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.
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this is Cray! Now I know im not alone.2006 HHR…. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me. Key stuck wont turn all the way back. Engine off but everthing in car on so battery died. Taking to mechanic Again but Will be calling GM And my local dealership to see if i can get my money back or make them fix for free! Closed mouth dont get fed. GM Sucks…NEVER BUYING ANOTHER CHEVY. Going bsck to Toyota or Nissan….
The ignition key is one of the MANY recalls that this model has, they should have just recalled the CAR
do you know where we can get the recall information because my 2016 hhr is doing the same thing?
This happened to us tonight!! My son went outside to get something out of the car and it was completely dead.He put the key in the ignition and than we couldn’t get it back outWe couldn’t get to the battery because we can’t get the trunk open because the car was dead and there is no other way to get into the trunk because the battery is dead. I guess we will have to wait until morning and crawl through the car to see if we can get in to charge it. At least we were able to get the key out of the ignition after watching the video!!! What a joke!
U can jump off hhr underhood
You could of jumped your car from under the hood by connecting to the postive bracket like thing on the control panel fuse box on drivers side and clamping the negative to steal bar from engine to body did this 3 times tonight on my sisters 04 Hhr she bought 2 days ago and today it stop turning over after shopping in the parking lot got it going then she shut it off at home and did it again no noise nothing when turn the key jumped it again and wah la started up then drove to drop off at shop and she turned it off and the key will not come out of the ignition now! And we checked alot of the fuses earlier after it would not start the 1st time and all looked well I checked the passkey fuse and it was hard to put back in the fuse box under dash on passenger side. So I am wondering if I didnt get it put back properly or what? Does anyone know what this problem is ?
Add me to the list! 2009 HHR can't turn the key to kill the engine. I'm thankful for the previous posts, but the push button release doesn't work with mine. Plan to call the dealership and the 866 number in the morning and have this resolved…hopefully!
Update…Called the dealership. They told me my warranty had expired and I would have to pay. Called the 866 number for GM and they informed me that my car was covered then they called the dealership and told them to fix my car for free. Picked it up today…NO CHARGE!!!
What is the 866 number?
it was televised national news about a recall for ignition problem. Also you had better have a recall about the water leak problem when it rains the water run in around the cowling and run in the right side floor also could be asafty problem
same problem dealer towed the car and fixed it for free since this is a GM defect
Call dealership, if you haven't already. Tell them you want the forms to fill out to be reimbursed. Same thing happened to me. I had to put out over $300.00. I did get it back. And pretty quickly.
Good luck!
after the recall was suppose to be fix had problems keys stuck , stereo system all messed up , the Battery was dead this was the third time all they did was give me a hard time made me look like a liar or I was making it all up . I think cause it was a recall there tring to make a extra buck before I brought it my HHR in it running just fine its messed up , tell you watch on the people who work on your HHR or any recall car they will try some more is wrong with your car
there a rip offf
get the Feds involed or the BBB involved this is unreal mind HHR is a 2010 it like they make these problems so they can make buck a, off the people who trust them , then they act like your a liar get a freebie , there the one who lieing to us
Same thing happened to me. Thanks to youtube, got the key out but the battery is dead. Will never buy another GM product again, ever. Toyota here I come.
I have a 06 Monte Carlo ss and have been experiencing the same problem where the key won’t turn the ignition completely back to off it gets stuck in the accessory position, my key comes out of the ignition at acc position and run position, while driving I have lost electrical power and now my ignition won’t even start my car and dealer will not fix my car all they did was replace my key insert to make the hole at the top of my key smaller but the damage is done my ignition is shot and neither the dealer or Gm will correct the problem due to months of dealing with a faulty ignition switch because my car is not listed but it is manufactured by gm it sucks that I am forced to pay 1500.00 out of pocket to correct a mechanical defect that was kept hush hush by the manufacturer and being gone unnoticed has resulted in a broken ignition switch! Not to mention accidents caused by loss of steering and stalling it’s sickening and sad
My 2009 hhr developed a problem starting after my replacement ignition switched was installed. Sometimes If I can turn off the auto lights while starting the car I can get it to start. I have had to jump-start it as many as 3- times a day! I still have not gotten the new power-steering motor. 1st and last chevy for me!
