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.
Fuel was leaking and puddling on the ground in front of left rear tire. After starting or running the engine. Would leak for several minutes after turning off engine. Could smell fuel while driving.
Tried to have an alignment done and was told I have a substantial fuel leak. I'm dumping fuel from two points, one of which is over the heat shield for the exhaust system. It's a steel gas line, if there's one thing we know about steel, it rusts, especially when mixed with salt-I live in Michigan. You'd think a fuel delivery system would be better designed.
I see there has been complaints about the fuel lines on the HHR vehicles. We just had the same problem. We just spent $617.80 to get it fixed. I don't think the should have happened. My wife first noticed it when she was driving the car. She told me she could smell gas. A few days later we noticed a spot on our asphalt driveway where it leaking. It started to eat away our asphalt. Hopefully something can be done about this and we can get reimbursed for the problem.
I could smell gasoline for the longest time. After awhile I found drops on the ground and found a leak coming from the fuel line in front of the drivers side rear wheel. I had to take it to a mechanic and have the section of fuel line replaced
The fuel lines rusted and leaked onto the floor. This was in front of the drivers side rear wheel. It was leaking while operating on city roads and highway. Then dripping after parking. I had the entire fuel line assembly replaced by penske Chevrolet in indianapolis. This filled my garage with fumes
- Carmel, IN, USA
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In regard to the fuel line investigation of the 2008-2009 Chevy HHR, if it hadn't been for a local fireman and police we could have had a real problem. The fireman was behind me and smelled gasoline so he signaled me to pull over which I did, by that time he had called the fire department and a pumper showed up, fuel was pouring out from under the car, a tow truck was called and it was taken to weber Chevrolet in columbia Illinois our kids had to come and pick us up and we went to the dealership and paid the tow truck fee but since it was the weekend we left the car on the parking lot along with a pile of oil soak. Between towing and repairs it was almost $1000! (which we had to borrow and pay back)
Smelling fuel/exhaust odor while driving on freeway with sun roof/window open. Did not see any leaking. Remote starting took longer to crank intermittently. After a few more days had small wet spot on ground at left rear and thought I had run through a puddle. A few days later after arriving home from work, I went back outside and had a very large puddle of gas at left rear. Went to service center the next day and had both fuel lines completely replaced for a cost of $550 parts and labor.
When I turned off my car recently, I could smell gasoline. I could also smell it when the air conditioning was on. I took my HHR to heritage Chevrolet, and they pointed out that two fuel lines were rusted through and I was driving my car under dangerous circumstances...some of the gasoline was leaking close to the muffler. My service agent said a fire could have easily started. The mechanic replaced my fuel lines, and then told me that he has had to replace fuel lines in other Chevy HHR's and Chevy colbalts. At no time has GM ever notified me that my fuel lines can rust through, and that other cars have had the same issue: HHR or cobalt. However, this dangerous rusting has occurred in others. I went online and found out that others have experienced rusted fuel lines, and some have attempted to replace the lines themselves. A recall should have been issued. Hopefully no one will die in a tragic fire caused by gas leaks. I could smell the gasoline both when driving (especially with the air conditioning on, and when using the key to turn the car off. However, when looking underneath the car, I did not detect gas leaking from underneath, and I believe this was a slow leak, because my gas gauge did not show a dramatic loss of gas. I have written a letter of concern to the chairwoman and CEO of General Motors.
I can try to send photos and documentation once I get them from the mechanic. Fuel lines rusted creating leaks. Have read several other customer complaints noting the design and materials to be the cause. My vehicle just has 81,000 miles on it. I am 69 years old and have never had this happen in any vehicle nthat I have owned including vehicles that have had over 140,000 miles on them. The danger this faultly design has created for car owners as well as others drivers in their proximity needs to be addressed and corrected now. I am disabed and have carried oxygen tanks in my car and will need to in the future increasing the danger by this defect. This is a sagetyhazard to every HHR owner and nearby traffic. I do not understand why GM is not correcting this before there are tragedies when they have been made aware that the problem is their responsibility and they should be covering the costly repair of the dangerous flaw in their design.
