Automotive Archive
Chevy HHR Key Stuck in Ignition Fix – Is this a Joke?
March 17th, 2011. By AbiK
I’ve heard one too many complaints now about the Chevy HHR ignition problem—the one where you can’t get the key out of the ignition, and in some instances the key won’t come out and the HHR is still running! In these parts, we’d call that a design defect. But seems like GM doesn’t quite feel the same way.
So while I had done some checking into this a while back when I had first posted about the Chevy HHR problem (and while we’re at it, let’s throw in the Chevy Cobalt problem, too) I had focused on official complaints being filed over at the NHTSA—not so much the solution because, heck, shouldn’t GM or Chevy be taking care of this gratis for folks who’ve been stuck in an HHR that won’t shut off? Is it just me? Or, shouldn’t there be some sort of Chevy HHR recall or at least a “come in and get your part replaced” notice?
Well, there’s been none that I’ve seen, and apparently none of you HHR owners out there have seen one either.
So I came across this guy’s video on how to fix the HHR problem. Kudos to him for taking the time to film 10 minutes of repair work, explaining everything step by step. But is this a joke?!? Don’t get me wrong—the video is great—but like I’m going to dislodge my car’s gear shift and put everything back together again. Right. And I love his comment at about minute 6:15: “pretty maddening to put in” followed by minute 6:36: “it sounds easier than it is” —I’ll bet! Bottom line, there’s a car mechanic somewhere (or HHR dealer) who’ll be making a few quid off HHR owners from this problem.
Is this how GM Customer Service works?
C’mon Chevy, step up to the plate.
Reader Takes Chrysler Town & Country to Task on Video
January 13th, 2011. By AbiK
This just in from a reader re: Chrysler Town and Country:
Please help me….I’ve hit a brick wall with all my inquiries and this is a HUGE issue.
Please go to youtube and type in silverlake003 and the video list will show up.
It’s about the third one down with the back bumper of a Chrysler Town and Country, sort of a wine color.
This quick video will explain it.
We were rear-ended just before Christmas.
The seatbelts did not lock and my daughter who was in a booster was flipped outside down and pinned between her seat and the passenger seat.
The seatbelts lock if you slam on the breaks but not if you are sitting still.
I filed a report with the NHTSA but was simply sent an email that said CASE CLOSED.
Please help me ensure that no other child has this happen to them.
Now, I don’t know what year model she’s referring to, but her video and comment is of interest as we all expect a seatbelt to work when we slam on the brakes. But what happens upon rear impact?
I know from personal experience—will never forget it as it was the night that news about Sam Kinison’s death was all over the radio—when a car rear-ended me at a red light. I began to jerk forward for sure—but my seatbelt restrained me from having my steering wheel imprint a nice doughnut “O” on my chest. It was a hit and run, so the idiot who did it was never caught, or apprehended.
Be that as it may, I expected my seatbelt to work. And it did.
Chrysler did have a Town and Country recall a number of years ago—in 2005—NHTSA Campaign ID#04V047000—for defective seatbelts. The issue at the time was “After performing the NCAP test, it was discovered that on certain minivans equipped without the available “Stow N Go” seating option, the right front seat belt retractor assembly may have been improperly assembled….As a result the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant during certain crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury.”
But no seatbelt recalls since. And a quick check on Town and Country models from the years 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 results in only a few reported seat belt complaints with the NHTSA.
Still, a picture (or video) can be worth a thousand words. No, a layperson’s video is not the same as some closed circuit test drive over at Consumer Reports—but by the same token, it does raise an eyebrow.
Thanks, Sarah, for sharing your story.
Rash of Recalls & Investigations from NHTSA – Is Your Vehicle Affected?
November 30th, 2010. By LucyC
It seems the FDA is not the only government agency awash in investigations of possible defective products.
Several investigations are under way by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), among them an investigation into a possible fire hazard of Honda CR-Vs model-year 2006. Some 150,000 vehicles could be affected.
The problem? Three owners have complained of fires involving the master power switch in the driver’s door. Sound familiar?—it is. In January Honda recalled almost 141,000 Fits model-years 2007-2008 for the same problem.
The Honda Fit recall was prompted because of a defective window switching mechanism. According to a statement from Honda UK released to the media, “Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain, or other liquid may enter the driver’s window and reach the master power window switch resulting in impaired function of the switch. If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating. An overheating switch may cause smoke, melting or, potentially, fire,” the statement read.
It remains to be seen if Honda’s CR-V will be recalled—depends on what the NHTSA digs up, so stay tuned.
