10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 15 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,052 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While coming to a stop to make either a right hand or left hand turn, I had the power steering stop working, and a power steering message illuminate on my dashboard message center. This happened 4 separate times within a 3 hour period, while using my vehicle to make deliveries for a local company. In each instance, I was able to put vehicle in park, shut off the engine, wait a couple of seconds, restart the engine, and the power steering would work for a short time. GM has reduced price on the defective part in the us, but, still no recall on the problem in the us.
- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
Two days ago, while driving 25 mph in my parents' residential development, I received a "power steering" alert on my information bar and immediately lost control of my steering. I was in the process of making a left turn and luckily there was no one else on the street at the time or I surely would have hit them rather than just driving onto the curb before coming to a stop. It was extremely hard to turn the steering wheel in any either direction. I was able to regain control only after turning the ignition off and restarting. After the visit with my parents, the power steering went out three times in a twelve mile drive home. In two days this has now happened six times without rhyme or reason at varying speeds and at different lengths of drive time. I first discovered the problem on Friday night and immediately began to research the problem on the internet. I discovered that the Chevy cobalt and Chevy HHR from years 2006-2010 share the same steering motor (not a pump with fluid) and they are a known problem. Apparently there has been a recall for the cobalt but not the HHR" there was talk of a recall in Canada for the HHR but not in the usa? I don't understand why when this is a very serious safety concern. I contacted my dealership early on Saturday morning. I told him what was happening and he said that "the serial number on my particular vehicle was not eligible for part replacement coverage". how are some covered and not others" I cannot drive the car without fear of again losing control in the middle of a turn, but this time causing a serious accident. This needs to be investigated immediately.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
My 2007 HHR has had multiple incidents in the last 3 weeks with the power steering light illuminating and then loss of power steering instantly. Almost missed making a turn off the road because steering is non responsive. Once you turn off the engine and restart the car, power steering is restored; unfortunately, this issue is occuring more frequently. Internet research show numerous complaints with this exact issue, Chevrolet has recalled other vehicles that use the same part and the 2007 HHR has been recalled in Canada. Why hasn't that happened here" is it going to take a death and subsequent lawsuit for them to step up and fix this known problem" I am calling my extended warranty service today and see if this is covered. Repairs unfortunately can't wait for Chevrolet to do the right thing!
- Naples, FL, USA
At low speed while turning the steering pops. Clunks and catches. This also happens after stopping with the wheels turned. When the turn has been completed and the steering returns to center it clunks. Asked the dealer if this was the same as the colbalt problem and I was told there was not any problems he knew about with the HHR steering. This is a low milage car and should not have this problem.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
The power steering indicator came on and then the power steering went out. I took the car to an auto parts store, a worker there said that Chevy had a recall on the cobalt for the same issue, but there is no recall for the Chevy HHR. There are other people with this same issue.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
While driving approximately 45 mph, the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the wheel became very difficult to turn and I almost crashed going around a corner. I stopped at a safe location and turned off the engine. The power steering returned once I restarted however this happened again the following day and twice yesterday and twice again today. I did an on-line search and see that many other HHR drivers are having the same problem. Something needs to be done with correcting this defect before someone is killed.
- Southampton, PA, USA
I was driving the car at approx. 15mph when the power steering light came on and steering was hard and non responsive. I could not steer the car. I stopped the car, in the middle of the lane, turned the ignition off and then on and restarted the car and the problem went away. This is the first instance of this problem with this car.
- Escondido, CA, USA
The power steering light cam on, and the vehicle became hard to steer. Turn the engine off, and the problem went away. It is now coming on every time the vehicle is started, and does not correct itself. I know there was a recall on the cobalt, which shares the same parts with the HHR. I feel that GM should recall the HHR as well.
- High Point, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact shut the engine off and regained power steering after restarting. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
- Danville, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact was driving 70 mph when the vehicle failed to drive straight and swayed into another lane. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 152,000.
- Middletown, NY, USA
The steering assist failed. "power steering" message showed up in the dash. Steering might fail while going straight, then will not work until vehicle is turned off then restarted.
- Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 45 mph the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred approximately four times intermittently at different speeds. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would sporadically become stiff and difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was shut off and when restarted, the failure was corrected. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 75,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Fortson, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the speedometer displayed incorrect readings, the steering wheel would become difficult to turn, and the vehicle would stall. In addition, the check engine light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they were unable to duplicate the failure because the failure occurred on an intermittent basis. The failure and the current mileages were 43,000.
- Bay , AR, USA
The power steering failed on the car while parked. It was determined a short occurred in the steering column that caused the electric assist steering motor to stop working. Changed out the fuse to a much higher rating, fuse still blew out. The steering column was replaced and the car engineers that were consulted said that disassembly of the column was not needed to find the cause of the short. Also the insurance company were called in to see if a previous accident caused the short. The insurance company determined that the short was not caused by the accident.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
My 2007 HHR w/ 57K miles has an issue with its steering. The steering is jerky, hard to steer at low speeds, and low clunking noises can sometimes be heard from the steering column. I have taken my car to the dealer, but they claim there is nothing wrong. The NHTSA issued a recall in March 2010 on 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet cobalts for a similar issue with the cobalt's steering column. The HHR is based on the cobalt and was built in the same factory. The recall should be expanded to cover the HHR model.
- Oak Park, CA, USA
2007 Chevy HHR having problems with steering. Car is based on colbalt and was a replacement for few years. The steering is hard, jerky, not reliable. Can the recall be enlarged to cover HHR S for same years? mileage is under 50,000 miles and not abused.
- Cortland, IL, USA
Power steering failure. It is the power steering motor, Chevrolet has recalled the exact same part for the Chevrolet cobalt, but not the age HHR.
- Texas, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving 50 mph the power steering malfunctioned while making a turn causing the vehicle to crash into a wall. When the crash occurred the vehicle was destroyed and the contact was wearing his seat belt but the air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the neck, back, and chest. The contact was not taken to the hospital. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the steering and reported the failure. The manufacturer sent a investigator to inspect the vehicle. The report from the investigator did not include any information regarding the power steering. The contact noticed numerous complaints regarding the steering system for his year, make, and model vehicle. The failure mileage was 21,658. Updated 08/11/11 updated 08/12/11.
- Medley, FL, USA
- Tomball, TX, USA