2006 Chevrolet HHR fuel/propulsion system problems

“Rear Section of the rear fuel line started to rott out and started leaking. The sction is where there is insulation on the line, adjacent to the Left rear tire. The rest of the line is good with no corrosion or rust. When the car is running and stopped a puddle forms under the car that is gasoline. I noticed it about a week ago , I smelled gas and thought the engine was the source, but later determined it was the fuel line as I could see the leak. It is by the rear plastic fuel line holder / support. The vehicle is always parked on a concrete driveway or paved street. Never on grass or dirt.”

“Fuel line rotting. Dripping gas towards rear of car. When I did my research this is very common with the Chevy cars. Like the HHR cavaliers and cobalts. Using a cheap metal then wrapping it in a heat shield that cause moisture to stay trapped causing the lines to rot.”

“MY 2006 HHR FUEL LINE BROKE AT THE REAR WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL LINE HAS A BEND AT THIS LOCATION AND THAT IS WHERE THE BREAK OCCURRED. GAS WAS SPRAYING OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. THIS OCCURRED IN 2019. I HAVE SINCE REPLACES THE FUEL LINES WITH NYLON FUEL LINES.”

“ON 11-01-2015, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, A FUEL LINE BEGAN TO SPRAY GASOLINE. THE LEAK APPEARED TOWARD THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LEAK WAS NOTICED BECAUSE THE FUEL CAUGHT FIRE. THE FUEL MUST HAVE BEEN SPRAYED ONTO A HOT PART. THE ON-FIRE FUEL LANDED ON THE PAVEMENT WHERE IT CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL MANUALLY EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE STOPPED THE SPRAYING, BUT FUEL CONTINUED TO DRIP FROM THE AREA FOR SOME TIME. THE REPAIRING MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE LINE WAS RUSTED AND HAD A HOLE. HE SAID THAT PART OF THE LINE SITS IN A POCKET WHERE IT STAYS WET AND DIRT/SALT ACCUMULATE. HE FOUND A FUEL VAPOR LINE ALSO WAS HEAVILY RUSTED. THE LINES WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF 588.31. I'M REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF SOME MODEL YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY YEAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT THE LINES RUSTED. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THIS REPORT. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL DETAILS OR IF I MAY CLARIFY ANY ITEM.”

“I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 CHEVY HHR. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE. THESE CHANGES FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AND BACK CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AT ANY SPEED. FORTUNATELY I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO WRESTLE WITH IT AND STEER IT MANUALLY SO FAR. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM ABOUT IT BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR IT. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND CHARGED ME OVER $300, BUT THAT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. ALSO TWICE A MESSAGE APPEARED ABOUT REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD ALMOST NO POWER TO GET UP HILLS. I WAS CREEPING ALONG AT ABOUT 10 MPH ON A SUPER HIGHWAY. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED IT ON AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THE ENGINE HAD NORMAL POWER AGAIN. ALSO THE DOOR LOCK LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN I'M DRIVING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE PROBLEMS CAN'T BE DIAGNOSED UNLESS THEY SEE IT ACTING UP. OF COURSE IT DOESN'T DO THESE THINGS WHEN IT IS IN THE SHOP. I AM REALLY DISGUSTED.”

“THE CHEVY HHR WAS BUILT WITH STEEL FUEL LINES RUNNING FROM THE FUEL PUMP OUTSIDE THE FUEL TANK ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE TANK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY TURN AND RUN JUST ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE. TO PREVENT HEAT BUILDUP THE FUEL LINES ARE WRAPPED WITH AN INSULATING TAPE OF SOME SORT. THIS TAPE LOOSENS OVER TIME AND ALLOWS WATER TO ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE WRAPPING OF THE FUEL LINES. THIS CAUSES THE FUEL LINES TO RUST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHEREIN THE FUEL THEN LEAKS OUT VERY NEAR OR ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND COULD RESULT IN THE INJURY OR DEATH OF ANY OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR EXPLOSION OF THE FUEL TANK. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE HHR, CHEVROLET HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE SYSTEM FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1000. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I PARKED MY HHR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SMELLED FUEL. MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I OWN 2 HHRS, A 2006 LS, AND A 2009 SS, AND AM NOW LOOKING AT A $2000 EXPENSE JUST TO MAKE THEM SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS SHOULD BE THE…”