Service Brakes Problems of Chevrolet HHR - part 1

Noticed that the cruise control would disengage randomly when activated. I checked the function of the brake lights at night and found that the brake lights would turn themselves on randomly with zero brake input, disengaging the cruise control. In this state, depressing the brake pedal more than around 30-40% would turn the brake lights off, even with the brake pedal fully pressed. Furthermore, with the brake pedal pressed to a moderate level, the cruise control is able to be engaged, even with obvious brake pressure being applied. This defeats the cruise control disengagement feature and the cruise control system will fight against the braking system to maintain speed instead of turning itself off as it seems to rely solely on the brake lights for the automatic disengagement. This issue is quite dangerous as this seems to happen quite often with the brake lights, but I cannot find any sort of consistent scenario that causes these issues to occur.

See all problems of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

Steering gets very stiff and sometimes locks up when turning left or right in a curve at highway speeds. Had dealer check it and they said they replaced steering motor. Did not correct problem. Made an appointment to check again but was told I would incur charges. I have had it to several mechanic shops and we cannot find anything loose or failing. In a parked position it locks up completely until you start rolling. Afraid steering is going to lock up in a curve and cause harm to driver and passengers. It is available for inspection. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance. Has no warning lights or messages pertaining to problem. The problem first appeared approximately 6 months ago.

See all problems of the 2008 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

Brake light tail light and rear blinker housing keeps melting leaving us with no working lights what so ever. Costly and dangerous.

See all problems of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

When I went to push on the brake, the brake pedal went to the floor. . . I had no brakes? this could have been a terrible accident had I been going faster.

See all problems of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the low unknown fluid warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the fluid levels and the fluid levels were at full. After a couple of days the contact restarted the vehicle and the warning light was off. The contact was concerned that there might be an issue with brake fluid not flowing through the brake lines as designed which could cause the brakes to not work properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Hello, how are you? the traction control warning light stays on and the button cannot turn it off. The engine light stays on and there is a service prompt on the information scroll lcd screen. The cruise control switch lights up but the cruise does not engage when the set button is pressed at any speed, ie, 30mph, 50mph, 55mph etc. The research I read recommends to contact you to help get this vehicle included in an existing recall for the same issues in other gm vehicles with the same equipment. In other words, this vehicle has the same defective equipment as other gm vehicles that have been recalled for repair. Due to the fact that this vehicle has the same defective equipment that was recalled in other gm vehicles I request this vehicle be covered under the same recall and able to be repaired as soon as possible.

Tl the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. Additionally, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently and the rear hatch door would erroneously opened and would not remain securely closed. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted or notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 220,000.

Ii purchased a beutiful 2009 Hhr from a car dealership, in may of 2020, an in July f 2020, it would barely speed up, the gears, wouldn't shift on me and I also found out that I had not only been operating a "defected" vehice but the car dealer faied to mention he was selling me a "recalled" car, (a neighbor informed me) I had my car towed to my son's house,because I stopped at a stop sign and the car kept rolling backwardsi and it only goes in reverse now. Longer go.

See all problems of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

The anti lock brake system isn't properly functioning every time I hit the brakes hard it locks the tires up and the car slides.

When I first start the car the brakes get hard and go halfway to the floor but once it warms up it works perfectly.

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated that when depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would jerk. The track esc system and traction control warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the traction control warning light would intermittently illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the road and turn the engine off. The vehicle was restarted but the failure recurred, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic testing was completed that the electronic stable control system (esc) failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available. Aw.

See all problems of the 2011 Chevrolet HHR 🔎.

Tl- the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 37 mph and attempting to abruptly stop the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal, the braking system failed causing the vehicle to crash into the back of a second vehicle. During the crash the vehicle was destroyed and towed to an undisclosed location. The driver sustained a right toe and chest injury. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the incident but the local dealer was not. The failure mileage was 71,000. Jft.

The bracks are coming while driving down road. . They come on all by themselves. . Its says abs on. . . It grabs and pulls to the left like the left side brakes are catching. . Driving on dry pavement. .

We was going down he road it just switched off I couldn't turn the steering wheel and I had to stand on the breakes. I could have seriously hurt someone or my self if not worse and I hit a curve hard.

Hard brakes.

