POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE MY 16 YR OLD WAS DRIVING. *TR
2006 Chevrolet HHR complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SINCE FEBRUARY 2014, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING DURING EVERY ACTIVE OPERATION. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED THAT BASED ON MY VIN, THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY. I SPECIFICALLY IN FORMED THEM THAT THIS WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT THAT I WAS ACTIVELY EXPERIENCING POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING EVERY OPERATION, BUT I WAS EMPHATICALLY INFORMED BY THE RECALL REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR AND THAT IS WAS MERELY COINCIDENTAL THAT MY 2006 HHR IS HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURE AND WAS NOT RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE RECALL! *TR
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION IN APRIL (WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS) DRAINED THE BATTERY AND WAS PICKED UP AND TAKEN TO SMICKLAS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN OKC, AND REMAINED THERE ON THE LOT UNTIL WE PICKED UP ON 8/8/14 WAS TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY THEY COULD DO FOR AROUND $200 BUT IT WAS NOT PAYDAY YET AND WE ASKED FOR A JUMP WHEN WE GOT THERE. I FEEL WITH IT SITTING THERE SO LONG MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE TRY TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AT THE VERY LEAST. WE GOT A FEW MILES DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER SO WE DIDN'T GET IN A WRECK OR CAUSE ONE DUE TO A TON OF SMOKE COMING OUT THE VENTS AND A TERRIBLE ELECTRICAL SMELL LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE! TURNED OFF THE A/C AND PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T A FIRE, NOT ONE WE COULD SEE BUT IT SURE SMELLED LIKE IT!! CALLED RAY AT SMICKLAS RIGHT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BLOWER MOTOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN CARS SIT FOR THAT LONG. FEELING HELPLESS, WE FINALLY GET HOME TO CHECK THINGS OUT AND FIND THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD FULL OF WATER, UNABLE TO SET THE TIME ON THE RADIO AND SOME BUTTONS WON'T WORK OR THE CD PLAYER AND THE NEW REMOTE START WILL NOT WORK. WE GET IT TO OUR MECHANIC THAT REPLACES THE BATTERY AND TOLD US THAT THE OLD ONE WAS VERY HOT!! AND THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT THE PROBLEM, IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE POWER TO IT, IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON...
THIS CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICED DUE TO RECALL ON IGNITION. I SPECIFIED TO THE SERVICE REP (WHEN I DROPPED IT FOR THE RECALL SERVICE) OF WHAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED BEFORE WE PARKED IT: THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE THEFT DETERRENT ALARM LIT UP, POWER STARTED TO FAIL, ALL GAUGES MOVED ERRATICALLY UP AND DOWN, DASHBOARD DISPLAY THEN FLASHED *****F, THEN FLASHED "POWER STEERING", AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE GOT OFF THE ROAD, FOUND A 2 AMP FUSE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH/PASS-KEY BLOWN, REPLACED #8 FUSE FROM SPARE.THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME. WE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM SEVERAL MORE TIMES BUT NO BLOWN FUSES. AFTER RECALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED THEY MADE NO NOTE OF ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BEING FOUND OR SERVICED THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED, AND NEARLY STRANDED US. NO BLOWN FUSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER DASH. . ON 8/16/2014 THE CAR DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN AT 55MPH. LUCKILY THE POWER STEERING NEVER WENT OUT TOTALLY, AND THE CAR BEHIND US AVOIDED OUR SUDDEN SLOW DOWN. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (NOT LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND SERVICED FRO 100,000 M) HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
A SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER STEERING OCCURS EVERY TIME I OPERATE MY 2006 CHEVY HHR FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. AFTER IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING WILL INITIALLY WORK CORRECTLY. AT A RANDOM TIME SOON AFTER DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WILL INEXPLICABLY FAIL, RESULTING IN A FAILOVER TO MANUAL STEERING. SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE FAILURE, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS IN THE INFORMATION DISPLAY - "POWER STEERING". TO SEE A VIDEO OF WHAT HAPPENS, SEE HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WFNP159D3PG THAT VIDEO WAS TAKEN BY ANOTHER PERSON, BUT EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY FAILURE. I WENT TO MR. TIRE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO HAVE THEM EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THE DEALER HAS TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. THEY DID SHOW ME THAT GM CANADA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. IT IS TITLED "RECALL - LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST" BULLETIN # 10413. IN CANADA THEY WILL REPLACE PART # 19257876 OR 19257875 MOTOR KIT, P/S ASST FOR NO CHARGE. WHY WON'T THEY REPAIR THIS IN THE USA? IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WITH MANUAL STEERING. I HAVE INJURED MY HIP NOW AND CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL ANYMORE. ANYWAY, HERE IS THE OFFICIAL CONDITION: A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STEERED, HOWEVER, WITH GREATER EFFORT (MANUAL STEERING). THE SLOWER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, THE HIGHER THE STEERING EFFORT. UNLESS A DRIVER COMPENSATES FOR THIS ADDITIONAL STEERING EFFORT, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF
