2010 Chevrolet HHR: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER IS UNHAPPY WITH GENERAL MOTORS. *GR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, JACK OR LUG WRENCH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE AND THE SALESMAN STATED ONE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT PERSONALLY CHECK AT THE TIME. TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE CONSUMER WANTED TO CHECK THE PRESSURE IN THE SPARE TIRE ONLY TO DISCOVER THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA. INSTEAD, HE FOUND A TIRE SEALANT AND INFLATOR KIT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10328537 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 550. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 470.

Owner-reported narrative. 470 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330322 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WITH REDUCED POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH WITH THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH AND UP, THERE WAS A VERY HIGH NOISE LEVEL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO EXHIBIT THE NOISE. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351674 at NHTSA ↗

LOST TIRE PRESSURE IN ONE TIRE (RIGHT REAR) IN BRAND NEW VEHICLE AFTER 100 MILES DRIVING DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AIR VALVE WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM SENSOR ATTACHED TO TIRE AIR VALVE. TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM ALERTED DRIVER TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP AFTER CHANGING TO SPARE TIRE. TIRE REPAIR PERSON FOUND NO LEAKS IN TIRE, AND UPON DIS-MOUNTING THE TIRE DISCOVERED THE TIRE AIR VALVE WAS NOT PROPERLY SEATED. AFTER PROPERLY INSTALLING THE AIR VALVE AND REMOUNTING THE WHEEL ON TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355091 at NHTSA ↗

CHEVY HHR VEHICLE. DANGEROUS WINDOW DEFECT. WINDOWS IMPLODE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SHODDY WORKMANSHIP ON THE WINDOW SEALS. WERE TRAVELING IN PORTLAND DOWN HIGHWAY 05 WHEN THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW JUST IMPLODED FOR NO REASON. GLASS WAS THROWN ALL OVER THE CAR. IF THERE HAD BEEN A PASSENGER SITTING THERE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR BLINDED BY FLYING GLASS. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED UNTIL THIS PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS IS FIXED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357399 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD ANOTHER CAR PULL PARTIALLY OUT OF A DRIVEWAY INTO THE PATH OF MY 2010 HHR LT AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER VEHICLE TO STOP . THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR IN THE OTHER LANE TRAVELING TOWARDS ME BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH SPACE WHERE I COULD GET AROUND THE CAR THAT PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND BE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE CAR IN THE OTHER LANE, BUT WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL RAPIDLY TO THE LEFT AND TRIED TO SPEED UP THE STABILITY CONTROL CAME ON AND WOULD NOT ALLOW MY 2010 HHR TO GAIN SPEED ALMOST RESULTING IN A HEAD ON WRECK. …

Owner-reported narrative. 8,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362556 at NHTSA ↗

THREE WEEKS AGO MY 2007 CHEVY HHR BEGAN NOT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. IT TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES EACH TIME I GET IN MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. NOW THE ONLY WAY I GET IT OUT OF PARK IS TO TURN TO KEY FORWARD AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH IN THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY GO INTO GEAR. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE WHY ISN'T THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR A RECALL TO FIX THIS? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10363504 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE SIDE AND FRONT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP BUT DUE TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374647 at NHTSA ↗

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.