One more HHR that has a rusted fuel line, the car has 128xx miles on it when we noticed a gas smell. When inquiring what the smell was I found it was leaking under the back drive side door in front of the rear wheel. I looked online to find the fix, but found many complaints that this cars are leaking gas due to poor design and faulty parts. Called GM and asked for help. They were rude and said the car is old and past warranty. Well I have had many vehicles and none of them ever leaked gas. When I asked the rep, do you know what gas does? he ignored the question and started to read form his script. Spoke to the supervisor same thing unwilling to listen to reason and pay for the repairs. Brought the car to the dealer. Almost the same deal understanding but again unwilling to help with fixing. After a battle. We gave in and had the dealer fix it. Conveniently the tech cut the gas line where it was leaking. The bill came to $795. GM needs to address this issues. This is life threatening. GM needs to recall these cars and make it right.there have been recalls on air bags, well what good are the air bags if the car blows up.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. When the driver's door was opened, a very strong odor of fuel was noticed inside the cabin approximately four days ago. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 166,571.
I was noticing when I exited the car a very strong fuel smell coming from the drivers side. Upon looking under the car I noticed a puddle of fuel under the car and it is constantly dripping. The car has 90,000 miles and I still owe money on it!
2009 Chevy HHR had problems with stick gear stuck and will not move on position to dr or rev for several minutes. Car has been hesitating and racing to then jerks like I'm being hit. Happens everyone I press on the gas. I took it into bauchman Chevrolet to have serviced and was told it was fixed 2 weeks later it is doing it again. It almost caused a rear end due to hesitation. I need to get this fixed by dealership. Others have reported same issues.
My 2009 HHR has a problem with the shift gear sticking and not releasing to put it in drive or reverse also I bet problems where the car is revving up while driving and then jerks like someone is hitting it from behind I took it into bachman Chevrolet to have it fixed and they said it was fixed it is now doing the same problem again I'm afraid I'm going to be hit while driving when it starts jerking and hesitating and the engine is revving while in drive not sure what is going on while I'm driving.
The fuel lines are leaking near the right rear tire. Upon inspection by a certified mechanic it was discovered that both lines are leaking. From experience after changing numerous this is a flaw with both GM's design as well as parts choice. The lines are run close to exhaust systems. To prevent potential problems GM wrapper the lines in heat insulation fabric. This fabric is holding moisture when it gets damp promoting accelerated rust issues. Gas line material itself appears to be mild steel and not stainless. So the design was bad when fuel lines were run in close proximity to exhaust systems and sub-par materials were used. Thousands of examples of this problem are available on the internet, googling "HHR fuel line leak problem rear tire" returns 549,000 results.
On September 6, 2018 on highway going to work. I got there park my vehicle noticed a strong gas odor. Gentleman in his car smell it as well look saw I had a gas leak from the left rear. Took it to be checked out was informed rusted gas line. I only had the vehicle for 9months and I checked for recalls only reading complaints with the same issues but not being recalled I was told this a fire hazard!!
The fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine bends around by the wheel and apparently rubs with everyday driving. Eventually it rubbed a hole in the fuel line. I noticed it after I parked the car and could see fuel dripping in front of the rear wheel. The line from front to back of the car is a single piece and cost something like $700 for the line alone. (stupid) instead of replacing the line I had a rubber fuel line clampped to the line as a temperary fix. After talking to a Chevy dealership and a mechanic at tire discounters, I was told by both places that this is a common problem. Both locations said that they get HHR's with this problem often. This needs to be on a recall list. This service was done on January 25, 2017 and the cost for the fix was $232. Thank you for your time.
Rusted fuel line at 127,000 miles with gas leaking. I noticed a strong gas smell from the driver side passenger area when outside of the vehicle when parked. After researching found this to be a known issue. The fuel line is not made out of stainless steel and therefor rusts out in areas of the country that use salt on the roads in winter. Huge safety concern. Spoke with GM and received no compensation for sub-par parts used for fuel line on this vehicle when manufactured.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Taylor, MI, USA