2006 CHEVROLET HHR LS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DIC. HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING BACK HOME ON THE HIGHWAY. REPLACED FUSE AND STARTING WORKING AGAIN, BUT A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING MADE IT TURN BACK ON. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WORKED FINE, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. *TR
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE POWER STEERING MODULE, WHICH IS THE SAME ISSUE THE HAVE WITH THE COBALT OR VOLT. THEY RECALLED THESE OTHER VEHICLES; AND A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CHEVY HHR'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY PARTICULAR YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED, FOR SOME REASON. THIS IS NOT FAIR. THE IDENTICAL ISSUE IS HAPPENING WITH ALL YEARS OF THE HHR, BUT THE RECALL DIDN'T REFLECT THIS. I PAID ALMOST $300 TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED, SINCE CHEVY WASN'T DOING ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'VE ASKED THIS EXACT QUESTION TO CHEVY MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AT LEAST 3 TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVE. *TR
I WAS GOING TO LEAVE FOR WORK AT 3:25 PM, MARCH 4, 2014. I GOT IN , STARTED THE CAR, PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD TO STEER, I COULDN'T STEER AT ALL. MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. I WAS PANICKED, AND HAD TO CALL OUT FROM WORK, I KNEW I WAS LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I LEFT WORK THE NIGHT BEFORE. IT REALLY STRUCK ME THAT THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, OR DRIVING UP THE MOUNTAIN TO RUNNING SPRINGS, TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH MY FIANCEE. LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE RECENT RECALLS FOR POWER STEERING RECALLS, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT APART OF THAT PARTICULAR RECALL...WHY NOT! I THOUGHT, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN, MY DEATH? SO, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO ALSO THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECALL AS WELL...I HAD TO PAY FOR THE POWER STEERING COLUMN MYSELF, AT $400, AND REMOVE AND REPLACE THE COLUMN AT $150, PLUS TAX OF $48.00, FOR THE GRAND TOTAL OF $598. THIS UNEXPECTED EXPENSE CAUSED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD GM INCLUDED MY CAR IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL. I'M LUCKY THAT UNLIKE THE OTHERS WHO HAD TO DIE TO INITIATE THIS RECALL, I'M STILL HERE. GM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE, WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS LESS THAN THE LAWSUITS OF THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED, ARE ASKING FOR. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, HAD I BEEN ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS, MY FAMILY WOULD BE ONE OF TH
ON MY WAY TO WORK I SLOWED DOWN TO CHANGE LANES TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN TO A PARKING LOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A MAJOR JOLT AND MY FOOT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS LOOKING DOWN AT MY RIGHT FOOT AND SEEING IT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THINKING I NEED TO MOVE MY FOOT. I REMEMBER THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR A MOMENT WHEN I ASKED THEM NOT TO CUT MY CLOTHES. MY NEXT MEMORY IS FOR A MOMENT IN ICU AND THEN I WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL ROOM A WEEK LATER. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE CAR CROSSED THE TWO WESTBOUND LANES AND HIT A SIGN AND FENCE, JUMPED THE CURB, AND THEN HIT SHRUBBERY AND SEVERAL HEADSTONES AT A MEMORIAL SALES BUSINESS. POLICE ESTIMATED MY SPEED AT 50 MPH? I THINK THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE JOLT AND DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I WAS DISABLED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I AM UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK. ACCORDING TO GM I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE IF THE IGNITION CAUSED THE ACCIDENT? *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN ITS BEEN GOING IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME EVEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AFTER A EXHAUSTING SEARCH I SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND I ALSO SEEN THEY DID DO A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2009 CHEVY HHR THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL WITH THE 2006 CHEVY HHR AS IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE 2009 MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] [XXX] DID GET A DIAGNOSTIC DONE THRU A CHEVY DEALER AND IT CAME BACK AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HHR AND CHEVY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED IM A WORKING PERSON AND THE MONEY FOR THE MOTOR ISN'T EASY TO COME BY LIVING IN NY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ANYONE CAN GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR THIS IS THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE 2009 CHEVY HHR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 THIS IS REGARDING THE STEERING IN THE CHEVY HHR 2009 THE SAME PROBLEM IS IN THE 2006 CHEVY HHR PLEASE CALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WE WERE ON VACATION AND I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 30 MPH. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND AND IMMEDIATELY MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A CHIME, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE BEND I WAS GOING AROUND AND I HIT A LIGHT POLE DAMAGING MY FRONT BUMPER. AT THAT SAME TIME, MY MHP AND RMP NEEDLES BEGAN BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH AND THE CAR WAS "JERKING". I TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT WAS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THE NEEDLES BOUNCED AND CAR JERKED. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL GM POWER STEERING RECALLS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF HHR, COBALT AND SATURNS. THEY ALL HAVE VERY SIMILAR POWER STEERING MECHANISMS. HOWEVER, MY YEAR, 2006, WAS NOT ON THAT RECALL. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 2006 HHR'S COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
I WAS DRIVING MY WIFES CAR TO THE GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED, AS I ENTERED THE CLOVERLEAF EXITING THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING FAILED, I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND SHOWED THE SERVIVE MANAGER WHAT IT DID, HE FELT OF THE STEERING AND AGREED THE POWER STEERING WAS BAD, HE CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE COBALT HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HANDLE FAILED. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. AFTER THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED, SHE FOUND IT HAD ROLLED AWAY THREE HOUSES DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE HAD DRIVEN OVER A CURB, SIDESWIPED A TREE, AND CRASHED INTO CINDER BLOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE COVER INTERLOCK WAS REMOVED. THE SHIFTER DID NOT LOCK INTO GEAR. THE LOCK WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN ANY PAPERWORK TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUES. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTS. UPDATED 11/25/2014 *JS
LOST ALL ELECTRONIC POWER AND STEERING AND SHUT OFF WOUND UP IN THE DITCH WHICH STOPPED THE CAR KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION. *TR
ALL ELECTRONIC SHUT OFF NO BRAKES NO STEERING WOUND UP IN THE DITCH KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT FROM THE PARKING LOT AFTER WORK ONE EVENING, I BEGAN TO HEAR A CHIME LIKE TONE, AT THE SAME TIME A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "POWER STEERING..." I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR A POSSIBLE BROKEN POWER STEERING BELT, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE POWER STEERING PUMP .RE STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I LATER DISCOVERED THE POWER SYSTEM ASSIST CONSIST OF AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AND NOT A HYDRAULIC. AS TIME PASSED, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW, ONCE THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE, IT TAKES ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES, IF NOT SECONDS, BEFORE I HEAR THE CHIME, THE MESSAGE SHOWS UP, AND HERE I GO AGAIN, STRUGGLING TO STEER WITH ONE HAND AND SHIFTING WITH THE OTHER, AT TIMES THROUGH VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. MY CAR IS A STANDARD SHIFT. IT HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO CROSS LANES WILE STEERING WITH ONE HAND AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS DURING HEAVY AND SLOW TRAFFIC. I AM BEGINNING TO SUFFER SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED GM ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE GM REP. SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POWER STEERING RECALL, ONLY RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND POWER STEERING ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS, MY 2006 HHR SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH AND THE POWER STEERING ISSUES. *TR
THIS STARTED 3 DAYS AGO. THE POWER STEERING SHOWED ON THE DASH AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. READING THE MANUAL FOR THIS ISSUE A YEAR AGO IT SAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR AND THE STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER THE ISSUE PROGRESSED AND TODAY WAS GOING OUT EVERY FEW MILES. AND I WAS JUST AT THE CHEVROLET SERVICE FOR ANOTHER RECALL AND ASKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS A BAD SITUATION AND VERY UNSAFE. I BELIEVE THE POWER STEERING WILL BE GONE COMPLETELY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE RIGHT AWAY AS THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I USE IT TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR AND ON SUNDAY THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A GM MEDIA RELEASE RELATING TO THE POWER