Well, I guess I am not the only one. They finally got around to fixing the steering wheel problem(recall, key in ignition falling out). Now my key got stuck in the ignition and I could not get it out. Overnight the battery ran down and I could not back it out of the garage to get jumped so I could go to the Chevy dealership. Called them, and they said to have it towed down there at my expense. They said I needed to find someone with a battery charger.
It happened my 2009 hhr is sitting in my drive key in battery drained cant get key out!!!!! Call dealer said I had to get car to them and pay for it … REALLY NO WAY. So up set I’m not a richperson I live payday to pay day. I cant do this.
I am having the same issue with my Chevy HHR 2007… post recall update for the bad ignitions. I am dealing the dealership right now since this is clearly a defect!
my daughter has only had this car for 2 months and that’s all she has had with this 2007 Chevy cobalt and now we can’t get the key out of the ignition what the heck.. some people don’t have money to fix a major problem like this.. CHEVY STEP UP AND FIX YOUR MISTAKES WE PAY FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS DOOM FROM GET GO THIS IS YOUR ALL MESS UP NOT THE CUSTOMERS THAT GET OUT AND TAKE A WHOLE PAYCHECK TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT WAS ALREADY MESS UP..
I have a 2013 Chevy hhr, literally driven by an old lady, so had extremely low miles on it when I got the vehicle from her. Tonight, my key was stuck in the ignition and now my battery is dead as well. i cannot believe this issue has been going on for years, and is still not corrected!
I have a 2006 HHR My key got stuck in it and battery went dead, luckily the doors were unlocked ,tried to jump under hood but no good so luckily I had a long set of jumper cables to go into the back cause the tailgate was locked & the idiots at gm have no way to open it inside if your battery goes dead !!! So would if there was an emergency ? A car fire perhaps & the only way to get out is through the rear So what who cares right ,well I did get it started , but here is another problem , the car sounds like crap & loss of power light is on , what’s going on now , I was at work 40 miles from home ,I drove around the parking lot for 30 minutes seemed a bit better but sounded like it had a bad spark plug , I decided to drive it home i got on the road it took time but got it up to 45 mph , barely makes it up several hills , I get home shut it off tuned it back over , same shit , I did this a few times & too my surprise it cleared right up with another click of the key , and the engine power light was out , wow I hope this does not keep going on, it was impossible to get the key out , in the accessories mode, GM probably don’t give a crap if your ignition switch starts a fire or not , this really puzzles me how it could make the car run so awful , I really had all good things to say about the HHR, I hope they fix it for me with no charge but I doubt it , THIS IS AN AMERICAN COMPANY LETS HOPE SO , Even though it was made in Mexico , I will repost after I deal with GM. good luck all.
2011 chevy aveo key stuck in on position.had to pull fuel pump fuse to shut off and disconnect battery. Now stuck in park too. And fan. Switch dont work only 75K miles.
UPDATE: 2011 aveo..to shut engine off i disconnected battery.engine still runs so i pulled fuses i remember fuel pump relay first ..still running..turned on fan blower. Still running..put in drive…S.R…pulled few more fuses i remember EMS-1 which is ECM,injector…S.R…DL1S…S.R…that is ignition switch…mayby pulled EMS2… Then finally the fuel pump then engine dies…NOW ; also in trying to get key out i turned it to START position and Thats when engine light came on and it now has no power …yes i can still start it ..the key is stuck in run position i can turn the key to start pos. But not off pos. ALSO to put a cherry on top of all this i put 1 quart over when i changed oil and now rear main seal has slow leak..i caught that but first drove it 40 miles..”PLEASE LORD HELP ME” 5-9-2016 ..2:15 pm
Aveo update…i put a fuse in wrong place the only problem i have is key stuck in on position and check engine light on i believe from trying to start when alreadt running brcause thats when the start light first came on..the car has power now ..i had put the IGN-2 relay fuse into the front fog relay. I corrected that and now there is POWER..my neighbor knoticed it he had been watching he was my angel the lord had sent. Thanks lord…
Happened to me tonight, twice. Leased a 2015 Chevy cruze. Will never bother with GM again, seems this problem has been happening to their cars since 2010.
Car dead, fab wont work , key stuck in the ignition. Talk about stuck!
I will call a dealership hope they work with me on this.
Add us to the list. Daughter here with her 2009 hhr. Gonna try pulling fuses.
Well first I called CHEVROLET CORP. OFFICE ,They gave me a long line . how they would help us.So than called a Dealerso than act like they going to help me .Than find out the switch has been replaced before .Than I am like can:t replace a defective switch ?