2006 Chevrolet HHR complaints

FAN STOPPED WORKING AND WILL NOT BLOW OUT HEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL FIX IT FOR $527.00. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. WHY WOULD A 2 YEAR OLD CAR HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. FOR SURE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. BESIDES THAT I LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND CANNOT DRIVE IN THE WINTER WITHOUT A HEATER. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I BOUGHT MY HHR EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO. THIS IS MY FIRST CAR SO I HAVE NO GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT VEHICLES. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED WITH 31,000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT SO I AM NOT COVERED FOR A WARRANTY. AT FIRST I NOTICED A VIBRATING WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY OR DECELERATING WITH MY BRAKES. THE STEERING SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO CONTROL AND THE CAR SEEMS TO VEER SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT AND WITH SHEER FORCE I HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO CONTROL IT. RECENTLY THAT HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 30MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT RESURFACED WHICH OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT IS UNUSUAL SINCE THE VEHICLE IS STILL FAIRLY NEW. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THAT MY FRONT STRUTS ARE LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR TENDS TO SHAKE/VIBRATE AND MAKE STRANGE NOISES. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION UPON TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THERE ARE TIMES I HAVE HAD TO RESTART MY CAR UP TO 8 TIMES JUST TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *TR

2006 CHEVY HHR - WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AFTER MOVING THE SHIFTER IN AND OUT OF GEAR, KEY WILL EVENTUALLY COME OUT. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK, SO IT APPEARS TO BE A WORSENING CONDITION. BASED ON COMMENTS ON OWNER WEBSITES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONG HHRS (HHRCLUB.ORG, ANSWERBAG.COM, FIXYA.COM, CHEVYHHR.NET). HAVE PRINTED OFF A PART NUMBER FROM ONE OF THE SITES AND AM TAKING TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. *TR

I BOUGHT THE 2006 HHR IN MARCH 2007, IN JULY I HAD THE STABILIZER LINKS REPLACED, THEN IN DECEMBER I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, IN OCTOBER 2008 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED & NOW A WEEK LATER I HAVE TO HAVE THE STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED. NOT ONLY THAT, I HAD A LEAK FROM THE HEATER CASE THAT LEAKED INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE, I HAD THE RADIO REPLACED & ALSO MY FRONT & BACK BUMPER IS LOOSE WHICH THE DEALER TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT IS PROBABLY CLIPS THAT HAVE BROKEN OFF. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I LIVE IN MICHIGAN, THAT THE STRUTS WENT BAD SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED. ALSO, ALTHOUGH I HAD A CAR FAX REPORT ON THIS CAR, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT. I AM NOT VERY PLEASED WITH THIS CAR & ITS A SHAME TO MAKE A CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT I DON'T EVEN LIKE ANYMORE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME $9000.0 AS TRADE IN, BUT I HAD 13000 ON IT, SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF A CAR THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE RECALLED? I HAVE BEEN CHECKING INTO THE LEMON LAW & I UNDERSTAND AS LONG AS YOU PURCHASE THE USED CAR WITH THE FACTORY WARRANTY STILL ACTIVE, IT'S COVERED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. BUT SINCE THE DEALER WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I DOUBT GM WILL. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE ELECTION, FOR THE ECONOMY TO GET BETTER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL REASONABLY GET ME OUT FROM UNDER THIS JUNK OF A CAR! *TR

MY BRAKES SHIMMIED/ VIBRATED BADLY WHEN MY HHR HAD 14300 MILES, FERRIS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TURNED, GROUND, THE ROTORS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON 07/30/07 AT THE SAME TIME THE HEATER/AC FAN SWITCH WAS REPAIRED ON 9/28/08 WITH 28365 MILES ON MY HHR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT SHIMMY AND NEED REPAIRING EVERY 14000 MILES, THIS NEED TO BE CORRECTED WITH NEW IMPROVED ROTORS BEFORE THEIR IS A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WE PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME, WHO IS GOING TO PAY TO FIX THIS!AT THE SAME TIME THE HEATER/AC FAN SWITCH WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED, WE WERE TOLD WATER LEAKS ON THE FAN, WE HAVE HAD WATER LEAK THRU THE HEATER VENTS BEFORE. *TR

