10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 15 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 73,346 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
Power steering randomly goes out without warning, it always happens when I'm driving and in no particular situation
- Yucca Valley, CA, USA
My power steering keeps going out while driving on city streets and on highway/freeway. It will do it at low speed and high speeds. It will also go out while turning or not turning. When it goes out it is way to hard to turn if you are not moving and hard to turn even while your moving. It is electric power steering. I have to turn the car off and bake on to reset it but can only doing while parked and in a safe spot to do so. After I turn the car on and off to reset the power steering it will just go back on after a short trip. It constantly goes on. Once it is on it does not get better again. On the instrument panel it says power steering problem when it goes out.
- Riverside, CA, USA
Steering column rattle and severe shake at 18,000 miles. Machined rotors and replaced front brake pads. Replaced intermediate steering shaft, lower control arms, sway bar bushings, stabilizer links and outer tie rod ends per research and recommendations from dealerships and independent GM-trained mechanics. Rattle still not cleared, latest dealer visit says only possible fix is to replace steering column, another $1000 repair. Car still rattles at low speed over uneven surfaces - problem is documented online extensively. The lower control arm bushings the dealer said were worn out and defective that came off the car were kept for inspection and found to not be defective. GM has redesigned all these parts knowing they are often defective and sued the steering column supplier in 2009, but still no recall other than the steering column motor. Called Chevrolet to open a case and their only response was to take it back to a dealer. Ludicrous.
- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
The ignition key is stuck in the ignition switch and can't be removed. The shifter is also locked out and I can't leave my vehicle with the key in the ignition. I understand that this is a common problem with the HHR, cobalt and Impala models.
- La Verne, CA, USA
Driving home at noticed power steering displayed on dash. Took to shop next day they examined and said that the motor is in very good condition. Two weeks later hit a small bump and came back on again. Next morning was fine. This has to be an electrical problem. Have had small issue with no coolant reading (had sensor and thermostat replaced).
- Troy, IL, USA
Power sterring is going out just like it did in my colbolt. Both are 2007. Wiper power drive went out replaced that on our own. When did the ignition switch, the dealership refused to reset the remote controls, said recall was for switch only.
- Detroit, MI, USA
Power steering failed while turning at a signal on a city street. It continued to be non-operative for the rest of the drive home (3 more turns). After sitting in the driveway for a day, the power steering began working again.
- Independence, MO, USA
Power steering has gone out for no reason. Shut down & restart cures problem. My 65 year old wife does not feel safe driving car, especially with grandchildren on board.
- Mary Esther, FL, USA
Power steering cuts out while driving. Problem with the electric power steering motor. Resets after restarting vehicle. Known GM problem on other years and models using the same motor.
- Lake Ariel, PA, USA
Have been problems with the power steering going out intermittently for years, did an online search lately and saw many videos on you tube indicating others have had similar problems with this car and the electric power steering system. Extremely dangerous!!! some have reported online that they have had major accidents and cars being totalled because of this problem. Started asking other HHR owners I know and every one of them, without exception have experienced the same thing. Talked to several mechanics and they all seem to know about this problem. Seems to be a well-known design flaw that appears to have been completely ignored by NHTSA and Chevrolet. I paid over $1,000 to have a steering module replaced. Lasted less than a week - problem came right back. They then wanted another $1,200 to replace another module. Decided to "just live with it", since I had gotten used to it and could muscle my way through things. My wife cannot drive my car because of this issue. Sometimes it turns on and off two or three times going through a turn - have almost gotten into several accidents because of it. May I ask why NHTSA and Chevrolet have not issued a recall or tried to fix this problem" is it going to take a number of people dieing, a major class action lawsuit, major national media attention, etc. For someone to finally do something about this problem"
- Antelope, CA, USA
Car in motion on freeway and neighborhood, power steering goes out and is displayed "power steering ". no warning, you turn car off, restart it goes off and within few minutes does again. I'm now scared to drive it, I'm 2nd owner of car and only has 56,000 miles.
- Madison, TN, USA
Power steering sometimes cuts out.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
Power steering goes out at any point while driving usually a few minutes after driving and after I turn the key off and start it back up it's fine and last for a few minutes and goes back out
- Belle Chasse, LA, USA
The power steering lights came on and make its hard to even steer the wheel, it do no take any power steering fluid, fuse been checked and replaced still having the same problem.I was driving and the power steering fluid light came on and made it hard for to steer.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Power steering went out while I was driving, almost causing an accident with my young children in the car! no warning or anything. All of a sudden steering wheel became stiff and non movable. Power steering flashed on dashboard. This is a major safety hazard and I cant believe there is no recall!!!!!!!
- El Paso, TX, USA
Power steering went out. Dash displayed power steering.
- Chesapeake, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power steering, which occurred several times intermittently. The power steering warning indicator illuminated randomly and the steering wheel kept veering to the right when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and repair. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
- Beloit, WI, USA
My power steering randomly goes out while I am driving since I bought it 2 years ago. Lately it has been happening about 2 times per day if not more. I am worried that I will be transporting my child to day care or driving long distances and it will go out only for me to cause an accident.
- Appleton, WI, USA
I was driving into a parkin glot and my steering just stopped working and I could not hardly get it in the parkin glot. I sat for a while and restarted the car and it worked to get me home. It seems to me that I saw a steering problem back when I had my ignition recall fixed. I now cannot find that.
- Houston, TX, USA
- Monroe, GA, USA