2009 Chevrolet HHR: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE DEALER INSTALLED HEATED SEATS. AFTERWARDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS STOPPED WORKING. THE HEATED SEATS ARE DRAINING THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, IT FAILS TO START DUE TO THE DRAINED BATTERY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A SWITCH UNDERNEATH THE SEATS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK …

Owner-reported narrative. 620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258362 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE: "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON. 1ST INCIDENT: "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON WITH PASSENGER SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, DEALERSHIP REPAIRED FAULTY COMPONENT. 2ND INCIDENT: "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON WITH PASSENGER SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DIFFERENT FAULTY COMPONENT. 3RD INCIDENT: USE OF 12V ACCESSORY, NO PASSENGER PRESENT, AS WELL AS PASSENGER PRESENT, "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON/OFF. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOT TO USE 12V ACCESSORIES AS THEY MAY CAUSE SOME RF…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269283 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2009 HHR SS. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT A THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THREE WHEEL STUD BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT OF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DRIVEN AT SPEED OF A HIGHWAY. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN TO BECAUSE FOUND OTHER THAN A POSSIBLE FACTORY DEFECT IN THE WHEEL STUD BOLTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275442 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS UNBUCKLED, IT BECOMES LOCKED. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE SEAT BELT FROM BEING RE-FASTENED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER IS UNABLE TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT AND COULD BE INJURED OR WORSE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10276094 at NHTSA ↗

A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT LEFT FENDER AND HEADLAMP. NO PART OF THE POLE WAS VISIBLE, DUE TO THE WIDTH OF THE A-PILLAR AND DOOR FRAME AND THE ANGLE OF THE A PILLAR (NEARLY VERTICAL). ONLY THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS DURING THE IMPACT ALERTED THE DRIVER TO WHAT WAS OCCURRING, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING DIRECTLY TOWARD THE POLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280796 at NHTSA ↗

NEW 2009 CHEVY HHR - TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE NEW CAR - DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS - 850 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES STARTED FEELING SOFT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. LATER APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 20 MPH, BRAKES TRAVELED ABOUT 2/3 OF WAY BEFORE DOING ANYTHING. APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AND CAR PULLED TO RIGHT. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND CAR KEPT MOVING. PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STOPPED WITH NOSE OF CAR IN THE INTERSECTION. THERE WERE NO PANEL LIGHTS INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE. CHECK OF THE BRAKE FLUID SHOWED IT IS …

Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281421 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS; THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM SINGLE SWEEP MODE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT, HIS VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED. THE WIPER BLADES ALSO DID NOT POSITION CORRECTLY WHEN THE CONTROL SELECTOR MODE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283673 at NHTSA ↗

SECOND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE IN NEW 2009 CHEVY HHR. SEE ODI #10281421 FOR PRIOR COMPLAINT. IN COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOWN WHEN BRAKES BEGAN TO FEEL SOFT. WITHIN MINUTES THEY WOULD BARELY STOP THE CAR. USED THE HAND EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP CAR. THERE WERE NO PANEL LIGHTS INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE. CHECK OF BRAKE FLUID SHOWED IT WAS FULL. TOOK CAR TO MEDVED CHEVY IN CASTLE ROCK, CO. THEY CONFIRMED THE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH GM, THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT CALIPERS. HOWEVER - THEY WERE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,058 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286159 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-03-06 (March 6, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

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: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

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.