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN PUT IN PARK AND COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. LEFT CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND NEXT MORNING BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD TO JUMP START CAR AND DROVE IT TO GM DEALER. SERVICE TECH SAID SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. TECH SAID GM HAD REDESIGNED THE SHIFTER BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. A FEW HOURS AND $241 LATER, CAR WAS REPAIRED AND BACK ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED EXCESSIVELY TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE ABS WAS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY AND LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,260.

MY COOLANT GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT WORK OCCASIONALLY BUT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN WITHIN MILES AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALER. THEY LOOKED AT IT THE FIRST TIME AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, THAT THEY HAD NO WAY OF FINDING OUT WHY IT WOULD STOP WORKING AND THEN JUST START WORKING AGAIN. IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 15,00 MILES AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT EVERY 5,000 MILES FURTHER. IT STOPPED WORKING THE OTHER DAY AGAIN (EVERYTHING ELSE WORKED FINE ON THE PANEL AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT/AIR, RADIATOR OR ANY OTHER COOLANT ISSUE) BUT THIS TIME IT MADE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON ALSO. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS BEST NOT TO DRIVE IT IN CASE THE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. THEY FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE THERMOSTAT STICKING AND CHARGED ME THE FULL COST OF REPAIRS AND TOWING SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS NOW AT 43,800. I HAD BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR 30,000 MILES BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY AC WOULDN'T WORK. THEY SAID THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR WHICH COSTS $1300 TO REPLACE IS BROKEN BUT THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT GAUGE/THERMOSTAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT JUST SEEMS VERY COINCIDENTAL THAT BOTH GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. MY CAR HAS HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE HAVING WITH A BRAND NEW CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND ANYONE BY THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR. IT'S DANGEROUS DUE TO THE

AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN A PIZZA HUT DRIVER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

ON OR ABOUT 30AUG08 AL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2006 CHEVY HHR LEAKED CAUSING THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK 7 TIMES. TO CORRECT OTHER ISSUES. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. IT TOOK 30 DAYS TO GET THE PART, AND GENERAL MOTORS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK OVER 300 PICTURES OF THE CAR. *TR

WITHIN THE FIRST 2,000 MILES OF DELIVERY THIS CAR DEVELOPED A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED WHEN DECELERATING AND COASTING AND WHEN ONE APPLIED THE BRAKE AS WELL. THERE WAS ALSO A HESITATION IN THE CAR AT THE SAME TIME AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED, BUT THAT PROBLEM EVENTUALLY DISAPPEARED. I DID HAVE THE TIRES REBALANCED BUT THIS DID NOT CHANGE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM AND I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. EVERY TIME THE SERVICE AREA CONCENTRATED ON BRAKES. THEY RE-GROUND THE ROTORS, REPLACED BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND SOMETIMES THIS DID IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR PERHAPS 30 DAYS BUT WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD REDEVELOP. THEY COMPLAINED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE REBALANCED AGAIN...I DID THAT AT THE DEALERSHIP SO THE SERVICE PEOPLE COULD NOT OFF-LOAD THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WORK. NO HELP. AT THE MOST RECENT SERVICE REPLACED THE BRAKES AGAIN, NOT OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE REPETITIVE PROBLEM, BUT JUST CHARGED ME THE NORMAL SERVICING AS A WEAR ITEM. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, AGAIN, THE SHIMMY PROBLEM WAS GONE...ALMOST. THERE IS STILL EVIDENCE OF A MINOR SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END AND THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS DEVELOPS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOTED THAT WE WERE TAKING THE CAR ON VACATION BUT THAT I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM AGAIN IN THE EVENT WE HAD TO HAVE SERVICE IN A REMOTE LOCATION. THE DEALER AGAIN SERVICED THE BRAKES AND I LEFT ON VACATION TO SAN DIEGO. THE PROBLEM AGAIN APPE

