9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$530
Average Mileage:
113,550 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. fuel line had to be replaced (4 reports)
  3. supply and return lines had to be replaced (2 reports)
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problem #11

Oct 302023

HHR LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,800 miles

Noticed the car has trouble starting. I have to press on the gas to get the engine to turn over. I noticed a leak and smelled gas but wasn't aware of the problem. I had to drive to my Dad's funeral 130 miles away from home. A mechanic looked at the car and said the whole fuel line from front to back was rusted and that it was a bad design.

My CAR HAS ONLY 60,800 MILES on it and the fuel line system is completely rusted and leaking gas. The smell of gas is VERY STRONG. This was extremely inconvenient because I was 128 miles away from home and could not get the car towed because it would have costed $700, so I took a chance and drove it home in fear at any moment the gas tank would empty and possibly catch on fire.

THE MECHANIC SAID THE FUEL LINES WERE IN A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE TO GET TO AND MAJOR ENGINE PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACED THE LINES AND COULD COST ABOUT 2,000. THANKS A LOT CHEVY. He said Chevy makes such cheap parts so they could keep charging us for repairs.

The mechanic said it was leaking in the rear drivers side as well as in the front. I do live in the East Coast, Pennsylvania. This is the first major problem I've had with this car. I hope it is not an indication of future problems. I don't know where to get parts or where to get this fixed for a reasonable price. However, one complainant mentioned LINESTOGO.COM. He purchased OEM fuel lines for the HHR LT 2.4; that was in May of 2018. I will try there next. I agree this should be a recall.

Seriously, BUMMED

- Micki K., BUTLER, PA, US

problem #10

May 052018

HHR LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

I first of all bought this car in 2010 from Currie Motors in Chicago. I told the salesman that I did not want a rental car. Fast forward one year later when I had to change my cabin air filter. I found out the car was a rental car because the salesman had hidden the rental papers behind the glove compartment where the cabin air filter is located. I was super pissed.

Now after 64,000 miles I am told that the gas line has rusted out. The dealer want $300 dollars for the gas line alone. I went on line and googled fuel lines for a HHR LT 2.4 and came up with a great place called LINES TO GO.com. I paid them $159 for the OEM fuel line and $230 to install for my HHR LT.

This car has had many problems. NITSA should have recalled the whole car. The RNC and the DNC both are paid for, no help there.

- BLACK S., Chicago, IL, US

problem #9

Apr 022019

HHR

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

Got home tonight and smelled a very strong odor of gas. The line by the rear driver side is leaking. I loved my old Chevy and this one as been pretty good for the last 9 years. I take it in tomorrow to find out how much they're going to charge to fix this. I'm seeing prices over $700. If this is a sign of things to come and the company refuses to acknowledge a design flaw, I may no longer be a Chevy driver. That money could make a nice dent in a down payment on a new brand.

- Charlette R., Stuart, FL, US

problem #8

Oct 122018

HHR LS 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,867 miles

I am a single mom and I had to wait 2 months before I could save enough money to have the fuel line fixed. I heard of many hhr owners had the same problem, don't understand why there wasn't a friggin recall... extremely pissed!!

- Lisa M., Cranston, RI, US

problem #7

Sep 292018

HHR LS 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,000 miles

Went to the recycling center and was told there was gas leaking from the bottom of the car.

- Tim G., Port Republic, US

problem #6

Aug 112018

HHR

  • Manual transmission
  • 116,000 miles

This problem is a health issue, could catch fire from a faulty design. GM is responsible for this design and the cheap fuel lines. We should get together and sue.

- dburman, White Lake, US

problem #5

Oct 182017

HHR 2.0L Turbo

  • Manual transmission
  • 104,000 miles

Engineered for failure. Lines appear to be mild steel, and they rotted out. They were wrapped in heat insulation material where they pass near the exhaust system. That's fine, but they are exposed to road water, with no water proofing. The wrap collects water, which doesn't drain away quickly. The lines should have been stainless steel, not coated steel, and routed away from the exhaust system. Lack of common sense design, and anything wrapped should never be exposed to road water.

Update from May 10, 2018: Chevrolet dealer invoice was $724.24, tax and car rental included. Seriously expensive repair for most people to afford. Both the supply and return fuel lines had to be replaced. They each are about 10-12 feet long, all one piece, another bad design feature. They reach should have been 2 pieces to affect easier repairs.

I have owned near 100 cars in my life, and NEVER had this type problem.

- Art H., Columbus, US

problem #4

Feb 012017

HHR SS 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 169,000 miles

Fuel line leaking near rear driver side door. Visual inspection disclosed fuel leaking from line near exhaust pipe.

- Hank P., Sandusky, OH, US

problem #3

Jul 262015

HHR LT 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

It was explained to me by the mechanic that the fuel line had it's major problem in the design where it is run next to the exhaust. It is wrapped in fire insulation where condensation caused the line to rust, thus fuel leaked.

Very Dangerous.

- ssimone, Pleasantville, NJ, US

problem #2

Jul 112016

HHR LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,100 miles

I STARTED SMELLING GAS INSIDE/OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE EXHAUST SOUNDS ROUGH. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE GAS LINES LOCATED NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE ARE RUSTED AND LEAKING AND HAVE ALSO DAMAGED MY EXHAUST MAIFOLD WHICH IS ALSO CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER WHEN ACCELERATING.

BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO GM'S POOR JOB OF DESIGNING THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE THIS ISSUE SHOULD NO BE THE VEHICLE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

i SPOKE WITH A GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REP AND WAS ADVISED THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL A COMPLAINT MUST BE FILED WITH (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.gov

- carlaga, Atlanta, GA, US

problem #1

Dec 012015

HHR 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

rusted gas line causing leak

Just add this to the long list of problems with this cheaply made vehicle. After spending about 1800 dollars (way more than the car is worth) on front suspension and cooling problems, started getting a gas smell and thought perhaps a loose connection. Then after searching on the internet for gas smell on chevy hhr's I saw the long list of complaints on this subject saying the leak occurs near the rear driver side tire, same side as the exhaust. Sure enough there was the dripping. The fumes inside the car when you first get in are awful. If I have to complain about everything with this car I'd be doing this all day because there are literally 20-30 issues...some just shameful...like the stereo which only plays out of the pillar speakers (1.5" tweeters). You'll find hundreds of complaints on that and not only this model or year but for many of their years and cars. If I can sum things up...don't even consider buying a used one of these cars and even if leasing a GM car will be the LAST things I even consider. I'm going to try and repair this myself because like I mentioned I've already dumped way too much into this car and I still have to try and get the exhaust flex pipe fixed which has a hole in it and the dealer won't replace the little pipe they want $2000 to replace the entire catalytic converter assembly. I'll update if I'm able to do this myself for cheap.

- James O., Rochester, NY, US