STEERING. (HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML) I CHECKED WITH A COUPLE OF LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. IN THE MEDIA RELEASE IT CLEARLY STATES THAT "IN ADDITION, 309,160 NON-TURBOCHARGED CHEVROLET HHRS FROM THE 2006-2008 MODEL YEARS (AND SEVERAL HUNDRED 2009 MODELS) AND 96,324 SATURN IONS FROM THE 2003 MODEL YEAR THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THESE RECALLS WILL BE GIVEN LIFETIME WARRANTIES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR." EVEN THOUGH MY HHR IS A NON-TURBO 2006 MODEL, AND MY POWER STEERING IS NON-OPERABLE (HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY CASH PAYMENT BY ME) AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA RELEASE, FOR WHATEVER REASON I'M NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW VIN #'S ARE SELECTED FOR A RECALL, BUT I FEEL SINCE MY VEHICLE APPARENTLY FALLS UNDER THE PERIMETERS OF THE RECALL WHY IS IT NOT INCLUDED. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS I AM ON A LOW FIXED INCOME. REGARDS *TR
LETTER FROM SENATOR RUBIO ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ISSUES WITH HIS 2006 CHEVROLET HHR; HE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LOST BILLING TIME AND REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL OF THE HHR CHEVROLET; ATTN: JASON TEAMAN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE ENCOUNTERED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WERE RELATED TO THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, WHERE THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO, WHERE IT WOULD TURN ON BY ITSELF. ALSO, THE LIGHTS AND WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. *JB UPDATED 04/13/15.*JB
DRIVING DOWN THE I-80 AT 75 MILES PER HOUR. WENT TO PULL OUT TO PASS A SEMI TRUCK, ALARM WENT OFF, POWER STEERING SHOWED ON DRIVERS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AS I TRIED TO MOVE BACK INTO SLOWER LANE I NOTICED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AT FIRST EXIT I PULLED OFF . TURN CAR OFF. AFTER A SHIRT BREAK RESTARTED CAR TO TRY TO MAKE IT 20 MILES TO HOME THINKING POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES OUT AGAIN SO I JUST KEEP GOING TO HOME. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY STATED I AM NOT PART OF THE RECALL ISSUED ON HHR'S BUT I KNOW THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSE ME TO IT THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING ALONG SUDDENLY THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. IT TOOK 20 MINUTES TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKING A USED CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE ,DOWNSHIFTING TO STOP AT A LIGHT TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN HEARD AN ALARM THEN THE POWER STEERING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT IT WAS HARD STEERING AND THE LIGHT WAS ON , HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS JUST LOW ON FLUID. I GOT HOME AND DID SOME CHECKING TO FIND THAT IT'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR OR WHAT? I PUT DOWN A $2000.00 DEPOSIT WHICH THEY SAY IS NON REFUNDABLE. ARE THEY LIABLE TO FIX IT BEFORE I LEAVE THE LOT OR DO I WAIT FOR A RECALL? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20-60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THE STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD ALERT FROM MY CAR. THEN I SAW "POWER STEERING" ON THE SCREEN. AFTER THAT, I COULDN'T TURN MY POWER STEERING ANYMORE. I ONLY COULD DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT WAS DANGEROUS, I FELT LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON HIGHWAYS. MY BABY AND MY WIFE WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THAT MOMENT. I ONLY SAW GM RECALL 2009 AND 2010 HHR, BUT NOT 2006. I HOPE GM WILL RECALL FOR 2006 HHR. *TR
I WAS TAKING MY CHILDREN TO THE DENTIST, SO I WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I HAD JUST WENT THROUGH A VERY CURVY ROAD AND WAS ON A STRAIGHT PART WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID NOT REALIZING UNTIL LATER IT IS ELECTRONIC. I TURNED THE CAR OF AND BACK ON. IT WAS RESET. I DROVE OVER THE NEXT PART OF THE MOUNTAIN SLOWLY LIKE 25 TO 30 MPH. I MADE IT OVER THE MOUNTAIN ON TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY. IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I DID THE SAME THING PULLED OVER TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. I DID NOT GET TO DRIVE BUT A COUPLE OF MILES AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I MADE IT TO A COUNTRY STORE AND PARKED THE CAR. I CALLED MY PARENTS TO SEE IF THEY COULD COME GET US/ TOW THE CAR. THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THEM THAT I DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO THEM. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED, I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WENT OUT AGAIN ON THE TRIP HOME 2 MORE TIMES. I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TAKING THE LONG WAY BACK NOT OVER THE MOUNTAIN. THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT IF MY CAR WAS ON A RECALL LIST FOR THE POWER STEERING. SINCE I AM ON THE LIST FOR IGNITION PROBLEM, I AM REFUSING TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED. MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED IF THE POWER STEERING HAD WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING OVER THE MOUNTAIN. WHERE I LIVE THE ROADS ARE CURVY ESPECIALLY THE MOUNTAIN I WENT OVER! I REALLY THINK THE STEERING ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY HURT. THE YOUNG GENERATION HAVE NO EXPERIEN
