2008 Chevrolet HHR complaints

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 CHEVROLET HHR FAILS OFTEN. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND THEN WILL NOT HAPPEN SOMETIMES FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR TIME IT HAPPENS. SOMETIMES I AM JUST DRIVING ALONG AND IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING TO FLOOR BOARD, CANNOT GET VEHICLE INTO REVERSE GEAR. CLUTCH PEDAL STARTS FEELING SQUISHY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PEDAL WILL STICK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CLUTCH WILL BE FULLY ENGAGED. HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL PEDAL UP WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF TO USE CLUTCH AGAIN. REVERSE GEAR GRINDS AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AROUND THE SAME TIME THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTS ACTING UP. *TR

I ALSO OWN A 2008 CHEVY HHR LT THAT IS LOADED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND CURRENTLY HAVE 39,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS AND GM REPLACED SOME OF THEM. GM INSTALLED A NEW INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN, DRAG LINKS,TURNED ROTORS 4 TIMES AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE BRAKES ONCE AGAIN WENT TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET. I ORDERED A SET OF RACING ROTORS AND CERAMIC BRAKES, THIS CURED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. AT 37,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR. I REPLACED THE SENSOR AND RESET THE LIGHT AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I REALLY LIKE THE VEHICLE, BUT GM NEEDS TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND DO MORE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. *TR

I TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT'S STALLING IN TRAFFIC REPEATEDLY WHEN I AM TRYING TO COME TO A STOP AND EVEN ONCE WHEN JUST DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND DIAGNOSTICS WEREN'T REPORTING ANY PROBLEMS. THEY RELEASED VEHICLE THAT NEXT DAY AND IT STALLED ON ME IN LOT. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO STALL YET IT HAPPENED WITHIN FIVE MIN OF ME PICKING IT UP. I THEN TOOK IT BACK THEY KEPT IT FOR THE WEEKEND. RELEASED IT BACK TO ME AFTER I WAS TOLD IT HAD STALLED ONCE BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I CONTACTED G.M CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEN THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I GOT THE REPORT STATED IT HESITATED AND WHEN I ASKED WHY THEY PUT THAT DOWN AND NOT THAT IT HAD STALLED LIKE THE KATHY HAD TOLD ME ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IT HAD DONE, THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER ME. THE CAR STILL STALLS IN TRAFFIC AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. I WILL NO LONGER TAKE IT HERE. I JUST WANT MY CAR TO BE SAFE WHERE I WON'T GET HIT DOING UTURNS INTO TRAFFIC LIKE I ALMOST HAVE BEEN WITH MY BABY THE DAY I PICKED UP VEHICLE. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK TO START IT OVER AGAIN. I CAN'T DO THAT ON THIS BUSY HWY I LIVE ON WITH TRAFFIC COMING AT ME AS FAST AS IT DOES IN THIS CITY. *TR

2008 HHR SS 5 SPEED, CLUTCH IS STICKING TO THE FLOOR BOARDS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEARS ALL THE TIME. SERIOUS DRIVELINE NOISES AND VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE A CAN ROLLING DOWN A HILL IN THE WIND WHEN RUNNING. *TR

WE OWN A 2008 HHR AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE . FIRST WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN DEC 2008 IT HAD 23,000 MILES ON IT. TWO MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS ON IT AND AFTER FIGHTING WITH GM THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE ROTORS. AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD US THAT THE CAR NEEDED NEW TIRES AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AT 26,000 MILES . THEN JUST TWO MONTHS AGO AT 61,000 MILES IT HAD A RUMBLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END ,THE DRIVETRAIN WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY.THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE BEARING WAS BAD AND THEY REPLACED IT,AND ALSO AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD US THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO US OF OVER $400.00 . JUST LAST WEEK THE RUMBLING NOISE RETURNED , I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY TOLD US THAT THIS THE LEFT AXLE BEARING WAS BAD, WARRANTY ALSO COVERED THIS REPAIR. ALSO THEY SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE FRONT ROTORS TURNED AND NEW BRAKE PADS ON IT .MY WIFE HIT A POTHOLE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND BENT THE WHEEL . COST TO REPLACE THE WHEEL WAS $150.00 . WHEN I ROTATED THE TIRES AS PER GMS ADVICE I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS LEAKING ,AND AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER. THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS CAR WAS ITS LOOKS. SO NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO BUY A FORD FOCUS.. ITS NO WONDER GM HAD TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT BAIL THEM OUT... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. ALSO IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT , WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 8 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. MOMENTS LATER THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NEITHER FAILURE COULD BE REPRODUCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE SIDE PASSENGER CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT WAS PULLED SO TIGHT AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYONE NOR WAS IT STRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND IS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,430.

