general problems of the 2008 Chevrolet HHR - part 1

Gas line leaking, leaves puddles and can visibly be seen dripping.

Corrosion of the metal fuel lines underneath the vehicle towards the rear and in the vicinity of the left rear wheel well.

Gas leak has started on the driver side in front of the rear tire.

Purchased vehicle in Sep 2021. After 4 months of purchase, muffler became loose from exhaust after hitting a pothole on highway and, having a mechanical background, I repaired the exhaust by placing a solid stainless steel exhaust sleeve around the weak area and tac welding it. Within a month, I began to smell a rich fuel odor after every trip. I jacked up vehicle and found a fuel leak within insulated area just left of exhaust. I also located another small exhaust leak and repaired it as best as possible with an exhaust wrap, then took it to an exhaust repair shop. I was told fuel leak had to be repaired before exhaust repairs could be done. Mechanic said Hhrs we're well known for fuel line corrosion due to poor design and eventually leaking. He said he has turned away many Hhrs and cobalts for this problem over the last 2-3 years.

My fuel line is pouring gas out . The gas fumes are filling the cabin of the car waiting for a repair.

Fuel line leak.

Fuel lines leaking in front of drivers side rear tire. Lines run inside of a channel that has a protective wrap over them, but is very close to part of the exhaust pipe. Fuel line had corroded inside of protective wrap. Only leaks when the engine is running and fuel system under pressure. Fuel could have hit hot exhaust pipe and caused a fire or explosion. Apparently this is a common problem with the chevy Hhr with multiple cases having already been reported. Had the car repair at our local chevy dealer. Cost of removing and replacing the fuel lines was $1,307. 00. The only indications of the problem was the smell of fuel near the rear tire and a puddle of fuel under the car when engine was shut off. Frame cross member was also wet from fuel shooting out of end of protective wrap.

Fuel lines leaking under left rear of 2008 Hhr. According to google internet investigations this seems to be a problem in the design and placement of insulation material over the fuel line. I almost had a explosive concern, not knowing where the smell of fuel was coming from, a alert gentleman smoking a cigarette counseled me on a dripping fuel on the parking lot. He said smokers will throw their cigarette down and unintentionally possibly causing a fire/explosion.

My power steering unexpectedly has gone out. When it first happened I was on the freeway in the rain and it locked up. Thankfully there were no others cars near me or I would of had an accident. I called the dealership and they said there was a recall but too much time has passed! this makes no sense. If it's bad it's bad, what the heck! so now I have taken the fuse out and it at least keeps it from locking up it it is very difficult to steer and I fear not being able to respond quickly in an emergency. Then I was noticing that when I add gas it had trouble turning over. Only when I added gas. Gas mileage began getting worse and then I felt the motor having difficulty while again on the freeway. I could smell gas and pulled over. There was smoke under the hood and I could see gas puddling up under my car. Now I am scared of my car. I called GMC and they said they couldn't help me with either of these issues to contact my dealership. I havnt done this because I already know they are gonna say they can not help me. This is absurd. I have had this car a year and nothing but problems for me.

Engine cuts out , loses power ar random times. Especially when the air is humid. Constant smell of leaking gasoline.

My gas lines are leaking. It appears that several other owners of Hhr's are having the same issue.

Gas leaking. . Over left rear wheel well where the silver insulation is . . Line has rusted thru the insulation is because the exhaust runs close to that side of the vehicle but unfortunately there in no way or takes too long for moisture to evaporate poor design . . . .

Metal fuel lines rusted thru under the left rear door area where they are wrapped in insulation with no ability tor drain or dry out. The car is unsafe to drive I need to have it fixed now. I will try to safe defective parts. Fuel leak under the car near exhaust and almost undrivable, safety factor is obvious and currently under investigation. Will be calling dealer today. Noticed delayed start and heavy gas smell and then saw puddle under car. Removed insulation wrap and found heavy deposit of road dirt and rust.

Fuel line suddenly sprung a leak. I noticed it after driving on the highway. There was gasoline dripping after I parked and looked.

Fuel tank assembly developed a fuel leak at or around its integrated tank vents creating a strong fuel smell inside and outside the vehicle. This is not a rusted fuel line problem. This poses a fire hazard if the vehicle were to come into contact with any spark or flames. This also poses a health hazard from exposure to toxic fumes inside and outside the vehicle. This condition did not trigger any warning messages from the onboard vehicle computer. The seal between the tank vents and fuel tank is made by the manufacturer and is unserviceable. I attempted to seal the leaks with adhesive but was unsuccessful. I then purchased a used replacement fuel tank from an auto recycler and discovered it also has this issue. I believe this to be a design defect that will lead to an unsafe condition in these vehicles. I can make these components available for inspection. I have not had the issue inspected by any other parties as that would involve further costs.

Around 6 months ago I started to notice a fuel smell and upon inspection at the local shop it was diagnosed that my fuel line had rusted through and they informed me there are other cases of this exact issue on the Chevrolet Hhr and cobalt vehicles with this engine and fuel setup it has started to leak into the exhaust but has not caught fire.

I just bought this car less than a week ago. When the car is sitting still or in park, and idling, there's a strong gas smell. Looks to be the return line leaking.

This vehicle recently developed a visible fuel leak toward the rear of the car. When the vehicle is running or the fuel system is pressurized fuel leaks underneath car due to defective fuel lines. The location of the leak is near the exhaust pipe which can be a fire hazard and can cause performance issues with the vehicle. Never had this issue on any other vehicles of this age or newer. Further investigation shows that this enough of a problem that there is a lot of information and videos showing that is a design/material flaw on general motor's part.

