2006 Chevrolet HHR engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR TO RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,966. ...UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE STEERING ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 03/26/15*JB”

“I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING A DASHBOARD MESSAGE SAYING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND WILL ONLY GET TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH. I WAS DRIVING AT ROUND 45 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TOO FAST WITH NO BREAK LIGHTS UNTIL I HIT THEM. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY A FEW TIMES A WEEKS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO USE IT AS MUCH AS I CAN. I HAVE READ FORUMS AND THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE CAN PIN POINT THE EXACT PROBLEM AS IT CAN MEAN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TRY OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FIXES FOR THIS IN HOPES THAT I GET THE RIGHT THING FIXED BEFORE I SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO AT LEAST HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR”

“THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 HHR.I REPLACED SOLENOIDS AND IT STOPPED FOR A FEW YEARS .I AM SICK OF IT I CALLED CHEVY YEARS AGO AND THEY WANTED ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT WITH NO GUARANTEES, I ALREADY PAID A MECHANIC HUNDREDS AND HAD A READOUT FOR THEM. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A SEMI TRUCK EXITING HWY ONE MORNING TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ANOTHER EXCITING HWY ALSO I HAVE A LIST 2013/2014 NOW I WAS DRIVING LOCAL AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT YET AGAIN. I WAS RELAXED NOT READY FOR IT...IT HAS BEEN GOING ON OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. I REPLACED FUSE AS TOLD AND I THOUGHT IT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW WEEKS NOTHING .I COULD PUT DOWN AT LEAST 10 DATES WHEN I HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WITH THIS PROBLEM... I HAVE READ 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS ON POWER STEERING PROBLEMS & SHIFTER WITH 2006 HHR ON DIFFERENT SITES. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? AMAZING A BIG COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS .THEY WAIT UNTIL A PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING. *TR”

“THIS IS AN ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CHEVY/GM DOESN'T CARE TO WORRY ABOUT. MY CARS STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I AM DRIVING. SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE IN ADDITION TO THIS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE DEALER EVERY TWO MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD A COMBINATION OF WHAT THE DEALERS MECHANICS FEEL THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE HAD STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED, CAM SHAFT SOLENOIDS, BUSHINGS, ROTORS. THE LIST GOES ON. NOTHING HAS FIXED THE ISSUE. TODAY BRINGING BACK TO THE DEALER I AM NOW TOLD THAT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS BOTH CONTROL ARMS IN THE FRONT ARE SECONDS FROM BREAKING ALONG WITH THE LINKS THAT KEEP THE CAR STABLE.. THE MECHANIC SHARED THAT HAD I HIT A POTHOLE I WOULD HAVE DIED AS THE CAR WOULD HAVE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER AS I WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. NOW HAVING TWO KIDS, AND THIS BEING AN ONGOING PROBLEM ONE WOULD THINK THAT CHEVY/GM WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEIR FAULTY PART. I CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR, AND I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PAY FOR GM'S MISTAKES. MY CAR IS PAID OFF AND NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. TO "FIX IT"…”

“I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE 401 ON RAMP (GOING 35KM/HR) IT WAS A RAINY DAY. I RANDOMLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER, INCLUDING MY POWER STEERING. NO LIGHTS, NO WARNINGS, JUST GONE. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL TO CONTINUE WITH THE CURVED ON RAMP. I'M NOT THAT STRONG AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING I COULDN'T DO IT AS WELL. AS I WASN'T ABLE TO DO MUCH I HIT THE BREAK AFTER I WAS ALREADY MID AIR FROM HITTING THE CURB AND GOING STRAIGHT. I LANDED PERPENDICULAR ON THE 401. TAKING UP ALL OF LANE 1 AND PART OF LANE 2. LUCKY TRAFFIC STOPPED BEFORE HITTING MY CAR. THIS WAS TERRIFYING. NO WARNING BUT NO POWER AND WHACK GOODBYE POWER STEERING. *TR”

“BOUGHT CAR 5/29/2011 WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT ANY AFTER MARKET PARTS INSTALLED OR THAT IT WAS INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. VEHICLE TITLE RECORD ONLY INDICATED A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS WAS PENDING. ON 6/27/2011 UPON LEAVING RESIDENCE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET HEARD LOUD SOUND FROM BOTTOM OF CAR. PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE NOISE CAME FROM EXHAUST PIPE SOMEWHERE. WENT TO CHEVROLET DEALER LEARNED THAT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE FLUNG CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR AND THE REPLACEMENT INCLUDED THE CATALYTIC CNVRT AS ONE PIECE. THEY SAID NOT A WARRANTY ITEM COSTS APPRX. $700.00 TO INSTALL. ON 1/27/2012 WAS TOLD BY THE LICENSING BUREAU THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A AFTERMARKET EXHAUST SYSTEM INSTALLED. *TR”