But the agency is also notifying people of reported problems with Volvo—which has recalled about 6,000 vehicles this week—specifically its S80, S60, XC70 and XC60 models—because they may stall. According to Volvo, “The engine and transmission software calibration is too sensitive. When the driver is braking during city driving, and/or releases the accelerator pedal, the engine idle speed may drop, resulting in a sudden engine stall without any prior warning.” Definitely not a good thing to have happen.
And brace yourself—Jaguar is recalling almost 6,500 of its 2010 and 2011 XJ sedans because the windshield wipers could, fight each other to their mutual demise—and the owner’s presumably. Wouldn’t that be entertaining on a dark and stormy night. Some problem with the securing nuts failing, which in turn could prompt a lack of wiper arm synchronization—leading to a ‘clash of the wiper arms.’ And it’s all downhill from there basically—the wipers could come off and reduce the driver’s visibility, which in turn could result in a crash.
And then there’s General Motors. The Detroit automaker is recalling nearly 193,000 pickups because the top tether needed to anchor a child restraint in the front center seat position is not accessible, according to the Agency.
The vehicles affected are the 2004–11 Chevrolet Colorado, the GMC Canyon, the 2006 Isuzu I-280 and I-350, the 2007–8 Isuzu I-290 and I-370. The models are regular cabs or extended cabs that lack rear seats.
And, not to be left out, Kia Motors’ Optima is under investigation by the agency—about 41,000 vehicles may be affected by a transmission problem. The NHTSA has reportedly received complaints of the automatic transmission cable coming loose. It was prompted by three reports of the transmission not shifting, including one that said the vehicle rolled away. Apparently, Kia had warned dealers of such a problem in 2007. So that makes it alright to sell them?
There is also a raft of recreational vehicles, such as the Monaco, the Holiday Rambler, Winnebago, and the Safari Coach with various problems involving refrigerators and ovens. If you want to find out more, visit the NHTSA website, safercar.gov.
In the meantime, we’ll post defective automobile recalls as we get updates.
Safe driving!
Maybe Chevy HHR should stand for How ’bout Having a Recall
October 6th, 2010. By AbiK
These are the kind of things that piss me off. A fellow LAS staffer just happens to have a Chevy HHR. The HHR apparently stands for “Heritage High Roof”. At least that’s what Wikipedia says (you can tell I didn’t research that one too deeply). But I’m thinking HHR ought to stand for “HOW ’bout HAVING a RECALL?”.
Yes, a recall. For a design defect. For the ignition switch. It seems the HHR ignition switch has a tendency to get a bit, well, stuck. And that’s precisely what happened when my colleague drove into her driveway last Saturday evening. The key in her HHR got stuck. In the ignition. With the car running. Repeat: running.
Now, I’m sure many of us have experienced that damn-the-key’s-stuck thing—or the opposite, when you go to start the ignition and the key won’t turn at all. Usually a quick tug on the steering wheel will unlock the mechanism that allows your key to function properly. But what if that doesn’t work? And the car is running? Repeat: running.
What do you do? Aside, that is, from flashing back to Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty and realizing your car’s heading there—only it won’t be running on, running behind, or into the sun. It’ll be dead.
Here’s what our staffer did: She called AAA. Hell, she has a membership and they’re Read the rest of this entry »
Driver Safety Put at Risk for $175, Car Resale Values Tank
September 23rd, 2010. By LucyC
From time to time, we here at Lawyers and Settlements focus on some of the more bizarre class action settlements making their way through the courts. Looks like Enterprise car rentals side airbags class action is destined for the “are you kidding?” category.
The back story—Enterprise Holdings Inc, is being sued in a class action by more than 100,000 people who bought certain Chevy and Buick model vehicles from the company that did not have side curtain airbags. FYI—those are the airbags that are meant to protect your head in a crash. (question—why would a manufacturer make those optional?)
The deal was that for the past three years Enterprise has ordered new vehicles, mostly Chevrolet Impalas, according to the dallasnews.com, without the airbags that would normally come standard, thereby saving about $175 per car. According to the paper, an investigation by McClatchy Newspapers in 2009, “revealed that General Motors Co. allowed Enterprise and other large fleet buyers to “delete” side airbags on the factory floor. Enterprise acknowledged taking advantage of the $175 discount on more than 60,000 Impalas over a three-year period, but not on all Impalas it ordered.”
This “some but not all” situation has caused great confusion in the used car market, not Read the rest of this entry »
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