Ignition problems of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Tl the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key was stuck inside the ignition. The contact called aaa who was able to start the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition cylinder needed to be repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v171000 (electrical system). The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 130,000.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The fuse box caught fire and caused the battery to drain completely. Bystanders helped to extinguish the fire. On another occasion, the vehicle lost all power and functionality and the ignition key remained stuck in the ignition. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and repaired, but the failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 24,400.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and was unable to turn. The contact restarted the vehicle and it resumed to normal. The contact also stated that the ignition key would not release from the ignition and the release button in the steering column was required. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14v047000 (electrical system) however, the remedy failed to repair the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the key could not be removed from the ignition. The failure continued to occur continuously for a month. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated the shifter mechanism must be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65000.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. While starting the ignition, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the power steering also failed. Three days later, the engine stalled while attempting to start the vehicle numerous times. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14v171000 (electrical system); however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. . . . . Updated 08/05/14 the consumer stated while driving the vehicle lost power steering the power steering went on and off repeatedly while driving. Three days later the vehicle would not start. The starter was replaced which resolved the issue. The vehicle had a recall for the ignition not steering loss. Updated 08/11/2014.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that she was unable to remove the key from the ignition. In order to remove the key, the contact had to shift in and out of park several times. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 142,000.

Had a new key cut to replace a lost key. Shortly after I retrieved the vehicle, key I was using got stuck in the ignition. I got it out once but I was not able to do so the next time I drove the vehicle. Apparently, there is a known issue with the keys getting stuck in the ignitions of the Hhr's. Fortunately, my car was not running at the time the key got stuck in the ignition as I have discovered several other has in my research. Two employees I spoke with at bachman auto group (steve and tony) informed me they already knew about the key getting stuck in the ignition of the Hhr's. If this is a known issue, how. . . Can there not be a recall on this to have them repaired. I contacted gm corporate customer service and from the sound of things I am going to liable to pay for the repairs even though they knew these vehicles had a history of the ignition locking up when the key is still in the ignition. They knew of this issue. I feel there should be a recall to have the ignition replaced to correct this design flaw.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an intermittent failure in which the ignition would not shut off. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed of how to release the key through the steering column. The dealer showed the contact how to take off the panel below the steering column, where a switch could be engaged to shut off the vehicle. The contact stated that the make shift remedy only functioned successfully for a short period of time. The vehicle had been taken back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 104,000. Updated 05/31/lj.

Key stuck in ignition, key will not turn to off position to allow removal of key. Have to use "column lock release" on steering column to trip plunger to allow removal of key. Have service appointment at jim sigel Chevrolet. Grants pass, oregon. For sept. 19. 2011 ( next Monday ) for complete replacement of the shifter (automatic trans. ) posts on the internet indicate 6 out of 10 Hhr's have this failure. This vehicle is beyond the calendar warranty of 36 months. But it sure is under the mileage warranty of 36000.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the key would become stuck in the ignition and the vehicle could not be turned off. The contact has to continuously move the shifter through the gears and turn the vehicle on and off several times before the key could be released from the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 34,000 and the current mileage was 35,000.

My key continues to get stuck in the ignition. About 4 months ago this happened and I took my car back to the dealer,they charged me $50. 00 to get the key out they say they greased the ignition I guess. I was looking through my car manual and it tells you how to get the key out of the ignition. I don't think the dealer charging me $50. 00 was fair. Is there some way that can be fixed? I can not afford $50. 00 and I'm get tired of putting my finger in the hole under the steering wheel to release the key.