2008 HHR-CHEVROLET. MANUAL TRANSMISSION. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TOP HALF OF THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB CAME OFF AND FELL INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR AND UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS JUST EXTREMELY LUCKY IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE WHERE I COULD DOWN SHIFT TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO REMOVE THE TOP OF THE KNOB. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO BRING IT IN HE SAID THERE WAS SOMEBODY STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER-SIDE REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE AND SOMETIMES FROM THE OUTSIDE. HE HAS TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LATCH WERE REPLACED. ALSO THE LUBRICATION WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR LATCHES AND LOCK RODS. NEITHER OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,091.

2008 CHEVY HHR, STALL 5 TIMES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, NO HAZARD LIGHT TO WARNED OTHER DRIVERS OF VEHICLE PRESENT. *TR

RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK INOP. *TR

MY MOTHER EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE SIDE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I TOLD HER TO TAKE IT TO CHEVY FOR REPAIRS. THEY PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON THE CAR AT MY EXPENSE. I AM A MECHANIC AND IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR THE FRICTION PAD TO BE MISSING ON THE BRAKES, THAT IS A PART FAILURE NOT WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE THE PARTS TAKEN OFF MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE REPAIR OCCURRED, THAT PROVES MY STATEMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER THIS SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL THE NEW ROTORS ARE WARPED. ALSO I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHEVY SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED THE BRAKES ARE HARD. IF A SMALL CHILD WALKS OUT THERE COULD BE A FATALITY DUE TO THIS FAILURE. I AM IN THE MILITARY AND LIVE ON POST WITH MANY YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE SIDEWALK GOES BY MY HOUSE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE BRAKES BEING HARD UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE MADE BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE CHEVY HHR'S. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE WHEN SHE HYDROPLANED SHE HIT THE CEMENT WALL AT ABOUT 35-40MPH HEAD ON PUSHED THE BUMPER BACK ABOUT 6-8 IN NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS THIS RIGHT? *TR

BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE BUMPED INTO PEDESTRIAN THAT WAS IN VEHICLE'S BLIND SPOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUMPER PAINT WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT IN ORDER TO PREVENT CORROSION, RUNNING BOARDS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21000.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE STRUCK A SMALL PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCTURED THE TRANSFER CASE. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE SHIELD WAS MISSING, THE DEBRIS WAS ABLE TO PUNCTURE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSMISSION, GASKET, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,031- UPDATED 10/09/09 *CN UPDATED 10/16/09

IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF - KEY WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. *TR

MY VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE SQUARELY ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. VEHICLES TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. DURING COLLISION DRIVERS HEAD STRUCK DOOR FRAME. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *TR

2008 HHR SS FAULTY BRAKES FROM COLD START. EXCESSIVE FRONTAL BRAKE DUST. SERVICED AT 2000 MILES. SERVICED AGAIN AT 17,000 MILES NEEDING NEW BRAKES.DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL CONDITION. MY SS MODEL HAS 2 DIFFERENT FRONT SEATS WHICH DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL .SPEED CONTROL FLOATS,SLOW TO RESPOND..ORIGINALLY FROZE AT 70MPH. I DID RECEIVE A CITATION FOR SPEEDING CUZ OF MALFUNCTIONED. L/F /F AND R/F TIRE PRESSURE READINGS ARE REVERSED ACCORDING TO THE IP. VERY IRATE 30 YEAR GM EMPLOYEE WHO PAID CASH FOR THIS MESS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT WOULD LOCK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RECALLS. GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A STRAIGHT POSITION AND ENSURE THAT THE WHEELS WERE ALSO STRAIGHT. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO WIGGLE THE KEY. AFTER TEN MINUTES, SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONCE SHE INSERTED THE KEY AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,377 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 8/18/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. UPDATED 08/21/09.*JB

SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE MY WIFE LEAVING WORK THE CAR STALLED. FIRST TIME HER SPEED WAS APROX. 40 MPH, 10 MINUTES INTO HER DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK THE 2008 CHEVY HHR TO THE DEALER IN CHINO CALIFORNIA ON FEB,26,2009 .THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS,AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. SECOND TIME HER SPEED WAS APROX, 35 MPH, 5 MINUTES INTO HER DRIVE. DATE JUNE 30,2009. BOTH TIMES SEE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND BOTH TIMES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT AWAY WITH NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE. *TR

