Other Fuel System Tank Assembly problems of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR

Vehicle stationary. Noticed strong smell of fuel coming from exterior of the vehicle and a leak spot around the rear passenger side wheel. Moved the vehicle to insure the spot and smell was indeed coming from the Hhr. Smell definitely coming from the Hhr, not sure of the spot (was not setting in new location very long). Took the vehicle to the local car wash to clean (in case the smell was due to the possibility the fuel tank was overfilled during refueling). Drove the vehicle as normal for several weeks. Noticed the smell and spot again after parking for an extended period of time, the spot was much larger and smell was much stronger. Decided to move the vehicle further from the house (for safety reasons) until I could investigate further. Moved the vehicle to a remote driveway. It sat for several weeks, was going to move the vehicle back to the drive in front of the garage, so I could check work on it. The smell was very strong and the spot was very large. The vehicle would not start, it was out of fuel. When it was previously moved to the remote driveway, it had at least 1/4 tank of of fuel. This means that all of that fuel was in the driveway. I was glad I had moved it and that my granddaughter was never in the vehicle when I had been driving it weeks earlier. Had some friends help me get it moved back to where I could work on it. Found that the leak was somewhere above the passenger rear wheel under a foil like heat shield. Checked on-line, found there was a NHTSA investagation on this issue. Really - investagation! this leak is in close proximity of the exhaust system. The reason for the heat shield in the first place. Really glad my granddaughter had not been a passenger for sometime. Further �investagation� on-line, this is very common issue on several models, especially in the midwest due to salt use for snow removal.

Drove to local city facility pulling small trailer full of grass clippings and tree branches. While unloading trailer, I started smelling a strong gasoline odor at the rear of the car, but could not find source. After arriving back home and unhooking trailer, gasoline odor was strong again, but still no source. After car sat for 30-45 minutes, a drip was noticed in front of the driver's side rear tire. Upon inspection, the gasoline drip was originating from the plastic shield which contains the gasoline feed line, fuel return line, and brake line. This shield is located between the frame and the muffler. When I called a towing service to tow my car to a local garage, the towing service acknowledged they had just fixed another Hhr for a gas leak at the same place on the car. They noted it was quite common for the steel gas line to corrode inside this shielding. The garage that actually did the work on my car noted the fuel line from the tank to the engine was repaired. ## #vpic# 1 - check digit (9th position) does not calculate properly; 3 - VIN corrected, error in one position (assuming check digit is correct); 14 - unable to provide information for all the characters in the VIN. #vpic#.

I can try to send photos and documentation once I get them from the mechanic. Fuel lines rusted creating leaks. Have read several other customer complaints noting the design and materials to be the cause. My vehicle just has 81,000 miles on it. I am 69 years old and have never had this happen in any vehicle nthat I have owned including vehicles that have had over 140,000 miles on them. The danger this faultly design has created for car owners as well as others drivers in their proximity needs to be addressed and corrected now. I am disabed and have carried oxygen tanks in my car and will need to in the future increasing the danger by this defect. This is a sagetyhazard to every Hhr owner and nearby traffic. I do not understand why gm is not correcting this before there are tragedies when they have been made aware that the problem is their responsibility and they should be covering the costly repair of the dangerous flaw in their design.

April of 2017 the fuel lines of my Hhr rusted and I had them replaced. November of 2017 plastic fuel line connector that connects fuel line to fuel tank failed . While driving home through the city of lancaster I smelled gas . I pulled into a parking lot to inspect and I observed gas leaking from the tank. Gas leaked out while I was parked at a store. The fire department and hazmat had to be called to clean up spilled gas. I had the car towed to my mechanic . He reported to me that the plastic part (22719582) failed. He has been trying to find a part and he reports to me that the part is unavailable. He thinks many other Hhr's are experiencing the same problem. While researching the problem on line I discovered many other Hhr's had similar problems with the fuel line.

Gas lines exiting the fuel tank run through a flexible heat shield as they run past the left rear wheel to the bottom of the car (prior to running up to the engine). The fuel lines in the flexible heat shield have significant run and have started to leak fuel. This fuel pools under the car when stationary and sprays onto the exhaust system while in transit. This was not a sudden event, the rust has occurred over time, however is not detectable during routine inspection due to the heat shield. This incident was noticed due to the gas fumes which collected in the car during a start-up. There was no other indication until the fumes were investigated.

The fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine bends around by the wheel and apparently rubs with everyday driving. Eventually it rubbed a hole in the fuel line. I noticed it after I parked the car and could see fuel dripping in front of the rear wheel. The line from front to back of the car is a single piece and cost something like $700 for the line alone. (stupid) instead of replacing the line I had a rubber fuel line clampped to the line as a temperary fix. After talking to a chevy dealership and a mechanic at tire discounters, I was told by both places that this is a common problem. Both locations said that they get Hhr's with this problem often. This needs to be on a recall list. This service was done on January 25, 2017 and the cost for the fix was $232. Thank you for your time.

We recently purchased a 09 chevy Hhr and within the first 150 miles we got a check engine light, took it to the dealer and was told the fuel was running lean. He reset the computer and told me to put fuel additive in the tank. I did so and the check engine light is still coming on and the engine is beginning to stall and lose power. . . . What are we to do, car still has a factory warranty, but can't get help. . .