Automatic Transmission Problems of Chevrolet HHR

Chevrolet HHR owners have reported 21 problems related to automatic transmission (under the power train category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Chevrolet HHR based on all problems reported for the HHR.

1 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 06/26/2011

I purchased a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr for my daughter with a 72 months /100,000 miles extended warranty (which has one year and six months left). She brought her car home from school on summer vacation saying that her car was shifting funny. We took it tarr Chevrolet service department believing that with our extended warranty they would be able to figure out the problem, repair it, and all would be good. However, that was not the case. It took them two weeks to figure out the transmission was blown. I was called today and had with a very confusing conversation with the service manager. I was told that I had two options for getting my car repaired. It was explained to me that I could either get a used transmission with 33,000 miles on it already and it would be covered by a one year warranty (the transmission that just broke down with only 55,000 miles on it). Or I could get a new transmission and pay the difference of 1,500. 00 dollars which seems unfair to me. This is a short summary of what has transpired and it is very discouraging to my daughter and I. We were wondering if you had any insight into our predicament.

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2 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 04/19/2011

Power steering failure while driving my vehicle with children.

3 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 03/01/2011

I have experienced the failure to shift from the park position into drive on a few occasions. Had to shut the car off, restart and then press the brake pedal down firmly and hold. Shift mechanism operated normally after that event. Not sure if this is a mechanical or electrical issue? I would suspect electrical.

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4 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 11/05/2010

Key stuck in ignition, able to turn car off, but will not turn past acc position to remove key. Car will shift into park and out again, brake interlock still works.

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5 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 10/10/2010

Three weeks ago my 2007 chevy Hhr began not shifting out of park. It takes at least 10 minutes each time I get in my car to shift into drive or reverse. I have tried everything. Now the only way I get it out of park is to turn to key forward and press on the brake and push in the button on the shifter. After about 5 minutes it will finally go into gear. I need to understand what the issue is and if so many people are dealing with the same issue why isn't there any help out there from the manufacturer or a recall to fix this?.

6 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 10/01/2010

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Hhr lt. The contact stated that the vehicle would fail to start intermittently. In addition, the vehicle would slip gears with the illumination of the transmission warning light. The dealer indicated that there was a failure but was unable to diagnose the exact cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,998 and the current mileage was 17,572.

7 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 08/02/2010

The button on the shift lever on the automatic transmission of my 2006 chevy Hhr sticks in the in position allowing the transmission to be shifted into any gear including park and reverse as I am driving. This problem is intermittent but recurs from time to time, very unpredictable. At this time I have not fixed it because I was debating trading the car in.

8 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 07/10/2010

I have a 2007 chevy Hhr and starting having problems with trying to shift out of park. At first it was every so often it happened all the time. While I was on vacation my friend took the car to a chevy dealership and they said the gear shift had to be replaced it cost me 497. 99. In the mean time I went on line and found that 15,000 other owners of Hhr's had the same exact problem. I went to gm to see if there was a recall and they said no. I then asked if they would do something to help me with this huge bill and after getting the run around for a month I was told by larry at gm 866-790-5700 ext 21217 there is nothing they can do to help. So now I am writing to you and I will also write the to the better business bureau too and see if there is any help for me at all. Thanks for taking the time to look into this and a speedy reply would be greatly appreciated.

9 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 07/01/2010

2006 chevy Hhr. Gear shift control pin falls out of plastic retainment piece resulting in gear shift button sticking in the inward position and the key remaining locked in steering column. Due to a defect in manufacturing, the plastic cracks around the pin retainment hole. The control pin then becomes loose, thus resulting in the control pin either moving out of it's intended position and jamming the gear selector, or falling out completely and allowing the gear selector to move in any gear at any time, weather the car is running or shut off. Once control pin moves out of position or falls out, the micro switch cannot be activated to release the key from the ignition, thus resulting in a dead battery very dangerous. The dealerships are aware of this problem but insist there is no t. S. B. Or recall. They could easily replace the plastic retainment part with the newer version used in later models, but claim they can't get it. There remedy is to replace the entire shifter assembly at a cost of $150. 00 plus labor. The newer retainment part can't cost more than 15 dollars,(narrow piece of plastic ~ the size of a pencil with a small hole in it). This part goes from the top of the shifter to the bottom of the gear selector and holds the control pin in position, which in turn, activates the micro switch to release the keys. With the amount of occurrences listed online since 2006. This, without a doubt, should be a recall.