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 HHR.I REPLACED SOLENOIDS AND IT STOPPED FOR A FEW YEARS .I AM SICK OF IT I CALLED CHEVY YEARS AGO AND THEY WANTED ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT WITH NO GUARANTEES, I ALREADY PAID A MECHANIC HUNDREDS AND HAD A READOUT FOR THEM. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A SEMI TRUCK EXITING HWY ONE MORNING TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ANOTHER EXCITING HWY ALSO I HAVE A LIST 2013/2014 NOW I WAS DRIVING LOCAL AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT YET AGAIN. I WAS RELAXED NOT READY FOR IT...IT HAS BEEN GOING ON OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. I REPLACED FUSE AS TOLD AND I THOUGHT IT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW WEEKS NOTHING .I COULD PUT DOWN AT LEAST 10 DATES WHEN I HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WITH THIS PROBLEM... I HAVE READ 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS ON POWER STEERING PROBLEMS & SHIFTER WITH 2006 HHR ON DIFFERENT SITES. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? AMAZING A BIG COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS .THEY WAIT UNTIL A PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
2006 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN MAY 2014. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, FROM TIME-TO TIME, THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER MAY NOT PROPERLY TRANSMIT AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL THAT ALLOWS THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED COUNTER CLOCKWISE PAST THE ACCESSORY MODE TO THE LOCK POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 03/11/15. *JB
2006 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SHUT OFF, WHEN A BUMP WAS HIT IN THE ROAD. THAT WAS ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AGO. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, TO REMEDY THE RECALL.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVY HHR TO THE STORE AND AS I WAS PULLING IN THE DASH READ POWER STEERING AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I STOP THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE STORE AND WENT IN. I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED AND HAD NO PROBLEM. I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR THE NEXT DAY. SO MONDAY I WAS HEADED FOR WORK AND WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING DID THE SAME THING. AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK IT NICE AND SLOW TO WORK AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED. I GOT MY CAR BACK TODAY (TUESDAY JULY 8, 2014) AND WAS NOT THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND POWER STEERING DID IT AGAIN. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND ON THE INTERNET AND SEE WHERE THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2009-2011 CHEVY HHR THAT ARE DOING THE SAME THING AS MY CAR. HOWEVER I DID SEE THAT MORE 2006 CHEVY HHRS ARE DOING THE SAME THING AND WOULD LIKE FOR TO YOU LOOK INTO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD BE A RECALL ALSO. I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS. *JS
GAS LINE IS VERY RUSTED AND HAS A GAS LEAK AT THE FIRST RETAINER CLIP BY THE FUEL TANK. LEAKS A LOT OF GAS. THIS LINE SHOULD NOT RUST THE WAY IT DID, VERY RUSTY AT EVERY BEND IN FUEL LINE. *JS
THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHER POWER STEERING RECALLS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MODEL YEAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS ELECTRICAL. PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING THIS ON THE RECALL LIST AS WELL, SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY HHR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *JS
MAKING TURN INTO PARKING LOT HEAR A DING AND NOT STEERING, AFTER SHUT OFF CAR AND MOTOR COOLS THE STEERING WORKS HAPPEN AGAIN A FEW TIMES SOMETIMES GOING STRAIGHT SOMETIMES MAKING TURNS, CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
2006 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION KEY REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT PUSHING A BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE NEW SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR CONTINUOUSLY FOR A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE SHIFTER MECHANISM MUST BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE TYPE OF FAILURE THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,189. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT
POWER STEERING IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ALL ROAD TYPES AND SPEEDS WITH THE LAST INCIDENT ACCRUING WHILE MY 19 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY MAKING A TURN. I AM TOLD BY THE LOCAL CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP THAT THE POWER ASSIST MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE MECHANISM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN THE CHEVY COBALT. WHY HAS THE 06 HHR NOT BEEN ADDED TO THE RECALL? *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR → · Every HHR year → · How the figures are calculated →