general problems of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR - part 2

While driving along and trying to merge onto a parkway entrance I heard a warning tone and my driver information center power steering. I then realized I had no power steering. Fortunately for myself it was as if I were driving a car with manual steering & was not a real issue for myself. What if it were a small women with children in the car. Maybe she would not have the strenght or reactio to a situation like that. This problem started with the chevy cobalt. The Hhr is biult on the same platform. Earlier models of the cobalt were recalled but the Hhr was not!!! I wrote to you people last year about this problem. There are plenty of websites addressing this issue. All you have to do is google Chevrolet Hhr power steering problems. As an automotive technician I replaced the electric power steering myself. G. M. Told me it was no longer under warranty. My ignition tumbler also locked up on my vehicle. Fortunately it would not allow me to turn the vehicle off. I was able to shut down the vehicle and had it towed back to the dealer and they covered that under warranty. I applaud you for going after the ignition switches but that is only part of the story. How are they allowed to play with peoples lives letting them drive with defective power steering. The attorney general needs to pursue this issue.

While driving at various speeds the power steering goes out making the difficult to control. I did research only to find that many other Hhr owners experienced the same issue and several other chevy models were recalled for the same issue. This has happened at various speeds. Restarting the car temporarily fixes it. Has happened between 0 and 2 miles of starting the car. (7 times yesterday) it could be very dangerous while trying to make turns.

I was driving home from work and as I was making a right turn the power steering went out. This has happened previously but luckly I was at a stop sign. I thought the car had stalled so I cut it off and restarted and it was fine. I drove to work the next morning and still no problem until I was making the right turn and then had difficulty controlling the car. Once I managed to get it in my drive, shut it off and then restarted- the power steering message went away and once again the car was fine. Same thing next morning car fine- I work about 5-7 miles from home. Again on the way home with no warning in rush hour traffic- power steering goes out as I am changing lanes. I manage once again to get home. My car has the same part that the chevy cobalt has and chevy had recalled the cobalt to make repairs but not the Hhr. I have seen numerous complaints filed about this and fear that they do not take our safety seriously whom own the Hhr- I have contacted chevy and ask who to lodge complaint with since they were not helpful. They did not give me the information. I had to find on google. I did tell them that the internet is full of this same complaint regarding the power steering on the Hhr and the response was I cannot look and unapproved gm sites(whatever that means). Thank you for you concern and hope you can help someone from having a serious injury due to this malfunction.

Called the chevy dealer, told me that it was Friday and to call first thing Monday morning. As I continued on freeway I realized that the ride was rougher, something was very wrong. To steer was harder, trip odometer both were not working, cruise control would not engage,speedometer was not working,transmission not shifting easily,pulled into chevy dealer, found the service manager. Asked him to check the car, hours on sign stated that someone would available until 5:30. It was currently 4:50 pm. He assured me that is was safe to drive care: pulled out of dealership, transmission would not shift at all. Engine light came on turned around, went back. He was just leaving to go home it was 5:10 at this time. When he saw me he got out of his car, came over, I told him the increased changes and why I turned around:I had my 80 year old aunt with me I live 14 miles outside of town it was Friday afternoon I did not want to make matters worse by driving this car say an accident or doing more damage to the repairs needed. He put it on the analysis scope he said he had mixed messages. One was it said power steering but with the wrong code. After that there was nothing that showed up. He again assured me that we would be fine! I pulled out of the dealership, drove 2 miles, then was coasting! had no transmission. Pulled over to side of road, turned off the engine sat for a few minutes, restarted continued down the highway with my flashers on. It would not shift higher than second gear. We limped to a friends house parked the car, they gave us a ride home. What would have happened if I had continued down that road. Please help.

Most recently almost every time I turn on my car, I will drive for maybe 5 minutes and my steering wheel becomes locked. I will pull off to the side shut off & turn back on the car leave it sit on for another minute or so pull off and the power steering will become engaged again locking the steering wheel. This has happened to me more and more frequently, especially since the days have become hotter. I have called my dealership and made appointments to get it diagnosed by every time I will go in for the appointment at that moment they will look at it and say or nothing is wrong. There are no display warnings on your dash board, you will have to bring it back to us when it is on. This issue is becoming very alarming to me since it is happening more frequently. I can't keep taking off every time I believe that there is an issue especially if when I go to the dealership and no work gets done.

My power steering went out on my Chevrolet Hhr. It started anytime I parallel parked and eventually would happen driving 65 mph on the interstate. I could hardly turn the wheel, and it was very unsafe to drive. I was notified by my dealership that the power steering motor was the problem. It was fixed, and the problem no longer occurs. It has come to my attention this same power steering motor was recalled in other cars, but not the Hhr. Make this happen.

3 tones sound - the display on the dashboard says power steering - steering is extremely difficult to control, if you are in the middle of a turn you are in trouble.