Stored car in garage from October 2020 to March 1 2021. When parked there was a fuel leak of 3-5 drips per second at lh rear wheel. When started and moved out of garage on March 1 there was a steady stream of fuel. The enclosed picture shows puddle of fuel under car after keying-off after the 40 foot move. Prior to garaging the car I contacted Chevrolet about the "very common" leak and was told to call my local dealer, all to no avail. I've been waiting to hear if the July 2020 NHTSA investigation will turn into a recall. When will a ruling be available? I'm at the point where I will be doing a shade-tree-mechanic repair in lieu of waiting on NHTSA. Gm (Chevrolet) have been building cars for 100 years. The company knows many vehicles are driven in rust belt states. There is no excuse for fitting cheap un-coated mild steel fuel and purge lines to vehicles that operate in this environment. Note that this vehicle currently has a check engine light on. The code is for a purge system leak. I have found that the purge line running parallel to the fuel line is just as corroded as the fuel line. This is likely where the purge system leak resided. So this vehicle fails to keep liquid fuel in it's fuel line and fails to keep evaporative fuel in the purge system. Please let me know when the recall will be enacted so I can stop needlessly polluting the earth with hydrocarbons. I'd rather have Chevrolet foot the bill for the repair rather than me. Thank you!.

Vehicle leaks gas, the fuel line leakes, below the driver side rear door. I've owned two Hhr's and both have had this problem, same exact spot. The line rotted out and is leaking fuel on the ground. I can see and smell it.

Fuel line leak above exhaust drivers side rear tire. Was parked in garage could smell gas in home. Move to out side left large puddle in garage. Brought to dealer next day was told fuel lines needed to be replaced. They replaced purge and fuel feed lines. At a discounted price of $1517. 36.

Severe fuel leak which caused a small fire. Luckily we had a fire extinguisher handy. This is apparently very common with Hhrs and thank god I wasn't at a gas station when the fire started.

I went to start the car in my driveway, smelled gas from the rear driver's side tire. I then shut off my car and looked. I have a leak in the fuel line, after researching seems that this has happened before in this make and model. I do not want to move the car or pay for a repair that is a design flaw.

Upon return home I detected the smell of gasoline from driver's side rear wheel area. Jacked vehicle up for visual inspection, which revealed rusted fuel line and evap line from midpoint of vehicle to rear connection terminals. Both fuel lines behind silver protective wrap were rusted through in both wrap locations although the brake lines in same wrap were not affected.

Fuel line rusted out and fuel leaks onto exhaust pipe and surrounding areas including the ground.

I recently heard on the news that there was a fuel line leak problem reported by NHTSA, on chevy cobalts and Hhrs. I printed a copy of the news report, provided it to my mechanic and asked the shop to check it. They found the fuel lines ready to crumble, which they did when the lines were removed. I was lucky they had not crumbled--the car could've caught fire. The repair was costly and labor intensive. The back part of the exhaust system had to be removed and replace due to the age of the car and thinness of the exhaust pipe at the converter. . The mechanics stated that the cause of the corroded fuel lines was poor design, using steel pipes and the pipes situated such that water (and road DE-icer) gets trapped above a shield promoting corrosion. I looked up this problem on the internet and found many entries for Hhrs with corroded fuel lines. I'm fortunate that I heard the news item or my car could've gone up in flames. I'm surprised there has not been a recall--there should be.

The gas line in leaking on the drivers side near the rear wheel well. The area is wrapped in a heat sheilding wrap which holds moisture. Im assuming this is why it caused the gas line to rust through.

Both fuel lines were rusted and leaking by driver rear wheel . Dealership replaced both lines car was down for four days. Very dangerous chevy could have done a better job with the lines. Not running the fuel lines beside the exhaust! and not having a wrap to hold in moisture.

My fuel line has become corroded and is leaking gas from around the rear driver's side wheel.

Fuel line has rusted and started leaking fuel just in front of drivers rear tire. Noticed once vechile was park. I saw a puddle and smelt the aroma of fuel.

Fuel line is leaking under the car at the front of the left rear tire. I believe the purge line is also leaking at this location. A check-engine light is currently on for a purge system leak.

Fuel lines have rusted. Engine light came on. Car is now parked safely. Pending repair. Inferior materials from Chevrolet on this car. Many on chevy blog with the same problem.

Fuel smell coming from left rear of car.

Tl-the contact owsn a 2008 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated when the vehicle was parked in the garage the vehicle emitted a fuel odor. The contact inspected the vehicle himself and found the fuele lines that are located at the driver's side front wheel corroded due to water pentrated the gas line rubber mount and metal that covered. The contact repaired the vehicle himself. The contact the corroded gas lines ten inches of the gas lines was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacterd. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Li.

I read an article today from the detroit free press about NHTSA's investigation of fuel leaks in older Chevrolet Hhr�s, so I wanted to send you an email about my Hhr's issue. I took my 2008 Hhr in for a normal oil change and they told me about a fuel line leak towards the left rear wheel well of my car. I also have a �check engine light� that wont go away, and get a message randomly to check my fuel cap. I've replaced my fuel cap twice, and the garage I take my car two says the engine light is tied into the leaky fuel line. I have not replaced the line due to the quoted $1,000 for repair, but have attached the photo below. I believe this is directly related to NHTSA's investigation, and would like to know how to move forward next. I also think this leak has affected my left rear tire sensor since it is near the root of the leak. Thank you for your time today.