system.
Fuel leaks from rusting fuel line at plastic retainer clip just forward of left rear wheel. Leaves a puddle after being parked and drips continuously while engine is running. Attached photos taken with vehicle idling on ramps in driveway show fuel streaming from area of fuel lines and puddle formed after about 1 minute of idling.
Rusty fuel lines. Corrosion occurs in every connection to underbody and back part where fuel lines are covered with heat resistant material. Rust is so big that fuel lines start leaking fuel excessively and very close to exhaust pipe(extremely hot) what may cause fire. First you smell fuel, then it starts dripping and finally you have a major leak and are unable to drive. It is a major problem that can stop your car in the middle of nowhere or can start a fire of fuel in the point that is very close to fuel tank what may cause major fire or explosion.
Smell of gas, engine running. Check car and there is a fuel leak by the left rear wheel at fuel lines right above exhaust pipe. Fuel leaking on the exhaust. This right at fuel line retainer. Their is a heat shield on the lines. This full of gravel ans debris, lines are rusted and leaking, this is very dangerous, result could be a fire! fuel puddled on ground
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Imperial Beach, CA, USA