The power steering in my 2009 Hhr goes out w/o warning, at various speeds. When it started I contacted my local dealer and chevy and was led to beleive that this was an unusual occurrence. Since then, I have seen hundreds of complaints, similar to mine, dating back to 2006. The power steering motors in these cars are faulty and dangerous and chevy knows it. They have already recalled the same ones in ions, cobalts, and malibus and have only failed to recall all of them because they have not yet been made to do so. Hopefully, they will take responsibility for wrecklessly endangering so many trusting consumers and adress this issue before someone gets killled, if it hasn't already happened.

My wife drives a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr and the power steering will go out sporadically while she is driving. This may occur 1 time or it has happened up to 4 times in 10 mile distance. It has happened at hi speed of 60 mph or when she is in a parking lot doing 5 mph. Each time if she turns the ignition off and restarts the car the power steering is fine. The problem is a faulty electric power steering motor. This puts my wife's and my kids safety at risk. I have found that the Chevrolet Hhr's in canada have been recalled to this faulty motor. Chevrolet cobalt's with the same motor have also been recalled. Why haven't the chevolet Hhr's been recalled. It is a huge safety risk. I have had to park this car due to it's safety risks. I called dealership and they want $775. 00 to replace this motor. Sounds outrageous to fix a faulty motor that gm is well aware of its problems.

While driving at various speeds the power steering goes out making the difficult to control. I did research only to find that many other Hhr owners experienced the same issue and several other chevy models were recalled for the same issue. The chevy dealer verified that the issue I was having (failure of the power steering motor) was the same issue seen in many other chevy models. Chevy would not fix it and washed their hands of it. This has happened at various speeds. Restarting the car temporarily fixes it.

Key stuck in the iginition car still running. Key release doesn't work. Car was left running all night.

While leaving work my electric power steering cut out. I restarted the vehicle and the power steering would reset itself but would go out within a minute or two of driving down the road. I spent about 3hrs attempting to narrow down when this would occur, however it was always at random speeds, turn radius', in cruise control or not, while accelerating or when braking. Continued shutting vehicle down to reset the system so as to continue to troubleshoot. Always failed shortly after restarting and hitting the road. As this can be very dangerous, there certainly needs to be a recall for the power steering to be repaired.

The power steering warning displayed in the dash panel shortly after vehicle was started while I was pulling out of a parking spot. Steering was very difficult. I turned the ignition switch off, restarted the vehicle, and the power steering warning cleared and steering worked normally for a few miles before it failed again. The problem makes it very difficult to steer the vehicle at slow speeds and in sharp curves or turns.

While driving at approx 15 Aug 2012 13:30 hrs edt @ 20 mph on15 Aug 2012 the 'power steering' light came on and the steering became very hard. I was lucky as I was only a block from home. I could see this would cause a major problem if I were driving at highway speeds. I did see that a recall was issued for the chevy cobalt and others that use the same power steering unit but not the Hhr. . . Time to get the recall going before someone gets killed. . . Also a recall was issued in canada for the Hhr.

Like others, there were some warning beeps and the message appeared on the dash "power steering". Then the power steering went out. Once I cut the car off and back on, I had power steering back. This seems very similar to the reason for the recall on the cobalt and s5. Happened again on 7/26 and 7/27.

The power steering system went out on my car while driving. The power steering system works after it has had time to cool down for 5 to 15 miles. The system goes out everyday and every-time it is driven.

Power steering assist has dropped out numerous times. The dash chimes and a power steering message appears on the digital display. Shutting the engine off and restarting it resets the power steering assist only to have it drop out again within a mile or so. The warranty expired a few months ago. This situation could be very dangerous should the power steering assist drop out while negotiating a sharp turn etc.

The powersteering goes out while driving. Speed doesn't seem to matter. Once the car is stopped and turned off the powersteering comes back on, however it may go out again at 500ft to a few miles.

Loss of steering assist occurs at any time while driving and once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information center (dic) and a chime sounds. This is the same problem & part involved in the below recall of cobalts & in a canadian recall of Hhrs. It is almost impossible to park when it is not working. Resetting by turning ignition off, then starting engine again will last about 30 seconds. I have almost crashed as it fails while turning entering/exiting parking spaces or garage. Nhtsa action number: NHTSA recall campaign number: pe10005 10v073000 make: Chevrolet model: cobalt manufacturer : general motors llc model year : 2009 component(s) : steering:electric power assist system date investigation opened : January 27, 2010 date investigation closed : July 19, 2010.

I was driving my Hhr on a state road at 50mph when the power steering message came on and the power steering quit. If I would have been in a curve, I would have wrecked. I found the nearest safe spot to pull off the road and turned my car off and restarted it and it came back on. Since this episode I have had multiple episodes with this problem. I only drive about 500 miles per month and that is too may times for the steering to go out.

