2008 Chevrolet HHR problems

“While driving steering motor just stops working causing hard steering and not steer properly. You try to pull off busy highway. stop put in park shut off car then restart steering works fine just out nowhere you loose steering. its intermitten.,”

“Remedy for campaign 14V047000 was executed defectively, creating an unsafe mechanical failure that destroyed the powertrain. Failure occurred while or shortly before vehicle stalled in heavy traffic. Vehicle would not restart, but ignition switch stuck in start position while attempting restart, causing starter motor to crank continuously until the switch was turned to the off position. It is believed that starter motor was running while engine was running since last successful start about 3 minutes prior to stall, interfering with normal operation of the engine and eventually causing engine to jump timing and sustain catastrophic internal damage. Subsequent GM dealer service visit found that a burr on the new key provided with campaign 14V047000 repair caused ignition switch to bind in start position. Service staff buffed out burr on key which resolved switch binding, but vehicle refused to start. Borehole inspection of engine found damaged valves and pistons, leading to diagnosis of jumped timing. No other work other that diagnosis has been attempted at this point. Estimate to replace engine is $8600”

“FUEL LINE LEAKING IN TWO PLACES, IN THE REAR AND IN THE FRONT. COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,800 MILES ON IT. TYPE OF CAR IS A 2008 CHEVY HHR LT 2.4. GAS IS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AND A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IS EMITTED FROM THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE. I DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO MY CAR WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND DROVE THE CAR 130 MILES AWAY FROM HOME TO MY DAD'S FUNERAL. THEN I HAD TO DRIVE IT BACK BECAUSE TH E TOW WOULD HAVE BEEN $700. THE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE CAR. BUDDY LLOYD'S LAKEVIEW AUTOMOTIVE AT 4757 SANG RUN ROAD IN MCENRY, MD 21541, SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,000 TO FIX BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION AND THE CHAEP MATERIALS USED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL LINES ARE LOCATED UNDERNEATH OTHER MAJOR PARTS AND WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF TO GET TO THE FUEL LINES. THE MECHANIC SAID AT ANY MOMENT IF I HIT A BUMP THAT THE GAS COULD EMPTY THE TANK AND POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE!”

“THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD GOING DOWN ROAD. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. ROTORS & BRAKES ARE HORRIBLE - HAVE TO HAVE REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES. BEARINGS HAVE WENT OUT, REPLACED & ONE WENT OUT AGAIN. I SPEND APPROX 1200 DOLLARS A YEAR JUST TO GET SHAKING OUT OF FRONT END, TURNING ROTORS & TIRES. BUT THAT ISN'T REALLY THE PROBLEM I AM REPORTING: WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH IGNITION SWITCH - IT WAS RECALLED - TOOK IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED - UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR AT THIS TIME - UPON LEAVING DEALERS AND WITHIN 15 MILES POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON & I LOSE POWER STEERING. NOW MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHENEVER IT DECIDES TO. TOOK BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE I FELT THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY MESSED UP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST A PROBLEM WITH HHRS AND THAT POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS...IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR, ALONG WITH BRAKE ISSUES, SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT, BEARINGS GOING OUT AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ALSO HAD. I REALIZE MY CAR IS HIGH MILEAGE, I WORK AS A HOME HEALTH NURSE & USE THIS CAR FOR WORK, BUT I DO KEEP IT MAINTAINED. I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO GET INTO DIFFERENT…”

“The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and failed to release. Additionally, the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the key was stuck and needed to be broken, and any damages would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR INDEPENDENTLY OPENED AND FAILED TO LATCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED TO PROPERLY OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE SIGNAL SWITCH TO TURN OFF THE SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH AND THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER/ SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *TT *TR”