Power Steering Pump problems of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

I was exiting a commercial driveway upon trying to make a right turn, the steering was very difficult and it took a minute to straighten up. My dashboard indicated there was a problem with the power steering. I immediately pulled over to assess the vehicle and came to find out that this vehicle does not have a power steering pump, its electrical. At the time of this occurrence I was 100 miles away from home. Upon researching this problem, I came across this website with complaints from other drivers with this same problem. I just purchase my car 3 weeks ago. Hopefully, you will take in consideration the number of complaints and request a recall. Does someone have to have an accident or be killed before this problem is rectified?.

As I began to pull out from the parking lot after work one evening, I began to hear a chime like tone, at the same time a message appeared on the dashboard that read "power steering. . . " I turned off the engine, checked under the hood for a possible broken power steering belt, but could not find the power steering pump . Re started the engine and the power steering worked fine for about a week. I later discovered the power system assist consist of an electric power steering motor and not a hydraulic. As time passed, the problem became more frequent. Now, once the car begins to move, it takes only a couple of minutes, if not seconds, before I hear the chime, the message shows up, and here I go again, struggling to steer with one hand and shifting with the other, at times through very heavy traffic. My car is a standard shift. It has become very difficult to cross lanes wile steering with one hand at the same time you are attempting to shift gears during heavy and slow traffic. I am beginning to suffer shoulder and neck pain which compounds the problem. I called gm on this issue but the gm rep. Said my vehicle was not included on the power steering recall, only recalled for ignition switch problem. I believe that if the ignition switch and power steering are recalls for other models, my 2006 Hhr should also be recalled for ignition switch and the power steering issues.

Tl- the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. While driving approximately 20 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stopped the vehicle on the shoulder of the road and shut the engine off. After restarting the vehicle it regained power steering capabilities. The failure recurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that when driving over any uneven road surface, there was a loud pop heard from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the power steering pump and sway bar would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. Kmj.

When driving vehicle approximately 20mph, chime sounds, dash displays power steering message and power steering is gone. Has happened twice and when going around corner nearly crash twice now due to sudden loss of power steering. I bought this car new 1/2/06 and it only has a tad over 40,000 miles so warranty has expired. Vehicle has same power steering pump as cobalt for which a recall was done. Same exact part means problem should not just be limited to the cobalt and g5. This is a safety issue and cobalt & g5 were recalled but not the Hhr. I belong to a very large Hhr community and this is a common problem and needs to be addressed before someone is seriously injured or killed. I live in colorado and had this happened when roads were icy it could have created a serious issue. Please let me know what can be done to correct this as the other vehicles the same year as mine with the same part have been recalled. It's an obvious defect and out of concern for the safety of the driver of the vehicle and the others around them when the problem occurs, the cost to repair should rest on Chevrolet and not the owner of the vehicle. I am a single elderly woman struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford to pay for a repair, nor should I have to because of a known faulty part. Thank you for your assistance.