Twice today, the power steering stopped working while driving this vehicle. While pulling out of a parking place, the power steering stopped working for the first time. Upon stopping, putting the vehicle in park and re-starting the vehicle it worked again for a short period. (less then 2 miles) luckily, we were only traveling 40 mph on a straight, level, side road when it happened the second time. I have visions of very bad things if/when this happens again at highway speeds on a winding roadway. Upon further research, before making this report, I read of many others who own this same vehicle who have had this same problem, and that there is possibility that there was a manufacturer recall in canada, but not in the us. I also understand that the same parts are used in the chevy cobalt, does have a recall.

When I put my Chevrolet Hhr into park and proceeded to turn the car off, the ignition switch was stuck in the on position and I was unable to turn the ignition to the off position while the car was still running. I had to disconnect the battery cable and remove a fuse to get the vehicle to turn off completely, and am having to take it to the dealership tomorrow for a repair.

I have a 2009 Hhr the power steering goes out while in motion if you stop the vehicle and turn off it will have power steering again for a while the same thing happens.

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that he had several problems with the vehicle. The failures included the brakes, power steering assist and a foul odor being emitted through the ventilation system. In addition, the driver¿s side door handle cable fractured and the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer for the failure of the power steering assist where they advised that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The steering rack was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer because the check engine light was illuminated and they advised that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the vehicle began to drive roughly afterward. The vehicle was also taken to the dealer for the brake failure, door handle and the exhaust and the technicians stated that they could not duplicate the brake problem or the foul odor that was coming through the exhaust. In addition, the cable in the door handle needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 32,000.

I pulled into the gas station to get gas. I could not shut the car off nor remove the key. My 2009 cobalt had the same problem and was fixed due to a vehicle recall. However, my 2009 Hhr had no recall on it even though it uses the exact same defective parts as the cobalt did. I am also concerned about the steering on the Hhr since it shares the exact same mechanicals as the cobalt. The cobalt had a recall due to steering, however the Hhr did not. A search for complaints on=line yielded many results. It appears that the Hhr's are having the exact same problems yet the consumers are left with paying for the repairs. My gm dealer confirmed that the Hhr uses the exact same faulty parts as the cobalt and he could not explain why the Hhr was not covered in the recall either. He stated that they have had to fix just as many Hhr's as they have cobalts. . . The only difference is that cobalt owners do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses and Hhr owners do. This is ridiculous.

Power steering motor goes out while driving and fixes its self once you shut the car and start back up. Key gets stuck in ignition can't turn the car off.

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering would intermittently fail without warning and the steering wheel would become difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 100,000.

While turning I've had the electric steering go out my vehicle. During one occation I was avoiding someone that had pulled out in front of me. I've taken the vehicle to the dealer and they say everything is normal but yet the vehicles electric steering comes and goes while driving.

I was leaving from a store made 2 turns then the display read power steering -when I got ready to make the third turn I felt the steering wheel lock up and as I tried to turn it I had to use all my strength to make the turn-this could be potential cause an accident and why does it not give you a warning-I read where people are just turning the vehicle off then on to get it to work right but this should be fixed by the manufacture before someone is killed.

Electronic power steering stops working while driving down the road. The warning chime sounds and the instrument panel read out displays power steering. The power steering will reset and work again if the car is turned off and restarted but will stop working soon after.

Going 35 to 45 mph in a straight line on a cold night with the heater on. A message showing "power steering" on the driver information center. With evey restart the power steering would work for a time and then shut down again after a short time. Dealer diagnosed as a failed electric power steering assist motor. We paid $335. 38 to replace this componant. This vehicle has the same frame, power train, and other major componants as the Chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 with the body being the main difference in these vehicles. Chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 recall information: make: Chevrolet model: cobalt model year: 2009 manufacturer: general motors corp. Mfr's report date: Mar 01, 2010 NHTSA campaign id number: 10v073000 NHTSA action number: pe10005 component: steering:electric power assist system.

My power steering stopped operating. I got it repaired at a price of $800. 00 upon researching, I have seen that other Hhr owners have had this same fault occur. There has been recalls on other gm models for this same fault, such as the cobalt. I would hope that gm declares a recall for Hhr's also. I have kept my receipt if this becomes the case. I would hope that the NHTSA has gotten quite a lot of complaints concerning this case and require gm to follow through. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while traveling 55 mph she attempted to make a turn when the steering wheel seized making the vehicle very difficult to control. The contact also stated that the service traction control and airbag lights illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was unavailable. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph the power steering would intermittently fail and the wheel would become very difficult to turn. Whenever the failure occurred, the contact would restart the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who informed the contact that the power steering assist system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The chevy Hhr is based on the chevy cobalt. The Hhrs are having the exact same power steering assist problem that exists in the cobalt. The cobalt is covered by a recall, but the Hhr is not. I believe the Hhr should have the same recall because it has the exact same component that is failing. The power steering goes out suddenly and has caused my wife to lose control of the car. Cheverolet will not replace the component under the extended warranty that was purchased from them, yet they will replace it on a chevy cobalt.