2007 Chevrolet HHR: complaints, problems and recalls

BRAKE FUILD LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. CALLED ONSTAR TO RUN A DIANOSIC , THEY SAID THAT IT HAD AN ABS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,726 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184507 at NHTSA ↗

POOR DESIGN OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE HOLE ON THE BOTTOM WAS TOO BIG, ALLOWING DEBRIS TO HIT THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) CONDENSER AND RADIATOR. THIS WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BUT THE FUNNY THING WA S THAT I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE CAR. I TURNED IT ON AND GOT THE AIR CONDITIONER GOING, WHICH WAS COLD AT FIRST. THE CAR SAT FOR A WEEK WHILE I WAS ON VACATION, SO I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEY WON'T COVER IT AS A EQUIPMENT FAILURE. INSTEAD THEY CLAIMED SOMETHING FLEW THROUGH IT. CHEVROLET DIDN'T PUT A GRILL IN IT FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10196139 at NHTSA ↗

WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON I-40 IN AZ. A 2 TON TRUCK WITH A LONG FLAT TRAILER BLEW IT'S FRONT DRIVERS TIRE. THE TIRE CAME INTO OUR LANE MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS IT THEN THE TRUCK CAME INTO OUR LANE FORCING US OFF THE ROAD MY HUSBAND COULDN'T GAIN CONTROL OF THE CHEVY HHR AGAIN. IT SENT US INTO A ROLLOVER WE ROLLED 2-3 TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR ALL COLLAPSED AROUND MY HUSBAND THE ROOF FORCED HIS NECK DOWN. THE ROOF ENDED UP DOWN TO THE STEERING WHEEL. MY HUSBAND SUFFERED A CRACK IN HIS 3RD C-SPINE & A BROKEN THUMB & LACERATED FING…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196891 at NHTSA ↗

CAR STILL HAS PAPER TAGS, HAD 3K MILES AND IT JUST STOPPED WORKING THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE AND RAN ROUGH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID A CRANK SENSOR WENT OUT, IT TOOK FOUR DAYS TO GET THE PART IN AND THEY HAVE REPLACED IT. WE WILL SEE HO IT GOES! *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199754 at NHTSA ↗

GOT THE CAR BACK FROM A REPAIR TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND DROVE IT ABOUT TWO DAYS AND THE AC WENT OUT AND STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR, ON A 108 DEGREE TEXAS DAY! THE NEXT MORNING STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO THE DEALER AND THE AIR WAS COLD, BUT ABOUT A HALF HOUR INTO THE TRIP THE AIR WENT OUT AGAIN. SO WE TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT MAYBE THEY KNOCKED SOMETHING OFF WHEN THEY FIXED THE SENSORS. THE AIR WAS NOT WORKING WHEN WE DROPPED IT OFF, TECH SAID HE DROVE THE CAR TO LUNCH, LET IT IDLE AND PUT 30 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199755 at NHTSA ↗

CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 70 MPH WENT UP A MEDIUM HILL THE SPEED WENT DOWN TO 65 MPH, TRANSMISSION DOWMSHIFTS ,CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES FLAT OUT TO 75 MPH BEFORE IT RELEASES. UNSETTLING WHEN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAYS ALL HOURS ACT THE SAME WAY AND IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200510 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE DOOR AJAR ALARM ONLY CHIMES WHEN THE DOORS ARE COMPLETELY OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ALARM WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ISSUED CASE NUMBER 71-576283710. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,960 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209574 at NHTSA ↗

2007 CHEVROLET HHR WITH TERRIBLE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. HE ALSO STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A RENTAL CAR WHICH WAS A CHEVY HHR. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10211692 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 181,516 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF RAIL AIR BAGS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.' IN TESTS, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENT.

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ENERGY-ABSORBING PLASTIC PIECE TO THE HEADLINER TRIM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2008-09-03 (September 3, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 296,422 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE DOOR ON THE STORAGE BIN IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AS REQUIRED.

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: A REDESIGNED LATCH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.