10 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 04/30/2010

2006 chevy Hhr lt with automatic transmission. Metal pin mechanism located in lower shifter handle which activates transmission interlock slides out of shifter unit due to excessive wear on the plastic carrier bracket. Shifter handle is then able to be pulled out of park when key is in "off" or "lock" position and key cannot be removed from ignition without disassembling the console to activate the microswitch interlock. Anecdotal evidence indicates this problem occurs across Hhr and cobalt platforms.

11 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 03/16/2010

I have had my 2006 Hhr in dealership 3 times for a hard shifting transmission. They rebuilt the transmission and I am having the same problem again. I took it back they drove it and it was fine. This hard shifting happens maybe 25per cent of the time but when it does it shifts very hard and continues. I am afraid it will put me down what can I do?.

12 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 03/08/2010

I own a 2006 chevy Hhr, and within the past two weeks have experienced a problem (which apparently, after looking online, several other owners have experienced). When I put my car in park, and go to turn off the ignition, it won't let me take out my key, and my steering wheel won't lock. This happens everythime that I try to turn off my car now, which is at least about ten times daily. I have to "slam" it into park to get the key out. I am not sure though that when this is done if my car is truly in park. I went to my car repairman, who said that this definitely needs to be looked at because if I continue to "slam" it in park, I could eventually break the shifter- which in my mind could definitely cause an accident/ or property damage. I am taking my car in on Wednesday for this purpose, not sure yet what the cost will be, but I strongly believe that this problem should be looked at by dot.

13 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 02/20/2010

2006 chevy Hhr LS permanent failure. Gear shift stopped locking. Gear shift moves freely into any position while driving or stopped. Car may roll. Will not release key from ignition.

14 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 11/04/2009

2006 chevy Hhr - automatic transmission does not lock into position, can freely slip transmission shifter from park, reverse, neutral, drive and lower gears with little pressure and without depressing the shifter locking latch. Gm has recalled 2010 models with similar issues but none of the previous year model Hhrs dealership wants $150. 00 to try new battery to see if it will fix the problem. If this solution does not work then they want another $160. 00 for new shifter unit. . . Labor for both these items are not included, just cost of parts. I believe gm recognizes issue: gm TSB #06-07-30-004f.

15 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 03/25/2009

Auto dimmer does not work on rearview mirror. Unable to remove key from chevy Hhr 2006 model. It is a shift lever issue. The car is out of warranty so neither of these items are still covered. These are items that should last longer than three years. Chevy is ignoring the issue.

16 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 03/03/2009

Key in the ignition is sometimes getting stuck, one has to position the automatic gear selector out of park and back into park to get the key to release properly. Possible its the interlock feature of the automatic gear selector position being affected.

17 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 01/02/2009

Few issues that several people also have discussed on the web: **transmission hard shifting. Still an issue, garages and dealer have not been able to resolve * not coming out of ignition. Recent issue not fixed yet. May be transmission interlock issue based on internet discussions **leak and water gets in car. Gets my heat blower wet and blows out a part and I only have off and high fan settings. Ongoing issue as well.

18 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 12/15/2008

07 Hhr key stuck in ignition, shift didn't register in park so key could be pulled. Because of this car can be put in gear or neutral without starting. Leaves car vulnerable to theft because can't set alarm. Chronic problem with model, brother-in-law has one with same problem. Chevy knows about prob but only fix under warranty period when it is known to break.

19 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 10/12/2008

Transmission would not lock when put in park and could not get key out of ignition. Left car in garage overnight and next morning battery was dead. Had to jump start car and drove it to gm dealer. Service tech said shifter needed to be replaced and that he had seen this happen before. Tech said gm had redesigned the shifter because of this problem. A few hours and $241 later, car was repaired and back on the road.

20 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 08/10/2008

Placed vehicle in park and the key would not turn all the way off and you could not remove the key. It happened twice and I took it to the dealer and they replaced the shifter. They stated that they have had several complaints from other owners of Hhrs and colbalts with the same problem.

21 Automatic Transmission problem of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR

Failure Date: 09/01/2006

2006 chevy Hhr, key would not turn off in ignition switch. Read owners book found little doorway to open with button to bypass parking switch. Book said low voltage, checked voltage was fine, but could wiggle gear shift and key would turn off. Now button on gearshift stays in and even with key out of ignition if you bump the gearshift it falls out of park. Not a real safe feature with remote starting. Have contacted Chevrolet and they say they are not aware of this safety problem. But is rampant on the internet, and my personal dealer said they have had to fix a lot of Hhr's and cobalt gearshifts. So many in fact that they have made a new and improved part because of the original failing multiple times. That is fine for the vehicles in warranty, but the other thousands upon thousands of ones they wont fix because they said there is no recall as of now. This is about like the fords of the seventies. I am afraid someone will be injured before it is resolved.



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