BOUGHT CHEVY HHR W/ @23,000 MILES AT @32,000 EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKING WHILE BRAKING. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE AS WARRANTY REPAIR AND SURFACED ROTORS. CAR EXHIBITED SAME ISSUE AT @45,000 MILES. IT IS OBVIOUS BY REVIEWING THESE FEW SOURCES (THERE MANY MORE) THAT CHEVY IS DENYING THE USE OF INFERIOR ROTORS. HTTP://WWW.CHEVYHHR.NET/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP?T-2768.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F113FCD HTTP://BLOGS.CARS.COM/KICKINGTIRES/2008/02/RECALL-ALERT--1.HTML NTSB COMPLAINT 10229961 NTSB COMPLAINT 10229818 NTSB COMPLAINT 10223434 NTSB COMPLAINT 10222711. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. AFTER A HEAVY RAINSTORM, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT AND REAR SEATS AND THE CARPET IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WERE DAMAGED DUE TO UNKNOWN WATER LEAKAGE. THE WATER LEVEL WAS FOUR INCHES HIGH IN THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDES. THERE WAS MILDEW ON THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEATS, GEAR SHIFT, FLOOR PANEL, AND VENTS. A STRONG ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,321.

2006 CHEVY HHR, KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF IN IGNITION SWITCH. READ OWNERS BOOK FOUND LITTLE DOORWAY TO OPEN WITH BUTTON TO BYPASS PARKING SWITCH. BOOK SAID LOW VOLTAGE, CHECKED VOLTAGE WAS FINE, BUT COULD WIGGLE GEAR SHIFT AND KEY WOULD TURN OFF. NOW BUTTON ON GEARSHIFT STAYS IN AND EVEN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION IF YOU BUMP THE GEARSHIFT IT FALLS OUT OF PARK. NOT A REAL SAFE FEATURE WITH REMOTE STARTING. HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. BUT IS RAMPANT ON THE INTERNET, AND MY PERSONAL DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX A LOT OF HHR'S AND COBALT GEARSHIFTS. SO MANY IN FACT THAT THEY HAVE MADE A NEW AND IMPROVED PART BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL FAILING MULTIPLE TIMES. THAT IS FINE FOR THE VEHICLES IN WARRANTY, BUT THE OTHER THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF ONES THEY WONT FIX BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AS OF NOW. THIS IS ABOUT LIKE THE FORDS OF THE SEVENTIES. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED BEFORE IT IS RESOLVED. *TR

WHEN SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAMS, THE AUTO LIGHTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF - LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2008). IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND IN A PANIC TO TURN THEM BACK ON YOU ARE ALL OVER THE ROAD! IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING! *TR

I OWN AN 2006 CHEVROLET HHR-- THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP WHEN YOU START UP BUT SOON IT GOES OUT. I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEED AT WHICH I AM GOING. MY DEALER TELLS ME MANY OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY KNOW TO FIX IT. THIS IS REALLY A SAFETY CONCERN. FIND OUT WHY THIS HAPPENS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS REPAIRED. SECONDLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED NUMEROUS FAILURES ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE HAD TO HAVE MAJOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS, IGNITION CYLINDER, SHIFTER, BATTERY, AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR. THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD EXCEED $2,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS COPIES OF THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR HISTORY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN ALL THE WAY OFF AND YOU COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. IT HAPPENED TWICE AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF HHRS AND COLBALTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

BOLT FELL OUT OF THE LOWER RIGHT STEERING ARM, CAUSING THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE BACKWARD UPON BRAKING AND FORWARD ON ACCELERATION. *TR