Key stuck in ignition. Unable to remove without using the release button under the steering column. Taken to repair shop to see what the problem was. Was advised that the gear shift is not going completely into park, therefore the key will not release. Was also advised that my car is not locked in any one position, so while driving the shifter will switch from drive to natural. No work done to fostly, contacted dealer who advised same issue on 2009 Hhr's and they are being recalled, but mo open recall on 2006 at this time.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated when the vehicle was placed in park, the key would not release from the ignition. The contact was concerned that the vehicle could possibly roll away when the vehicle was parked because the computer would not register that the vehicle was in the park position. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 73,000.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated the gear shift would not move from gear to gear while the vehicle was in operation. In addition, the contact stated that the key would come out of the ignition without the vehicle being locked in the park position. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure and current mileages were 43,000. Updated 10/27/10.

Key does not come out ignition, have to push safety button under steering wheel to release keys.

Ignition will not turn to lock and key cannot be removed.

Key is unable to be removed from the ignition when car is in park. During the last two months I have had to use the release switch under the steering wheel every time I turn the vehicle off. I have taken the vehicle into the dealership, but because I am now out of warranty they would not offer any repair solutions without a costly inspection.

Ignition key does not come out of the steering column it is stuck in the ignition ,car starts and shuts off but the key cannot be removed.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated while attempting to exit the vehicle, from the drivers side, the interior door handle fractured. The contact was unable to access the exterior door handle and fifteen minutes later, he was assisted in exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure where he was advised that the entire door would need replacing in order to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the door handle remained fractured. In addition, the keys would sporadically become stuck in the ignition and the contact would have to engage the emergency release button in order to disengage the keys. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was advised that the ignition lock cylinder and remote would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 21,000 and the current mileage was 27,920. Updated 05/25/11.

The key to my 2006 Hhr would not come out of the ignition. As a result the automatic headlights would not go out and the vehicle could not be locked. This happened while I was traveling, which put my personal safety at risk and if I left my vehicle for any reason it could have easily been stolen. I have been online and found that several other owners have experienced this problem.

I couldn't remove the ignition keys from my 2006 chevy Hhr. The dealer advised that this was a common complaint with Hhr's and cobalt's and that the entire shifter assembly needed to be replaced, at my cost since the warranty had expired. I investigated the issue on on-line forums and found the issue was as follows: " a small actuator rod that goes through the shifter stalk falls out due to the stalk cracking where the rod goes through it. The key release then never gets activated so you have to use the manual release button on the bottom of the steering column. This shifter unit is completely unserviceable and the entire shifter block has to be replaced. Note that with no actuator rod the shift lever is free to move without pressing the shift button on the front of the shift lever, so it could accidentally be moved to another gear while driving, even reverse. . . . Chevy is wrong for putting such a cheap and flimsy device on the car. " this is point that I made to the gm customer complaints department but they stuck to their guns that warranty had expired. To my way of thinking even the replacement shifter is at risk in the future with having the same problem. Reading other on-line complaint logs, I note that because of the cost of replacement, it was being advocated that simply using the manual release button on the steering column was an acceptable solution to the problem. Obviously this leaves driver's in a potentially dangerous position if the shifter is accidentally moved while the car is moving. As such I feel that there is reason to have gm recall these vehicles to replace these "cheap" shifters and to reimburse owners such as myself that have incurred steep replacement costs.

The key will not come out of the ignition at times. I take the vehicle out of drive and put it in park several times and do the same with the brakes before the key will come out. My mechanic has said that it is a brake issue and not the transmission.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. While driving approximately 35 mph, his vehicle would shut off completely and he had have no power in the vehicle. He shut the engine off for approximately an hour or more and the failure would correct itself. The failure occurred intermittently. He also stated that at times when he tried to start the vehicle, he had a difficult time removing the key from the ignition. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified about the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 45,000. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. Updated 3/4/2010 updated 05/20/10.