After sitting overnight the vehicle has a hard pedal and would not stop. It appeared to be from the booster not holding the vacuum. There was a buliten #09-05-22-001a that addresses this issue but it requires an additional vacuum pump to be added to the vehicle that was not in the original design. I feel this should be covered by gm and not the customer since it requires a new additional part to address the issue and was not due to normal wear and tear on the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Hhr. While driving 40 mph, the traction and esc warning indicators illuminated. When the vehicle came to a complete stop, the brakes jolted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the brake pedal was stiff and took excessive force to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where no failures were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that the key fob failed to open the front driver side door. In addition, while driving 50 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the battery was replaced. The contact was informed that the rear brakes and drums also needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

In a parking garage on the 4th floor. Backing out of space. While backing up, I hear a loud boom. Nothing behind me. Thought perhaps a tire failure. Put vehicle in drive to pull forward out of traffic lane, and the engine accelerated uncontrollably. Brakes wouldn't respond. By the grace of g-d or reflexes, I turned the wheel to the right to avoid flying through the guardrail and off the 4th story of the parking garage. Vehicle came to a halt when it smashed into a concrete support pillar. Both air bags detonated, passenger-side air bag apparently broke the windshield on that side. Engine shut off. Lights in passenger compartment turned on, hazards started flashing on/off (couldn't turn them off). Waited for tow truck for 5 hours. Tow drivers had to jump battery - couldn't get front hood open, back door electronic lock non-functional due to dead battery. Tow driver climbed inside car, removed inside decking to access battery. Tow driver jumped battery, attempted start. First two or three times, it wouldn't start, eventually on the 4th or 5th time it started but the engine was racing again. Tow driver put car in reverse and it flew backward (I thought it was going to go off the deck of the garage backwards. . . ). He stopped the vehicle, turned the wheel and headed forward - it shot down the ramp until they got it out of the garage and on the truck (I was outside the vehicle watching from a safe distance while he did this). Vehicle totaled. Not sure what the problem is/was, but I'm lucky to be alive. Have heard of issues involving stuck idle solenoids, drive train problems, etc.

I purchase chevy Hhr in good conditions until I got on the freeway. As I was immerging in to the freeway the accelorator got stuck on 6rpm and was speeding 60mph I tried to slow down and the brakes didnt go down at all. It was all locked up my kids and I freak out with the speed that the car was picking up and how the breaks werent working I decided to use the emergency handdle and some side bushes to slow down the car and nothing worked! I checked to see if the cruise control was on and nothing then I checked to see if it was on drive it was the I pushed hard on the breaks but never once it went down at all it was so hard I force my foot so much and the break handdle emerged off the freeway and immediately hit something more solid to stop the car. It was then we headed to a building but I hit a palm tree. The car exploded black smoke and the airebags went off the front door didnt open and my daughter and I jump off through the small little windows. We thank god we are alive!! my two kids 11 and 8 could have died w me in that vehicle if I didnt exit the freeway before the car kept picking up speed. Was a very scary situation. I would never ever ride a chevy Hhr or any other chevy as I live. The car is completely destroyed in the front and the windows are cracked.

I have a 2006 chevy Hhr the first year I bought it I had a small animal run in front of the car, the car skid a long way and I ended up having to change the tire because it made a flat spot on the driver side tire. I have have been in accidents twice in the last 4 years due to having to stop abruptly on the highway and the brakes skidding instead of stopping, both times my car pulled to the left across several lane leaving me facing oncoming traffic and being hit.

I am unable to get gm or my local chevy dealership to complete the two outstanding safety recalls in a timely manor. I've been extremely patient but they refuse to accommodate my simple needs. I've been working with chevy of south anchorage (dealership) since 4/8/2015 attempting to schedule the work for the weekend or get a loaner car. They were unable to accommodate my needs (a car while mine is being repaired or a loaner car). I contacted Chevrolet customer assistance center on 12/1/2016 after repeatedly being ignored or lied to by the dealership. For the past three month I've been getting absolutely no help from Chevrolet in getting a appointment for the weekend or a loaner car. I feel very unsafe driving the car but have no alternative. This has continued to cause me serious emotional distress. I have 57 emails between myself and Chevrolet customer assistance center or the dealership attempting to get this resolved on top of the countless phone calls, voicemails, and numerous visits to the dealership.

Tl-the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated while driving 40 mph coming around a curve, vehicle started violently shaking as the esc warning light illuminated, in addition, the contact stated that the brakes was depressed and failed to operated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. Ss.

I was driving on the freeway going 65 miles per hour and the car started shaking violently. I realized that the brakes were seazing up making it hard to drive and shake almost out of control. I found out that I need a 2008 master cyclinder to fix it.

Went to back Hhr out of my garage and the brake pedal was rock hard with no give. Power steering has no power and the exc light is on. Not safe to drive at all. I have had numerous problems with this car. The ignition, air bags, brakes, door lock actuators. . . The list goes on. This one takes the cake due to safety concerns.

