2011 Chevrolet HHR: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH, SHE STEERED THE VEHICVLE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID CRASHING. THE CONTACT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME BY THE POLICE, WHERE IT WAS AWAITING AN INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10413287 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE CELLULAR PHONE WAS CHARGING. THE DEALER RESET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 71962548301 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ANY DEVICE CONNECTED IN THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,835 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED GM WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,835 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420712 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE OR WHY THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1801UPDATED 12/06/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY FIXED UPDATED 03/13/12

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435192 at NHTSA ↗

UNKNOWN TYPE OF FUMES ENTERING DRIVERS COMPARTMENT, APPEARS TO BE AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAN TURNED ON. NEED TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AN INCH OR TWO WHEN FAN IS RUNNING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,352 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435257 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE REPORTED TO THE SALESPERSON, THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG WIT…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447385 at NHTSA ↗

REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT WOULD NOT UNLOCK TO EXTEND FOR USE. THIS SEATBELT HAD BEEN USED ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO IT LOCKING UP WHEN TRYING TO PULL IT OUT FOR USE. IT WOULD NOT PULL OUT. *TR *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451083 at NHTSA ↗

LAST JUNE, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 HHR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SAFER, MORE DEPENDABLE VEHICLE FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS TO LEARN TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TAKE OUR DOGS WITH US WHEN WE WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE AS A FAMILY. IN JANUARY, ON ONE OF THE DAYS WE ACTUALLY HAD SNOW ON THE GROUND, I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION, TRIED TO STOP, COULDN'T, AND SLID THROUGH. A CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MADE A LEFT TURN, NOT REALIZING I COULDN'T STOP, HIT ME ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE HHR, TURNING ME 90 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453475 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASED AND THE ABS BEGAN TO ACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458806 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: 2014-04-10 (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.