2008 Chevrolet HHR: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHEN THE DOORS ARE AJAR. THE DOORS LOCK; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WARN THAT THE DOORS ARE NOT CLOSED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 3,100. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214298 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS LOCKED INSIDE HIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TO THREE AND A HALF HOURS WITH NO WAY OUT. ONSTAR ATTEMPTED TO GET THE CONTACT OUT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. ONLY THE REAR LATCH WOULD OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. AAA WAS ABLE TO OPEN ONE OF THE DOORS. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE A FRIEND LET HIM OUT OF THE BACK DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,638 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218146 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219325 at NHTSA ↗

MY BRAND NEW CHEVY HHR WILL ALLOW ROCKS AND ROAD DEBRIS TO RUIN THE RADIATOR AND THE A/C CONDENSER THEN THEY WILL NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR WILL KEEP HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I CANT KEEP BUYING 600 DOLLAR RADIATORS EVERY 3 MONTHS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219926 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR SS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE TO FUNCTION. THE BRAKES USE AN OPTIMIZED ASSIST AND THE BRAKES WOULD RESPOND SLOWLY. IT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO RESPOND SLOWLY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNABLE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT ARE NOT MAKING CONSUMERS AWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON JANUARY 24, 2008 FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER DID NOT RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220955 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENED. APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221567 at NHTSA ↗

HHR SS HAS A HARD PEDAL AND DOES NOT STOP EASILY ON IN A NORMAL DISTANCE. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES AFTER SITTING IN COLD WEATHER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE OF WARM-UP TO HAVE THE HARD PEDAL-NON BRAKING TO CORRECT TO NORMAL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224414 at NHTSA ↗

CAR STALLS WHILE TURNING, IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY CAN'T FIND DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A LOANER CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233770 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.