Chevrolet HHR and Cobalt Problems

By Lucy Campbell

The National Highway Transportation Authority (NHTSA) has received complaints about a potential design defect in the Chevy HHR (Heritage High Roof). The Chevrolet HHR problems reportedly include difficulty turning the vehicle off. Chevy HHR complaints have been filed with the NHTSA by vehicle owners, who say they incurred high costs repairing their vehicle.

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HHR Ignition Problems

Reports on the NHTSA website include instances of Chevy HHR owners stating that their Chevy HHR won't shut off or that their Chevy HHR key stuck in the ignition. In order to rectify the problem when the HHR would not shut off, some HHR owners reported disconnecting the vehicle battery to shut the engine; remaining in their parked Chevy HHRs until their vehicle runs out of gas, which can take several hours if not a day; and removing a fuse from the engine.

chevyhhrignition

So far, model years affected by the ignition problem include the 2009 Chevy HHR and 2009 Chevy Cobalt. Various reports from Chevy HHR owners, including reader submissions to LawyersandSettlements.com, indicate that this is a known problem among car dealers and garages; however, Chevrolet/General Motors has not addressed the problem.

Some customers, who have had to have their vehicles towed to a dealership while still running, have been informed that the repair is not covered under their warranty. Those customers say they paid up to $600 to repair the HHR ignition.

Chevrolet HHR Legal Help

If you or a loved one have experienced ignition issues or other problems with your 2009 Chevrolet HHR or Cobalt, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer who will evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

Please click here for a free evaluation of your Chevy HHR claim

Last updated on Aug-30-11

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by
john hughes
on March 6, 2020

im having issues with dash,i just like to say the problems have been many I was a chevy guy, The next vehicle will defiantly wont be a chevy . They should have done something a long time ago especially with the chain tensioner

Posted by
PL Boyd
on December 12, 2016

Oh my gosh I have a 2008 HHR SS. And my ignition Keys have broken Twice!! First extra set I have driven for 30 years never have had a key break let alone two.!! Thank God the first one did not break in the ignition to get out start walking in the tip of it the middle to the tip of it fell off. And then some months later the same thing with the main set of keys!! What is this what is going on why would a key break never in my life have I heard of our hadkey break.!! Regretting buying this car

Posted by
robin lynette presslye
on September 29, 2016

wondering if there were any recalls on chevy 2006 hhr automobile. I have only had it six months and am experiencing repetitive starting sound from ignition until i shut it back off and restart it several times a day (making the starter work harder) the gas gauge works only sometimes less rather than more providing low fuel indication when just fueled gas in vehicle. hiccup or stumbling upon low speed slowing for stop light of turn, seems to idle fine most time. using outrageous amount of gas...

Posted by
Rick Kallevig
on September 5, 2016

My2009 HHR has had electrical problems from the day I bought it. I purchased it with 68000 miles on it and within the first 5k that I added to it, I had issues with cheap materials used for everything from bushings, bearings to joints. But the most egregious came about 9 months after purchase when I would get trapped in the car because the door locks wouldn't unlock, the ignition key wouldn't come out of the ignition; the engine would act up; the Service ESC light would come on and the TCM OFF warning would come up on the DIC. The dealership where I bought it, replaced the electronic transmission selector sensor and called it good. But from time to time, I would still get the ESC service warning. They told me they couldn't do mush about it if it was intermittent. Within a year of that, the ESC led to an engine warning "REDUCED POWER" instant loss of power steering and brakes and an array of codes that left any mechanic attempting to figure out the source of the problem scratching their heads. Apparently, one condition can trigger multiple other codes, and so determining which things are at fault is a process of elimination based on mostly uneducated guesswork, which means 120.00 an hr. for guesswork and no prize! I have had part of the wiring harness replaced, the throttle body replaced, the alignment recalibrated several times, the tires replaced, all the front suspension components replaced; the brakes re-done and bled, the TCM replaced and yet the problem persists. I've had the steering rack replaced as well. No luck ending the Traction Control/ESC nightmare. This car is reminiscent of the 1980's Pontiac Fiero, which was a chassis and electronics nightmare for so many owners that GM finally cut bait and left everyone hanging after four years on the market. Basically, GM just says "you bought it" so it's not their problem. I've spent several thousand dollars of my own money and the problem still isn't fixed. Just try trading or selling a car like that -- CAN'T BE DONE!