CAR WAS APPROX 4 MONTHS OLD AND BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING-TOOK INTO DEALER-THEY TURNED THE ROTORS-FIXED FOR ABOUT 2 WKS - ITS BACK AGAIN AND NOW WHEN I APPLY BRAKES THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I'VE TRIED TO ENTER SEVERAL TIMES - IT WILL NOT TAKE IT. *TR

AFTER A SIDE COLLISION MY CAR ROLLED AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY 2008 HHR LS HAS NO SIDE AIRBAGS, HOWEVER IT HAS DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS AND THESE DID NO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY CAR ALSO HAS SUBSTANTIAL FRONTAL DAMAGE FROM THE ROLL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT UNIT MELTED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS NEXT TO THE GAS TANK AND SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER VEHICLE EXPLODING. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE STARTS THE VEHICLE AND DRIVES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, THERE IS NO BRAKING POWER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE. SHE MUST PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MUCH FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ON ONE OCCASION, THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH A BROCHURE TO KEEP IN HER VEHICLE IN CASE OF A CRASH, WHICH STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE AND WAS NOT AT FAULT FOR THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,350.

TWICE IN THE FIRST 30000 MILES A PULSATING FEELING IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE HAD DEVELOPED. THE DEALER SAID THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE FIX WAS TO TURN THE ROTORS. THE NEXT TIME THEY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS NEED FOR BRAKE SERVICE EVERY 15,000 MILES IS NOT RIGHT. THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL CAUSE ME TO INCUR A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR

GAUGE SHOWS YOU ARE GOING 120MPH, HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, LAST FOR A FEW HOURS TO A FEW DAYS. NOT SAFE NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY HHR. FOUR MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING EXCESSIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT INTO VAL-MARK CHEVROLET, NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD REALLY FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THE FRONT PADS WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. THEY WERE REPLACED. IN DECEMBER OF 08, I TOOK MY CAR TO CHAMPION CHEVROLET, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THE BACK ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THAT WAS DONE. I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY CAR BACK IN TO VAL-MARK. NOW THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AND NEED TO BE RESURFACED. MR. JIM ROBINSON OF VAL-MARK SAYS THAT I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE RESURFACING. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL RESURFACING IN ONLY PUTTING A BANDAID ON THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED POSITIONS AND STATES THAT THE FRONT PAD WERE NOT REPLACED FOR UNEVEN WARE, BUT ONLY AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. *TR

POPPING, CRACKING, GRINDING SOUND AND CAR VIBRATING UPON APPLYING BRAKES. VERY HARD TO GET CAR TO STOP TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID SOMETHING WAS LOOSE UNDER THE CAR AND THEY HAD TO CUT AND PIECE IT BACK TOGETHER. SOUND STOPPED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND IS BACK WORSE THAN BEFORE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS 8,400 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HURT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING AT BUYING AND OLDER CAR TO DRIVE AROUND IN. *TR

NO CRASHES, 22000 MILES ON THE CAR. HEARD THIS NOISE FOR ABOUT 2000 MILES BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. 1. FRONT END SUSPENSION POPPING NOISE 2. THEY TOLD ME THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED REPLACED. THREE WEEKS LATER, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN THIS WEEK. THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. *TR

I WAS DRIVING A 2008 CHEVY HHR AND WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL BY GM OF CERTAIN 2008 GM HHR MODELS FOR ISSUES WITH ROOF RAIL AIRBAGS. I AM WONDERING WHY NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND STALLED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. HE HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED RIGHT BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 3 OR 4 TIMES. SHE STRUCK THE SIDE OF HER HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW AND STATED THAT HER HEAD BECAME NUMB. SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE SAME DAY AND THE DOCTOR INFORMED HER THAT THE INJURIES WERE MINOR; HOWEVER, SHE NEEDED TO VISIT HER PHYSICIAN. THE OTHER PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOWS AND THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,200.

BRAKES LOSE VACUUM WHEN CAR SITS FOR A WHILE. ON A COLD START THERE IS LITTLE BRAKING POWER UNTIL THE VACUUM BUILDS UP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT GM DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 6 MONTHS WITH NO FIX. IT'S UNSAFE AND I HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN DUE TO HAVING TEENAGE DRIVERS. *TR

JUST BOUGHT AN 2008 HHR 18000 MILES ON IT DROVE IT HOME THEN WENT TO GO OUT AND NOW THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. KEY JUST GOES IN AND OUT. THE 800 SERVICE PEOPLE NO HELP JUST SAID JIGGLE KEYS AND KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN... ANY ANSWERS OUT THERE??? THINK THEY NEED A RECALL AFTER READING SO MANY PROBLEMS THE HHR IGNITION SWITCH HAS... SOME EVEN SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO SHUTOFF AND THEY KEYS ARE STUCK. *TR