First the gear shift would not come out of park without having to basically yank the handle with all of my strength. Then about two days later the keys would not come out of the ignition. In looking into this issue on other sites it has been stated that this is a common issue when any moisture (ex from a spill of cleaning) gets into the gear shifter. For this reason the dealership has installed a "temporary fix" being a quick release switch located under the steering wheel. I have looked for this switch since reading about it online and have not yet been able to locate it.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. On may 14, 2008, after driving for 30 minutes, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition when she arrived home. Approximately two hours later, she left home and when she returned, she slammed on the brakes and placed the vehicle into park. She was then able to remove the key at that time. Later that night, she drove to work and could not remove the key from the ignition again once she arrived. Since that time, she is still unable to remove the key and can shift gears without starting the vehicle. The dealer has not yet been notified. The current mileage was 48,764 and failure mileage was 48,761.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact started the engine to warm up the vehicle. Approximately five minutes later, she attempted to place the vehicle in reverse, but the shifter would not move from park. She waited approximately ten minutes and the failure continued. Approximately 15 minutes later, the gear was able to shift out of park. The contact drove to work and was unable to shut off the vehicle. After several attempts, she was able to remove the key from the ignition; however, the radio was still on and the chime noises remained engaged. The gears were also able to be moved without the key in the ignition. The vehicle has not been repaired and remains in her possession. The VIN, engine size, number of cylinders, and transmission type were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 36,000.

I am leasing a 2006 chevy Hhr. My husband was driving on the expressway when we hit a pot hole and my car died at 70mph! my husband steve put the car into neutral and it started without hesitation and we carried on. Very scary as you lose your power in steering, etc. . . I called the dealership that day and took it for a look over. They could not duplicate the problem and said the car seemed fine so there was no more they could do? on a recent trip to ky we again hit a pot hole on the expressway and again my car died. We were able to restart it and carried on. I belong to a website that is for Hhr owners and I soon discovered I was not the only one having this problem. Some people have this problem without hitting a pot hole or bump of any kind!! a man who had this happen said when he hit the pot hole and his car died he noticed when he went to restart the car that his key has slipped to the "acc" position. He suggested we test our keys by putting them in the ignition and playing around with them. I was interested in trying this as this is a very dangerous issue! I started my car and to my horror discovered that with no pressure I can turn my car off. I only have 4 keys and my remote on my key ring so it is not due to weight of my keyring. I can grab my hanging remote, and other keys (I only held one key) and with no pressure I can turn my car off. I am calling my dealership first thing tomorrow morning b/c I want a key cylinder in place that does not allow for my key to turn with bumps in the road. This is an extremely dangerous problem and since I am not the only one dealing with this issue I am wondering why no letters are being sent. This is most certainly a failure on design and or faulty parts which is a liability if and when it causes death and or serious injury. I look forward to hearing from you so that this matter for all owners with this issue can be resolved. Sincerely, stephanie rogers.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. While driving through a car wash, the engine and traction control light illuminated and allowed the contact to remove the key from the ignition. As a result, the vehicle lost total power. He notified general motors and aaa to jump start the vehicle. The owner's manual stated that this may occur if one were to drive through a puddle of water. It also stated that the engine may stall and cause the electrical system to collect water and moisture. General motors stated that the failure was a manufacturer defect, but they did not know how to correct the failure. The dealer and manufacturer advised him to drive around in order to dry off the electrical system. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 15,000 and current mileage was 20,000. Updated 02-06-08.

Initially, I had intermittent problems with my 2006 chevy Hhr. The key switch wouldn't turn all the way off to release the key. I took it to the dealership while it was under warranty, and they informed me that they "couldn't make it do it" (for which they have a record). After about a year-and-a half of this intermittent problem, my key would not come out of the ignition at all. I was out of town, staying at a hotel and had to leave the key in the ignition overnight. I read my owners manual and found the hidden release button in the steering column. I took it back to the dealership, and because I am out of warranty, I have to pay for this repair that is due to poor craftsmanship. After researching this to see if was recalled, I have uncovered numerous Chevrolet Hhr owners that have experienced the same problem, and it is a faulty shift linkage. This item needs to be on the recall list.

2006 chev. Hhr with a problem with ignition key that gets stuck in the ignition*.