ALL AUTO TIRES HAVE A SIX YEAR SHELF LIFE. ALL AUTO TIRES SHOULD HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE ENGRAVED IN THE TIRE AS DOES A CONTAINER OF MILK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVROLET HHR LS TRAVELING AT BETWEEN 25-30 MPH THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAY FLASHED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS AND THEN CHANGED TO "ENGINE DISABLED" AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT INITIALLY START. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE CAR DID START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I PROCEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO MY SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THE CHECK ENGINE CODE AS "PCM MEMORY ERROR" THEY SAID THE CODE WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS BEST TO CLEAR THE CODE AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF. I THEN TOOK THE CAR FOR SHORT DRIVE AND AGAIN THE CAR FLASHED THE SAME TWO MESSAGES ON THE DIC AND THEN STALLED BUT THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROTARY. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE AND WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AGAIN BEFORE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. THIS TIME AT THE SERVICE STATION THEY DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST IF I TOOK IT TO AN ACTUAL CHEVROLET GARAGE SINCE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH AN OBD-II ERROR CODE. THIS TIME HOWEVER AFTER CLEARING THE CODE IT WOULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW YARDS BEFORE STALLING OUT. SO, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AFTER HAVE THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS BEST TO REPLACE THE PCM SINCE THAT SEEMED TO BE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ERROR. THE WAY THE CAR BEHAVED WITH THIS PCM ERROR I FELT WAS VERY DANGEROUS SO I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SUPPO

2006 HHR - 50,164 MILES - ENGINE AND DASH SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NORMAL HIGHWAY/WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS OF 65+ MPH AFTER HITTING BUMPS/TRANSITION POINTS OF PAVEMENT IN THE ROAD. THESE BUMPS ARE PAVEMENT THAT SOMETIMES BUCKLE IN THE SUMMER. THE CAR WOULD STILL HAVE STEERING AND BRAKES, BUT NO DASH LIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS. NO DUMMY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, NO WARNINGS CAME ON. THE HAZARDS WORKED FINE AND THE RADIO WAS STILL ON. THE CAR WOULD RESTART ON THE SHOULDER OF THE TOLLWAY BUT HE FIRST INCIDENT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARD AND ALMOST SHUT THE CAR OFF WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO ITS DESTINATION AND SHUT OFF. UPON THE NEXT RESTART WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER, THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TOOK THE HHR IN AND PERFORMED MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND CHECKED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ALL WAS FINE. THE VERY NEXT WEEK, DURING A POURING RAIN, THE CAR AGAIN SHUT OFF AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP ON THE TOLLWAY. AGAIN, NO DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE DASH SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND THE WIPERS STOPPED, ALL WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN A THUNDERSTORM. THE CAR WAS AGAIN PULLED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. A MILE OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS AGAIN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND DURING A THUNDERSTORM! THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN RESTARTED AND ABLE TO GET OFF THE TOLLWAY. CALLS WERE PLACED TO TWO DIFFERENT CHEVROLET DEALERS IN THE AREA -

2006 HHR HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGHLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON (INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST). WAS TOLD TO MAKE SURE GAS CAP WAS SECURELY SEATED, ADD SOME GASOLINE TREATMENT, USE HIGHER GRADE GASOLINE - ALL OF WHICH HELPED SOME FOR A SHORT WHILE. AFTER 3 WEEKS OF INTERMITTENT EPISODES, FINALLY TOOK IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CODE INDICATED THAT THE #1 CYLINDER IGNITION COIL NEEDED REPLACING, MECHANIC ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL SPARK PLUGS AND DOING AN INJECTION FLUSH. HAD THE #1 CYLINDER COIL REPLACED AND REPLACED ALL SPARK PLUGS. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER WORK WAS DONE, CAR RESUMED RUNNING ROUGH WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING BACK ON. TOOK CAR BACK TO SAME GM DEALERSHIP, THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE UNTIL ALL SIX FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. FOUND COPY OF GM(?) BULLETIN #08-06-04-001 DESCRIBING PROBLEM AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. WE HAVE THE DEFECTIVE INJECTORS. ALL THIS WORK COST US A TOTAL OF $922, LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS, AND 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP (APPROX. 25 MILES EACH TRIP). SENT EMAIL TO CHEVROLET EXPLAINING PROBLEMS AND ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF $922, HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE TO DATE. *TR