AFTER PURCHASE OF A NEW 2008 HHR ON 22 SEPTEMBER 2008, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON GETTING INTO IT THE NEXT MORNING I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE AND NOTICE A VERY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. I THEN STARTED DOWN THE DRIVE WAY AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT THE STREET THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH MY BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED INTO THE STREET. THIS BECAME A ROUTINE SITUATION UPON "COLD STARTUP'S" AND WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER,(JOHN DONOGHUE CHEVROLET, WHITEVILLE, NC) AFTER SEVERAL POOR STOPS, MY SALESMAN ADVISED "YEAH WE KNOW ABOUT IT AS WE'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 2008 SOLSTICES". WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A POSSIBLE FIX HE ADVISED THAT " A PART ON THE TURBO FIXES THE PROBLEM." I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED UPON MY RETURN FROM VACATION ON OR ABOUT 26 OCT 08. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF WITH THE SERVICE WRITER/MANAGER AND NO MENTION WAS MADE AS TO POTEN TIAL PROBLEMS FIXING THE CAR. UPON MY RETURN SEVERAL HOURS LATER I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEM IS SYSTEMIC TO 2008 TURBO ENGINES AND GENERAL MOTORS DOESN'T WANT TO RECALL THE CARS. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER PROVIDED ME WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT GM PUT OUT AS A POTENTIAL "FIX" BUT HE REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY READJUSTED THE COMPUTER, PER THE BULLETIN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY ON COLD STARTUP. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE BULLETIN ADVISED THAT "THEY ARE WORKING ON THE ISSUE." *

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 CHEVY HHR THAT I PURCHASED IN AUGUST. MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOORS. IN SEVERAL OCCASSIONS MY KIDS HAVE NOT CLOSED THE DOORS HARD ENOUGH, AND THE DOORS HAVE STAYED OPEN. THE CAR HAS FAILED TO INFORM ME. WE ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE WE CAN HEAR THE WIND AS I AM DRIVING FASTER. ALSO IN TESTING THE CAR, THE DOOR WASN'T EVEN ON THE HATCH AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT WARN OF THE DOOR BEING OPEN AND THE CAR WAS IN MOVEMENT. WHILE NO ACCIDENT OR DEATH HAS OCCURRED YET, THIS A IS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN SOMEONE'S DEATH. *TR

CHEVY HHR 2008 - COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT. COULDN'T UNLOCK DOORS OR WINDOW TO ESCAPE VEHICLE. CALLED 911 FAIRFIELD CT, FIRE DEPT RESPONDED TO OPEN VEHICLE. TRAPPED INSIDE FOR 15 MINUTES. PROBLEM WITH CAR'S FUSE BOX, CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER JUST 10 MINUTES EARLIER TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-95. *TR

CHEVY 2008 HHR SS INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSIST. EXTREMELY HARD PEDAL DURING FIRST 3-5 MINUTES FAILS TO STOP CAR DURING THIS PERIOD. *TR

MY 2008 CHEVY HHR SS BRAKES DO NOT HAVE POWER ASSIST ON A COLD START. AFTER THIRTY SECONDS OR MORE THE BRAKES WORK FINE. UNLESS I WAIT FOR THE BRAKES TO WARM UP THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BRAKE POWER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A NORMAL MANNER. IT SEEMS TO TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO STOP. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VIBRATES. GM SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS DOES NOT POSE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE, IF A DRIVE NEGLECTS TO LET THE BRAKES "WARM UP" HE OR SHE COULD POTENTIALLY RUN A CHILD OVER OR JUST NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS ONLY AN ISSUE ON THE SS MODELS. *TR

BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ANY EXTENDED TIME (OVERNIGHT, ETC..) BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN 3 BARELY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE GM DISALLOWED ANY FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN DUE TO THEIR TECHNICAL BULLETIN SAYING THAT THE DEFECT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 HHR SS WITH THE 2.0L TURBO ENGINE THAT IN MY OPINION HAS A SEVERE BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP AFTER BEING LEFT OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE PROPERLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. MOST TIMES THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AS THE CAR WARMS UP AND IS BEING DRIVEN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PROGRAMMED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THAT WAS THE FIX. THEY DESCRIBED THE FIX AS ADJUSTING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF PRESSURE. THIS ONLY HELPED SLIGHTLY AND NOW WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES I CAN FEEL THE ABS PULSATING AND EVEN WITH FULL PRESSURE APPLIED THE CAR JERKS WHEN STOPPED AND EVEN INCHES FORWARD WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP FOR AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES. I DO NOT THINK THE "FIX" OF PROGRAMMING THE VEHICLES COMPUTER IS ADEQUATE AND WHEN I CALLED BACK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP APPLIED THEIR FIX THEY TOLD ME THAT IS ALL THEY CAN DO. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY REPORTED ISSUES OF DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS SO IT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD ENOUGH TO CONSTITUTE A PERMANENT FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT MAXIMUM PRESSURE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE SPEED AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,198.

