Page 9 of 13 · complaints 401–450 of 616

2008 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 2008 record →

Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2014110,000 milesMI

THE POWER ASST. FOR THE STEERING STOP WORKING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 14, 2014113,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD SPORADICALLY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKING SYSTEM AND IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED. THE LOCKING SYSTEM AND THE IGNITION WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

Steering
Filed Mar 13, 201481,000 milesIL

DRIVING HOME AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. CONTINUES TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTART IT WILL WORK BUT NOT FOR LONG. TOOK TO DEALER AND NO REAL SOLUTION TO PROBLEM GIVEN. JUST TOLD HIT OR MISS ON PARTS. I ONE DOESN'T WORK REPLACE ANOTHER. CAR IS GARBAGE. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 12, 201480,000 milesVA

WE HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR THAT THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF DURING DRIVING, TO REMEDY THE ISSUE YOU JUST HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT IT, HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THE COBALTS WITH THE SAME PART AND ISSUE HAVE BEEN RECALLED, THEY ARE NOT DOING THIS FOR THE HHR. IT SEEMS THAT UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP AND/OR ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 7, 201452,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING THE MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN OR CHANGE LANES THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 3, 2014LA

DRIVING THRU TRAFFIC IN DALLAS, POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN NOW. I CAN PULL OVER AND TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESETS, I CALLED DEALERSHIP SAID TO CHECK ALL MY SENSORS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I'M STARTING TO NOT EVEN WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201490,505 milesFL

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 CHEVROLET HHR AND EXITING OFF OF I95 IN JACKSONVILLE FL WHEN ALL OF A SUNNED MY POWER STEERING (ELECTRIC STEERING) WHET OUT, AS IT QUIR OPERATING THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT READ "POWER STEERING", I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND CONSULTED MY OWNERS MANUAL AND COULD FIND NOTHING THERE TO HELP WITH WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP AND WAS GOING TO TRY AND JUST GET IT TO MY HOUSE WHICH WAS ONLY 5-6 MILES AWAY AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP THE POWER STEERING WAS OPERATING NORMAL AGAIN SO I THOUGHT MAYBE A FLUKE, AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME ALL SEEMED FINE UNTIL I WAS MAKING A TURN AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TURN NEARLY CAUSING ME TO RUN IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND WAITED FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND THE STEERING WAS AGAIN OPERATING NORMAL. THE CHEVROLET COBALT HAS THE SAME ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR AS THE HHR AND HAD A RECALL AS I UNDERSTAND ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE ISSUED FOR THE HHR YET ALTHOUGH IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE COBALT DID. THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AT BEST AS YOU HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHEN YOU WILL LOOSE POWER STEERING AND RUN THE RISK OF RUNNING IN TO SOME ONE. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 25, 201496,000 milesTX

LOST POWER STEERING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SAW A "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER. HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME STEERING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO RESET THE CONDITION BY SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING WITH REGULARITY. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 3, 2014108,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 03/12/14*LJ UPDATED 03/20/14

Steering
Filed Jan 31, 2014114,000 milesWV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Steering
Filed Jan 15, 20146,500 milesTX

THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE STORE AND WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE NEXT TIME WAS YESTERDAY AND I WAS DRIVING IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, I GOT IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND CUT OFF MY ENGINE AND STARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. EVIDENTLY THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AFTER WATCHING UTUBE COMMENTS AND I AM WONDERING IF YOU ARE AN AGENCY THAT PROTECTS CONSUMERS WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 15, 2014GA

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND IT MADE IT HARD FOR ME TO TURN MY WHEEL,ONCE I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF MY CAR,AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT WAS OK THE LIGHT WENT OFF. BUT WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN IT DID THE SAME THING BUT EVENTUALLY IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT FOR THE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE TURNING GOT WORSE. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 14, 201435,000 milesFL

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING STEERING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR JUST OVER A YEAR NOW AND EVERYDAY IT'S SEEMS TO GET WORSE AND WORSE AND A WHOLE LOT MORE FREQUENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEFINITELY A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 11, 201482,000 milesFL

POWER STEERING KEEPS CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BUT I'M SEEING TONS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENING TO THE 2006 THRU 2010 HHRS' DEALERSHIPS ARE TELLING OWNERS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE POWER STEERING MODULE AND MOTOR.$500+ TO REPAIR. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 8, 201461,189 milesKY

WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR GOT HARD TO STEER AND A CHIME DINGED AND MY SCREEN ON THE DASH READ (POWER STEERING) WAS COMING UP ON A TURN AND IT TOOK ME AND THE PASSENGER TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL WITH GREAT EFFORT ON BOTH OUR PARTS, THIS WAS SCARY! IF I HAD BEEN ALONE I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD HAVE NEGOTIATED THE TURN THUS ENDING IN A ONE VEHICLE COLLISION. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 31, 201380,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Suspension
Filed Dec 26, 201347,600 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE TWO FRACTURED COIL SPRINGS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,600. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF

Steering
Filed Dec 20, 201365,000 milesIL

AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT THE ONLY WARNING I HAD WAS THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE THAT CAME UP AFTER IT QUIT WORKING IN A TURN THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THERE OTHER CARS LIKE THE COBALT AND IONS THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL VERY DANGEROUS ONCE YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK AGAIN BUT WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Dec 2, 2013WI

2008 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE LETTER HE RECEIVED WAS A SCAM.

SteeringCrash
Filed Nov 25, 201389,000 milesIN

POWER STEERING GOES OUT, IT WILL BE FINE THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING TIGHTENS UP AND I CANNOT TURN LIKE I AM SUPPOSE TO, THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME AND I HIT A CURB WHICH TORE MY TIRE UP. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK INTO OTHER CARS AND A SEMI. I WOULD NOT COMPLAIN BUT IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ABOUT $300, I GOT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS, BUT FOUND NO RECALL ON THE HHR AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COBALT WHICH APPARENTLY HAS THE SAME BRAND OR TYPE OF POWER STEERING, THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT CHEVY HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THEY SHOULD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND FOUND I WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. THE POWER STEERING ISSUE IS MY MAIN ISSUE I AM SCARED I AM GOING TO END UP HAVING A WRECK LIKE HAVE ALMOST HAD NUMEROUS TIMES, THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I OWN SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY!!!!! *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 25, 201357,000 milesMA

I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WITH OUT NOTICE THANKFULLY I WAS NOT MOVING AND DID NOT HAVE FAR TO GO (40FT) TO PULL INTO THE BUISNESS PARKING LOT IT WAS STRUGGLE FOR ME TO GET THE CAR IN THERE. THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE OR A FAMILY IS KILLED . ANYONE WITH WEAK MUSCLES OR ARTIFICAL LIMBS WHO IS TRAVELING ON A ROAD OR THE HIGHWAY MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I WAS AND COULD SUFFER VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH . I CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER KEVIN (SERVICE WRITER) AND ALSO SPOKE WITH HAROLD (10YRS WITH CHEVROLET IN DETROIT) WHO SAID MY VIN# DOES NOT FALL UNDER ANY TYPE OF RECALL OR ASSITANCE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE CHEVROLET DECIDES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE ???? *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 24, 2013100,000 milesCA

WHILE OPERATING, MY VEHICLES POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF AND MY "POWER STEERING" ALERT APPEARS ON THE DASH. IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, AND TURNED BACK ON IT WORKS PROPERLY; AND THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN RANDOMLY. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NOTHING CONSISTENT WITH DRIVING CONDITIONS, SPEED, DURATION OF DRIVING WHEN IT OCCURS. *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 22, 201360,000 milesCA

POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. IT BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SCARED ME A LOT. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER I DROVE IT A BIT BUT NOW IT HAPPENS AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I WORRY ABOUT NEEDING TO STEER TO AVOID SOMEONE AT SLOW SPEEDS. I LIVE IN A CROWDED COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE, DOGS, BIKES, SKATEBOARDERS AND CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS JUST WALKING OUT ONTO THE ROAD. ALSO, I DRIVE INTO FARMER'S MARKETS AND SWAP MEETS WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALL MILLING ABOUT AND LOTS OF MANEUVERING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. NO POWER STEERING MAKES THIS VERY HARD TO DO. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AS I M BARELY MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO CONTINUE WITH MY SMALL BUSINESS. CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. THEY WILL CHARGE ME $125 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. AND I HAVE TO GIVE UP USING THE CAR. THIS IS CRAZY THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND FACTS OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 19, 201380,000 milesGA