Less then 24 hours off the lot I was driving home off hwy26 exiting to my town of watertown,WI. I was slowing down on the ramp and my side air bag deployed. I was hit in the head by the driver visior causing my to flinch and release the break for a slit second. I tried to reapply the break and had no breaks I was still at 40mph. It was snowing this caused me to not be able to turn so I hit a meaden snapping my a arm. I also snipped my abs cable, blew out driver ball joints, bent the tie rod, dilocated my axel bent my rim and ruined my new tire on the driver side. On the passenger side I broke my knuck and blew out my ball joints. It locked up my driver seat belt and even with no one wearing the passanger one it locked that up too. After it happened going online I have found a few more cases like mine one caused a woman to spend a month and a half in hospital from hitting a pole.

After buying the Hhr the day before I went to work. On my way back home. I got off on my exit about half way down the ramp my side airbags went off. Then I pushed the brakes and they did not respond sending me into a meaden causing my wheel to snap almost all the way off.

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Hhr. The contact stated that while driving and the brakes where depressed and failed to stop the vehicle which cased the vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. No police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed but the contact could not remember what was the diagnoses. The vehicle was repaired but the failure was persistent. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. VIN was unavailable. Ec.

Was traveling at night on interstate 70 between kansas city and st louis when the check engine light can on along with the traction control light at the same time the on dash message center said engine power reduced, traction control off, and esc off. At the same time the car lost speed and before I could get off the road I was almost rear ended by a truck, at the time it was raining. Since then it has happened numerous times with no warning. After stopping the car with the engine off for a very short time it will start and run fine with the traction control light off. But the check engine light remaining on. The code for the check engine light is p2135 which is a code for the throttle pedal position sensor, this has been replaced and the problem remains to happening. I think this could be very dangerous and could cause accidents resulting in injuries. The vehicle has been to a number of mechanics and the problem continues. I spoke with gm this week and they said that they had never heard of the problem, I think they should look online you fill find many posting complaining of this problem covering many model years other than 2011.

While driving on dry even pavement the esc light/system kicked in on my 2011 Hhr causing loss of control of the throttle and brakes. Luckily, no other cars or pedestrians were near me or there could have been an accident. The car was undriveable until the ignition this turned completely off and on again. I had it checked and no error codes were stored on the ecm/bcm. This is a very dangerous problem!! this is the second time it happened to me and I may not be so lucky the next time!.

I was driving to an appointment, when my power steering flashed on the dash screen and my steering wheel went from fluid to stiff. I pulled over to the side of the road as soon as it happened and turned off the car. When I turned it back on, the steering was fluid again, but the air bag light had came on as well as the abs and traction. The steering wheel was fluid only for a few minuets, and then after making a few turns, I lost the steering once again. I have learned of a recall on the Hhr's power steering and starter. I will go to the dealer and ask them what they can do. I am filing this so it is noted in the records of the happenings.

All electronic shut off no brakes no steering wound up in the ditch key would not turn to the off posiposition.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Hhr. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle shook and vibrated violently. Excessive force needed to be applied to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. When the vehicle drove over a bump in the road, the driver side door handle fractured. The dealer replaced the driver side door handle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the other failures. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

I was approaching a business driveway that required me to make a left hand turn, so I braked (at which time there occurred a heavy side-to-side shimmy of the steering wheel, a "clunk" or "pop" from the area of the engine compartment or front suspension, and a chime from the dash) and began the turn into a driveway across lanes of oncoming traffic. The steering became extremely difficult midway through the turn, which caused me to drive partially through a ditch rather than completing my turn safely and entering the driveway fully on the pavement. I then had to park, turn the key to the "off" position and restart in order to reactivate the power steering. We have been experiencing this randomly for several months and have even acquired some minor body and cosmetic damage due to having lost power steering in a curve. When I contacted the dealership, they told me it might be from a faulty ignition switch that is now on order and may take quite awhile to become available. Today, I ran an internet search and found hundreds of mentions of this same problem within my year model, including a number of recalls that seem to affect the electrical power steering of this model and others. However, when I again called the dealership to inquire, they informed me that my VIN is not included in any of the steering recalls, and that I would have to pay them or someone else to make the repairs and attempt to get reimbursed if it ever does become included. The advisor also instructed me to call 1-800-101-0220 to complain, which only gets me a recording stating that the call cannot be completed, which sounds as if it has been disconnected. This is a serious safety issue not only for the drivers and passengers of these cars, but also for other drivers and possibly pedestrians who might find themselves in harm's way when this completely random event occurs.