CAR HAS HARDLY ANY BRAKES IN THE MORNINGS OR AFTER IT HAS SIT FOR A WHILE. THEY WORK FINE AFTER DRIVING FOR A BIT. THIS IS UNSAFE. WE'VE ALMOST SLID OUT INTO THE STREET BACKING DOWN OUR STEEP DRIVEWAY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED BRAKE CONTROL MODULE, SECOND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION, I ABOUT BLEW A GASKET, IS IT NORMAL FOR YOUR BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY? I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR.*TR

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY HHR SS TURBO WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT HAS ONLY ABOUT 1400 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES. AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE OVERNIGHT OR WHILE AT WORK FOR 12 HOURS WHEN I FIRST GET INTO THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. THEY ARE VERY HARD AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WORK. I DONE MY RESEARCH AND CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T HAVE THE FIX AVAILABLE YET. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. HOPEFULLY I WON'T GET IN A WRECK BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS MAKING ME BRING THE RENT A CAR BACK AND MAKING ME DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY NEW 2008 CHEVROLET HHR/SS. WHEN FIRST APPLYING BRAKES AFTER INITIAL START-UP AND AFTER SITTING LONG ENOUGH FOR VACUUM TO LEAK DOWN. THERE IS AN INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY AND TRAVEL OF PEDAL IS ALSO INCREASED. PEDAL IS SPONGY AND BOOSTER IS INOPERATIVE UNTIL VACUUM IS RESTORED BY REVVING ENGINE OR DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TURBO AND VACUUM/BOOST GAUGE. THE INITIAL VACUUM IS DROPPED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE, LEFT OVERNIGHT BOTH TIMES, AND DUPLICATED BOTH TIMES. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER PER SERVICE LETTER. THE SECOND TIME THEY SUPPOSEDLY ORDERED A MASTERCYLINDER BUT STILL NO PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, PROBABLY NOT EVEN EXAMINED! NOW THEY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION AND I TELL THEM IT'S NOT! THE DEALER SERVICE MGR. HAS TOLD ME THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT HAVE NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. HE BLAMES IT ON THE TURBO! IT IS SURELY A VACUUM LEAK OR BOOSTER PROBLEM YET THEY SEEM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND! I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 30+ YEARS AND I KNOW THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! THE DEALER DOESN'T EVEN WANT ME TO BRING IT BACK IN AS THEY SAY "IT CANNOT BE FIXED, IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM!" *TR

WHEN YOU START OUR NEW CHEVROLET HHR SS COLD AND DRIVE OFF TO QUICKLY THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK HARD AND WON'T STOP THE CAR VERY WELL. ISSUE GOES AWAY ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. DEALER SAYS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR AND I SAY NO WAY.*TR

I HAVE A 2008 HHR SS, THAT HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM WHEN FIRST STARTED OR HAS SET FOR APPROX. 8 HOURS. I HAVE ALMOST RAN OUT OF OUR PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE SECOND TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FACTORY SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 2.0 ENGINE AND TURBO. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF SERVICE BULLETIN AND AT THE END ,IT STATES (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE OHB). BULLETIN NUMBER IS 07-05-22-002. THE SECOND BULLETIN NUMBER GIVE TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP IS 08-05-22-001. THE FOLLOWING OPTIMIZED HYDRAULIC BRAKE (OHB) #1-RATCHET SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING OHB ACTIVATION. #2-BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT OR PULSATION WHEN OHB IS ACTIVE. #3-INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT UNDER LOW BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM. #4-CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT WHEN OHB IS ACTIVE. #5-FREQUENT BRAKE STOPS MAY RESULT IN OHB ACTIVATION. #6-HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING MAY RESULT IN OHB ACTIVATION. THE WAY I READ ALL THIS IS WHEN OHB ACTIVATES, YOU MAY HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL I COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS (THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HHR WITH TURBO). THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING AND THERE IS NOT A CURE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS NORMAL FOR THE TURBO MODELS. I GUESS WHEN A FEW PEOPLE GETS KILLED THEY MAY TRY TO FIND A FIX. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS LESS TH