EACH TIME IT RAINS WATER LEAKS INTO CAR CAUSING THE FLOORBOARD TO BECOME SOAKED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARPET AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE WIRES WHICH CAN CAUSE SHORTS IN TURN CAN CAUSE A FIRE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. AT LESS THAN 25,000 MILES, THE BRAKES WOULD OCCASIONALLY ROLL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THAT TIME, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT. CURRENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED AND THE CONTACT HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DEALER. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, WHICH INDICATE HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS OR HOW MUCH OIL IS REMAINING, ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A HOLE OR DIP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE STALLING OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED ONCE IT SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OR THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAM SENSOR, WHEELS, A BROKEN HUB BEARING, BENT ROTORS AND AN ISSUE WITH REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, DUE TO THE SHIFT CABLE NOT STAYING SECURED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK WOULD NOT STAY SECURED. UPDATED 06/25/08

MY HHR HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AT LESS THAN 12K MILES, NOW AT 29K MILES IT NEEDS IT AGAIN. WE DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD AND BRAKE FAST. IT IS FAR FROM NORMAL WEAR. ALSO, NO LARGE HILLS TO DRIVE UP/DOWN. *TR

MY 2006 CHEVROLET HHR IS GETTING SANDBLASTED ON THE REAR ROCKER PANELS OVER THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING DOWN PAVED ROADS. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH PROTECTIVE PLASTIC GUARDS WHICH ARE TAKING ALL THE ABUSE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS IS WHAT THE GUARDS WERE FOR. FINALLY THEY TOOK PICTURES AND DECIDED TO REPAINT THEM AND INSTALL MUDFLAPS AT THEIR COST. NOW THE PAINT IS STILL GETTING SANDBLASTED AGAIN AND THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF. AFTER COMPLAINING YET AGAIN I WAS TOLD BY THE GM BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER THAT I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE RUNNINGBOARDS AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IF I WANTED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. HOW WAS I TO FORESEE THIS PROBLEM? THEY REFUSED TO INSTALL THEM AT THEIR COST WHICH I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. THEY ARE SAYING THAT I AM PICKING UP 'ROAD DEBRIS" AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. I ONLY DRIVE ON PAVED ROADS SO THIS IS A RIDICULOUS AND FALSE STATEMENT. FINALLY TODAY THEY CALLED AND AGREED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE RUNNINGBOARDS AND THE INSTALLATION OF THEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS SHOULD IN ANY WAY BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING, WHICH SPORADICALLY BECOMES INOPERATIVE AND DISABLES THE STEERING MECHANISM. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE WIRING TO THE FUSE BOX. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO SEVERAL STREET SIGNS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. ON MAY 14, 2008, AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER, SHE LEFT HOME AND WHEN SHE RETURNED, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AT THAT TIME. LATER THAT NIGHT, SHE DROVE TO WORK AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AGAIN ONCE SHE ARRIVED. SINCE THAT TIME, SHE IS STILL UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AND CAN SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,764 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,761.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V046000 (AIR BAGS). HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DEALER, HE WAITED TWO HOURS TO BE GREETED BY A REPRESENTATIVE, WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A DATE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE AND WAS NOT OFFERED AN ADDITIONAL DATE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,633.

IN APRIL 2007 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A BAD SENSOR AND CHANGED IT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS EVERY TIME THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED. PROBLEM PERSISTED AGAIN IN JAN 08 CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER AGAIN 5TH TIME FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THIS TIME I WAS ADVISED WHEN DOING THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THEY GOT A CODE FOR A MISS. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS CODE TO COME UP. THE DEALER CONTACTED CHEVY'S TECHNICAL HELP DEPT AND DID A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO FIND OUT THAT THE MISS WAS CAUSED BY ONE OF THE HEADS GOING BAD...... THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 15,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR HAD TO BE PULLED AND REPAIRED. MY CAR RAN GREAT FOR A WHILE AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW 3 MONTHS LATER AND 19,300 MILES ON THE CAR IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN! I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE 4 OTHER CHEVY'S I HAVE HAD. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND A DANGER TO DRIVE. *TR