MY BATTERY WENT OUT ON ME. THEN I HAD IT REPLACED AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I NOTICED THAT THEY WAS A RECALL ON IT. ALSO THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO SO MANY OTHER FOLKS. *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 8, 201376,000 milesNC

THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN MY CAR OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES SINCE THEN. ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE IT GOES OFF. THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY FAILING IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF I WAS IN MID TURN THE ISSUE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE CHEVY COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND BOTH CARS USE THE SAME PARTS. *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 6, 201355,813 milesFL

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST AND IT REQUIRES GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V073000 THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THE CHEVROLET HHR IT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 21, 2013128,600 milesMO

I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE STEERING GOT VERY TIGHT AND THE CAR DINGED WITH THE MESSAGE CHECK POWER STEERING. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Oct 21, 201360,000 milesMO

THE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN I USE THE KEY. IT IS AS THOUGH THE LOCK IS JAMMED. BOTH KEYLESS ENTRIES HAVE STOPPED WORKING. I KEEP ONSTAR ACTIVATED SO I CAN GET INTO MY CAR. *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 21, 201370,000 milesMO

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FALLS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TO STUFF THE CONNECTOR WITH PAPER. I HAVE EVEN REPLACED THE PART THINKING IT WAS FAULTY.. IT WASN'T THE CONNECTOR TAB. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 201317,016 milesNE

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2010, AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR. IT HAD 13435 MILES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AFTER SIX MONTHS, 17000 MILES, SERVICE LIGHTS BEGAN TO LIGHT UP---I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER TAKING IT HOME ALL SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN IN AUGUST, 17100 MILES, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A SHUTTERING WHEN BRAKING AND A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPAIRED, HARNESS AND HUB BEARING AND I PURCHASE TWO NEW FRONT TIRES. WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR CAR BEGAN TO SHIMMY AGAIN WHEN BRAKING. AT 25000 MILE , DEALER STATED NOW BRAKES ARE BAD, WARPED AND ROTORS NEED WORK. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF TAKING CAR HOME, SHIMMYING BEGAN TO START AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE WITH REGARD TO THE BRAKES, BUT GM DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS. HMMMMMMMM! *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 15, 2013183,689 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,689.

Steering
Filed Sep 28, 201380,000 milesTX

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT, BELL RINGS AND DASH SAYS "POWER STEERING". I CAN PULL OVER AND RESTART ENGINE AND IT WILL WORK FOR A WHILE. THIS HAPPENS A LOT. *TR

Steering
Filed Sep 23, 201379,248 milesMI

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON, POWER STEERING RESUMED, ALTHOUGH ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. I HAD TO KEEP TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RE-ENGAGE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF THIS, THE POWER STEERING IS NOW COMPLETELY NOT WORKING! IT COMES ON FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE WHEN I START THE CAR AND THEN TURNS OFF COMPLETELY AFTER THAT MINUTE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR THIS COMING WINTER IN THE SNOW. I DO NOT WANT TO SHELL OUT A BUNCH OF $$$ AND THEN HAVE THEM RECALL THE CAR. I KNOW OTHER CHEVY MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHY HAS THE HHR NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS? NO POWER STEERING POSES A GREAT RISK OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM A VERY FRUSTRATED CHEVY OWNER! PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR!

Electrical System
Filed Sep 23, 201390,000 milesTX

MY KEY WON'T TURN THE IGNITION ON AT ALL TAKE YOU 5 MINS JUST TO GET IT TO WORK

Steering
Filed Sep 14, 201393,000 milesIN

ON MINE A MESSAGE LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH 'POWER STEERING". WHEN I CUT OFF THE CAR IT, I CAN STEER AND I START DRIVING, HITTING THE SPEED OF 7 MILES MPH IT CUTS BACK ON AND OFF I HAVE A FAMILY SMALL KIDS AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING GO WRONG WITH MY CAR BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE, SO PLEASE LOOK UNTO IT BECAUSE OTHER HHR OWNERS BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Steering
Filed Sep 13, 201363,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UPWARDS OF 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I ALMOST GOT INTO A CRASH AND WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THE STEERING WAS RETURNED. AND THEN IT WOULD GO OUT AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SAW THAT 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT THE CHEVY HHR WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A HAZARDOUS ISSUE ACCORDING TO CHEVY'S RECALL, AND THE HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM HHR OWNERS AND HAVEN'T RECALLED THIS PART ON THE HHR.*TR

