10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 98,129 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
My husband was injured in an accident on 9-29-2015. What happened was my husband was stopped on the interstate and a truck slammed into my husband. He said his car turned off as soon as the first impact, airbags did not deploy. There was a second impact from the same truck, which was on my husbands passenger side. The car is completely totaled. My husband was lucky to walk away from this accident. The HHR was recalled for the ignition switch last year and we had the new part installed 2/2015 when the dealership received the parts. We have two issues electrical, why did his car turn off when it was hit from the rear" did the impact knock the ignition switch out of place? also why didn't the airbags deploy" now I know if the car is off the airbags are off but why did the car go from on to completely off unless it was a faulty new part that we received in our car.
- Killeen, TX, USA
Power steering goes out while driving. This is a recall item on the 2008 model year, needs to be a recall on 07-08 years also. Inside door handles brake, making it impossible to get out of the call without rolling down the windows. Both are broken on my car. Been to many Chevy HHR forums and this is a common problem. If you lose power you can not get out of the car.
- Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Driving vehicle, when traction control light came on, information showed traction control off and the car was shifting hard. After a few minutes, the check engine light came on and stayed on with traction control light til car was cut off and restarted. Seems to happen when its above 70 degrees outside. Here lately it has happened on all occasions. Checked blogs and have found this to be a common problem. Ex: I recenlty bought this car, having it for a few weeks it has this bizzare issue. The traction control light on occasion, will flash. And the entire front end basically starts sounding like its crumbling to bits. If I pull over, turn the car off then back on again, its stops and doesn't do it again for some time. I took it to the dealership, and they told me they can't figure out the issue, and charged me 90 bucks just to look at it. I was hoping someone else with the same issue would have found the problem. Another: Hello all. I have a 2007 Chevy HHR with a few things going on. Check engine light, traction control light on ( service traction control / traction control off ), bangs into gear. Seems that there are numerous complaints on blogs about this problem. Autozone pulled the code for mine and said its a traction control sensor that was bad.
- Henrico, VA, USA
I have a 2007 Chevy HHR and few months ago my traction control light come on and engine light. Then shortly after my power steering went out. The power steering has been going out periodically...last time was on a exit ramp on the curve. I almost put it in the ditch. I understand that the cobalt had recalls on these items but not the HHR. Which makes no sense because of the same chassis and all. I took it to ed schidmt Chevy in perrysburg Ohio and they said I need a steering column (because power steering module is in column), power steering motor, camshaft valve actuators, left lower control arm, and front struts. I have read a lot of internet forums and there has been many complaints on same issues. Chevy should take care of this. Dealership wants $2300+ for the repairs.
- Monclova, OH, USA
My power steering suddenly shut off on me while driving on a busy road. I was forced to jerk my wheel very suddenly and strained my wrist. My power steering has been shutting off on me every time I have started my car since. Sometimes it will take a minute for it to fail, sometimes 5. having it randomly go out on me is far too dangerous. This intermittent problem is scary, I would rather the power steering not work at all, then have it randomly shut off on me while in traffic. Please help!!
- Encino, CA, USA
- Buffalo, KY, USA