IN FEBRUARY 2007 I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTHBOUND NEAR WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. SOMEONE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AND ON RAMP PULLED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES ON THE HHR, THE CAR PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE MORE I BRAKED, THE MORE THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I ENDED UP DRIVING ACROSS TWO LANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRAFFIC AND I HIT A VAN HEAD ON. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT MY HHR WAS TOTALED. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKES ON THE HHR WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE WAY THEY PULLED TO ONE SIDE INSTEAD OF STOPPING STRAIGHT CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I REPORTED THIS TO CHEVROLET AFTER THE CRASH BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AS FAR A A RECALL OR ANYTHING. IN FACT, I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN THE 2006 HHR WAS RECEIVED ON EDMONDS.COM. THE AUTHOR OF THE REVIEW EXPRESSED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE HHR'S BRAKING WAS DANGEROUS. *TR

RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN MAIL 04-05-08. TRIED TO CALL DEALER ON SATURDAY, BUT GET THROUGH. TALKED TO A REP IN THE SERVICE DEPT AT LONDOFF CHEVROLET. PER REP THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISED ME TO CALL BACK IN A WEEK. CALLED 04-11-08 AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ROOF-RAIL AIR BAG INSTALLED IN ORDER TO CONFORM TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 201 FOR MY HHR. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR FRIDAY, 04-18-08 AT 10:00AM TO FIND OUT THAT SUPPOSEDLY THEY JUST INSTALLED THE LAST ONE AND DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER CSR IN THE SERVICE DEPT. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED BUT STATED THAT ENTERPRISE HAD BROUGHT SOME HHR 'S IN AND THEY HAD FIXED THEM. I AM UPSET THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL THE AIR BAG IN ENTERPRISE CARS AND NOT AT LEAST KEEP THE ONE FOR MY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS SAFETY RECALL? *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER STEERING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ERRATIC AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING.. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. UPDATED IVOQ 08/12/10 UPDATED IVOQ 08/31/10*JB

2006 CHEVY HHR BROKEN INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE MUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND A FUSE BURNED OUT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER IF THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BOTH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V046000 (AIR BAGS) AND HE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE NOTICE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE DEALER. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WISH TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE NOTICE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,200.

WHILE SITTING AT A PIZZA HUT DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP DOING 40 OR HIGHER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. HAD TO HAVE THE ROTOR TURN AGAIN JUST HAD THEM TURNED AT 17,511 MILES AND NOW AT 25,124 MILES THAT IS ON 7613 SINCE THE FIRST TIME. IT IS NOT MY DRIVING EITHER! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V046000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMEDY. THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ENERGY-ABSORBING PLASTIC PIECE TO THE HEADLINER TRIM. HE IS CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE CHANGING THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE TO A SUBSTANDARD FEATURE THAT MAY BE UNSAFE IN A CRASH. DUE TO THE CONTACT'S HEIGHT, HIS HEAD WOULD BE LOCATED CLOSER TO THE PLASTIC PIECE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

BRAKES DEFECTIVE HAVE 65,000 MILES ON 06 UNIT AND BRAKES AND / OR ROTORS WORKED ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES BRAKES WORKED ON JAN 07, MAY 07, JULY 07, OCT 07 AND JAN 08. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BUT THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM PARK. SHE WAITED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE GEAR WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT DROVE TO WORK AND WAS UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND THE CHIME NOISES REMAINED ENGAGED. THE GEARS WERE ALSO ABLE TO BE MOVED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND REMAINS IN HER POSSESSION. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND TRANSMISSION TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO PROPERLY SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

GETTING TICKETS FOR LIGHT ACCESORIES THAT COME WITH VEH . *TR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPING. HAD THEM CUT TWICE AT DEALER. OUT OF WARRANTY KNOW, I WAITED TO LONG FOR THE 3 RD. FIX ( FAMILY EMG.) KNOW I HAVE TO PAY. *TR