Steering
Filed Sep 4, 201384,595 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,595. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ

Steering
Filed Aug 28, 2013113,000 milesAL

WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE YESTERDAY, A "POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH. I HAD TO MAKE A TURN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND WAS NEARLY UNABLE TO TURN MY CAR. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEAREST PARKING LOT TO FIND THAT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IS ALL ELECTRIC. I HAD SOMEONE DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO "RESET" MY CAR AND HAD STEERING BACK. BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE THOUROUGLY READ OVER, I KNOW THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT GOES OUT AGAIN. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE IGNORED AND NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THE COBALT AND ION HAVE BOTH BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THE HHR HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING PARTS AS THE COBALT. WHEN SOMONE LOSES THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF A POWER STEERING PROBLEM WILL SOMEONE LISTEN AND ACT ON IT THEN???!!! I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM ANYWHERE NOW. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA $800 OR MORE SITTING AROUND TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT IS CHEVROLET'S FAULT. *TT

Steering
Filed Aug 19, 201389,327 milesFL

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A LONG TRIP, ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HOME AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND MY STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD TIME AVOIDING IT. I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO FIX ITSELF. WELL I TOOK OFF DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN WITH SAME SCENARIO MENTIONED ABOVE. NOW MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY EVERYDAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FINALLY TODAY. THE DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID, "GOOD NEWS THIS PART IS COVERED." I SAID GREAT! THEN HE CALLED BACK 30 MINUTES LATER WITH BAD NEWS, HE SAID THAT THE PART WAS COVERED IN CANADA ONLY! WHAT, NOT IN FLORIDA! THIS DOES NOT EVEN MAKE SENSE. LETS JUST SAY AFTER THAT PHONE CALL HE CHARGED ME FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AT COST. MY TOTAL COST WAS $163.45 (PART #19257875). IF I COULD HAVE DONE IT MYSELF I WOULD HAVE. I JUST SAW THIS PART ON EBAY FOR $82.85 OR BETTER YET, IF IT WAS A RECALL IT COULD HAVE BEEN FREE. AFTER HIS EARLIER PHONE CALL THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO LET HIM CHARGE ME ANYTHING MORE. BUT, WHY AGAIN IS THIS PART NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR CHEVY HHRS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I GUESS WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS AND SOMEBODY GETS SUED MAYBE THERE WILL BE A RECALL. SAD BUT TRUE. PLEASE RECALL! THANKS. *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 13, 201353,538 milesAZ

AS LEAVING WORK AND DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT MY CAR STIFFENED UP ON THE SLIGHT CURVE, BUT AS I DROVE AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE "POWER STEERING" ALERT TURNED ON. I WENT TO MAKE MY FIRST RIGHT TURN AND THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. I PULLED OVER, TO LOOK UP THE NEAREST AUTOZONE AND THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS ONE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I WAS AT. I HEADED THERE AND THE LADY HOOKED IT UP TO THE MACHINE TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS SPITTING OUT A CODE - NOPE. WE LOOKED IN THE MANUAL AND SEEN THAT THE ALERT MEANT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS I'M WONDERING WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T PROMPTED A RECALL. WHAT DOES IT TAKE - DEATH RELATED TO POWER STEERING? YOU HEAR ABOUT PRECAUTION RECALLS TO AVOID ISSUES, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THERE IS NO JUSTICE. NO WONDER THESE VEHICLES WERE DISCONTINUED. SHAME ON CHEVY/GM - THIS IS NO ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 12, 201321,000 milesPA

I WAS ON VACATION DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED CHIMING AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS CLOSE THE MY MOTEL SO I DROVE THERE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES THEN STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE STEERING WAS BACK. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHEN I GOT BACK HOME AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DROVE IT AND IT NEVER WENT OUT. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES. I HAVE TO STOP TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. IT'S FINE FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN CAR CHIME AND POWER STEERING IS GONE. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND HAVE FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SAME COMPONENTS WERE USED ON CHEVY COBALT AND THEY WERE RECALLED. *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 6, 201389,000 milesNC

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 55 MPH POWER STEERING INDICATOR CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. CONTINUED HOME VERY SLOW AND STEERING THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. POWER STEERING WORKED UPON RESTART. NOW THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY. I WILL HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED AND I AM NOT HAPPY AFTER READING ALL OF THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS STEERING UNIT. WHY HAS THE 2008 HHR NOT BEEN INCLUDED THE PREVIOUS RECALLS? *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 6, 201354,212 milesMA