THE CAR HAS STALLED AS A RESULT OF THE KEY MOVING FROM THE RUN TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION WHEN DRIVING OVER A LARGE BUMP. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED FROM THE BUMP, BUT THE IGNITION IS LOOSE ENOUGH THAT THE KEY MOVED AND THE CAR STALLED. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: ON JANUARY 17, 2008 I HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON MY 2006 HHR. I WAS ON MY WAY TO DROP OFF MY CHILDREN TO DAYCARE. AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY RAMP, I HIT A GUARD RAIL. THIS SITUATION WAS VERY SCARY AND FRIGHTFUL FOR MY KIDS AND ME BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT. IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF THERE WAS A DRIVER BEHIND ME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, MCCLUSKEY CHEVY., AND THEY CAME TO PICK UP THE CAR WHILE I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER WAY HOME. LATER ON I DISCOVERED THE LEFT SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE. THIS ISSUE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD TRANSPORTATION FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN SO STRESSFUL. THE MINOR DAMAGES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND I DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED ON TOP OF MAKING A MONTHLY PAYMENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS IS OVER $2,000. I DON'T AGREE THAT I SHOULD BE THE ONE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT WERE MADE FROM A PART FAILING. I HAVE ARGUED THIS SITUATION OVER AND OVER WITH THE SHOP WORKERS WHO DISAGREE. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE ON THE CUSTOMER. THANKS, *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. UPON READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO TRUNK RELEASE LATCH IN HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DEVICE WAS THERE, BUT IT COULD ONLY BE OPENED BY THE MECHANIC. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

I AM LEASING A 2006 CHEVY HHR. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN WE HIT A POT HOLE AND MY CAR DIED AT 70MPH! MY HUSBAND STEVE PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION AND WE CARRIED ON. VERY SCARY AS YOU LOSE YOUR POWER IN STEERING, ETC... I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY AND TOOK IT FOR A LOOK OVER. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE CAR SEEMED FINE SO THERE WAS NO MORE THEY COULD DO? ON A RECENT TRIP TO KY WE AGAIN HIT A POT HOLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND AGAIN MY CAR DIED. WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART IT AND CARRIED ON. I BELONG TO A WEBSITE THAT IS FOR HHR OWNERS AND I SOON DISCOVERED I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT HITTING A POT HOLE OR BUMP OF ANY KIND!! A MAN WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN SAID WHEN HE HIT THE POT HOLE AND HIS CAR DIED HE NOTICED WHEN HE WENT TO RESTART THE CAR THAT HIS KEY HAS SLIPPED TO THE "ACC" POSITION. HE SUGGESTED WE TEST OUR KEYS BY PUTTING THEM IN THE IGNITION AND PLAYING AROUND WITH THEM. I WAS INTERESTED IN TRYING THIS AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE! I STARTED MY CAR AND TO MY HORROR DISCOVERED THAT WITH NO PRESSURE I CAN TURN MY CAR OFF. I ONLY HAVE 4 KEYS AND MY REMOTE ON MY KEY RING SO IT IS NOT DUE TO WEIGHT OF MY KEYRING. I CAN GRAB MY HANGING REMOTE, AND OTHER KEYS (I ONLY HELD ONE KEY) AND WITH NO PRESSURE I CAN TURN MY CAR OFF. I AM CALLING MY DEALERSHIP FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING B/C I WANT A KEY CYLINDER IN PLACE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MY KEY TO TURN W

WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR NOT EVEN TWO YEARS, AND SO FAR WE HAD TO FIX THE SUSPENTION, AND LAST WEEK THE ENGINE BLEW. THE DEALER HAS HAD IT FOR ALMOST A WEEK AND A HALF. THE CANT EVEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAPPEND AND WHY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES. I DONT EVEN WANT TO KNOW WHAT MORE PROBLEMS ARE COMING. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AND UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE CAR. A LEMON. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER. HE NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS AND AAA TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR IF ONE WERE TO DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. IT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COLLECT WATER AND MOISTURE. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO DRIVE AROUND IN ORDER TO DRY OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 02-06-08. *KB