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE POWER STEERING MOTOR QUIT. THIS RESULTED IN EXTREMELY HEAVY STEERING FOR MY WIFE SO THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COASTED TO A STRAIGHT STOP AT THE CURB. SHE WAS LUCKY TO BE ON A COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC. WITH OTHER TRAFFIC SHE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON THE CHEVY COBALT MODEL IS UNDER A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT ON THE HHR SINCE ONLY THE BODY OF THE TWO MODELS IS DIFFERENT, ALL THE CHASSIS, SUSPENSION, BRAKES, STEERING AND RUNNING GEAR ARE ALL IDENTICAL, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING MOTOR (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING). *TR

Suspension
Filed Aug 5, 201335,600 milesTX

OUR 2008 CHEVY HHR JUST STARTS TO SHAKE ON THE HIGHWAY ONCE IT HITS 60 MPH TO ABOUT 64 MPH, THEN IT GOES AWAY. THE SHAKING IS REALLY BAD IT MAKES THE WHOLE CAR SHAKE AND MY HANDS BEGAN TO SHAKE PRETTY HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE'VE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH BRAND NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE GT AND THEM BALANCED AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. BUT THE CAR STILL SHAKES AT THAT SPEED. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 31, 201387,199 milesCA

I WAS DRIVE AND OUT OF WHERE THE POWER STEERING LINE CAME ON AND THEN WHEN I TRY TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. MADE ME THINK WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF AM IN THE FREEWAY N HAVE TO DO A TURN. I LOVE MY HHR ITS THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE CAME ACROSS. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN READING N NOTICED AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEM. ALL I WANT IS TO FIX IT BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AND MY FAMILY. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 22, 201322,944 milesTN

DRIVING MY HHR AND I HEAR A DINGING NOISE, POWER STEERING MESSAGE IS SHOWN. POWER STEERING IS OUT. IT HAS BEEN THREE DAYS AND NOW IT IS DOING IT EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE NO MORE THAN A MILE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS THE HHR HAS THE SAME ESA AS THE COBALT THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 19, 201380,000 milesCA

THE POWER STEERING KEEPS TURNING ON SO IT MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE OR STEER AND IT CUTS INTO MY MPG. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 17, 2013TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESUMED NORMALLY UPON RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Steering
Filed Jul 16, 201355,200 milesPA

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THE POWER STEERING STARTS WORKING AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. WITH ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I'VE BEEN READING, CHEVROLET SHOULD DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 15, 201370,000 milesOH

I PURCHASED MY 2008 CHEVY HHR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN KY IN FEBRUARY 2013, WITH AROUND 55K MILES ON IT. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MILES I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED GM POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. TOWARD THE END OF MAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HI-WAY COMING OFF AN EXIT, GOING BETWEEN 45-55 MILES AN HOUR VEERING TO THE RIGHT, WHEN THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR WENT OUT. THE MILEAGE SCREEN FLASHED POWER STEERING AND I COULD HARDLY STEER MY CAR TO GET OFF THE EXIT ONTO ANOTHER HI-WAY. I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT MORNING I GOT UP AND STARTED MY CAR, DROVE IT AND IT WAS OK. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND HAS EVERY DAY SINCE THEN. IN THE BEGINNING I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF, WAIT 1 TO 2 MINUTES, START MY CAR AND IT WOULD BE FINE. STARTING LAST MONTH, THE POWER STEERING GOES OFF EVERY 2 TO 5 MINUTES REGARDLESS IF I RE-START MY CAR OR NOT.... IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, OR DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD. I CAN HAVE THE AC ON, THE AC OFF AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF ME STARTING MY CAR. I WAS TOLD IN ORDER FOR MY GM POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO BE COVERED, I HAD TO MY CAR TO A CHEVY SERVICE STATION, WHICH I DID ON 6/27/2013 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE POWER STEERING ELECTRIC MOTOR. SINCE THE INCIDENT I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, AND HAVE READ THAT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THE HHR'S, BUT GM HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO EMAILED AND SPOKEN WITH A CHEVY COMP

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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 2008 Chevrolet HHR → · Every HHR year → · How the figures are calculated →