Posted by
opal
on July 3, 2016

I have a 2006 hhr ..when first bought injectors went out ..now It has a bad knock and wont stay running at all we have put everything new on top end as the codes keep changing everytime we code it nothing works still doesnt run or if it decides to idle when you try moving it it dies ..will never buy product again ..

Posted by
Prince George B.C.
on June 27, 2016

I have a 2008 HHR that has had almost all the problems I've read about here. It has had the recall done for the ignition, however after that I had battery problems that I've had to replace the battery three times , and each time it had been leaking there's always a white corrosion all over the battery and trunk . At Christmas time I was stranded at the grocery store while my son had to come and replace the ends of the cables of the battery because they had tha acid had ate them right off . I have had a very loud noise a clunk in the right tire every time I turn sharp . The key gets stuck in ignition a few times now and lately the centre back brake light won't shut off and it's draining my battery . On the passenger-side the airbag light is on all the time check engine light is always on and it's telling me to always check my tire monitor . I don't know what to do with this car anymore , what I would like is for a remedy a one time fix the problem, has anyone figured out or found out exactly what is going on with these cars? And why are they having so many issues . Surely it can't be legal for CHEVY to sell something that is so fauty . I know if I was a mechanic or even a man I would probably not be so upset about this , however I'm not , I am a woman and the reason I purchased a newer car was so these kinds of things would not happen .

Posted by
Matoya
on June 7, 2016

I have an 2007 HHR... Bought it August2007... I have had almost everything replaced on this car... Currently in shop today 6/07/2016 something about something exploding and need a new drum and something else.. I stop listening after he told me price..$400.. I've replaced the engine two months later the transmission... My control arm breaks every year. It was a time when it use to get stuck in park got that fixed.. even my transmission on my wiper went out.. I swear this is the worse car known to man.. my husband has a 2000 car he drives to work don't get oil changes or nothing has no problems.. me I try to do everything right.. get it fix soon as there's a problem and it still breaks down... I have so many other things go wrong and I get them fix professionally. I'm just over this car... I wouldn't recommend this car to my enemy not that I have any...brushing..front end rattling..sway bar.. everything replaced multiple times this car is a headache

Posted by
Matoya
on June 7, 2016

Posted by
Joe dirt
on June 4, 2016

Yeah my comment is chevy is a government owned sorry has been group of a## holes for making a car so sh#tty then not having the balls to stand behind their product. Its like they had a group of kindergarten kids build this car.HHR ( has hundreds of recalls). My HHR is a 2011 that sounds like a covered wagon riding down the road, also just recently went into security lock down. Come to find out several of not thousands of people have experienced this problem. Of coarse chevy won't do anything about it and says everyone's car trouble isn't their trouble. They expect us to pay $1000.00 for this faulty part. But seems Rocky mountain has made a part for 300 bucks with a lifetime guarantee to bypass the passlock system for good. So if anyone has this issue, forget chevy and don't waste your time with those useless no good sorry a##es. Just look up the part, purchase it and be done. Or leave the keys in it at a bad part of town with 50 bucks laying in the seat with a note saying destroy this piece of shit and here's 50 for your time .

Show 10 More Comments

Posted by
tim mcmurry
on April 11, 2016

my dad has a 2007 hhr ,he has had all these problems ,on the noise in front end its the hut on the top of the strut that comes loose,sway bar bushings ,a arm bushings and whee beerings,on the misfire its a valve defect,are car had a burnt exhaust valve and 16 bad vlve guides,and faulty t chain tensioner, i was a dealer mech i fixed the problems,also he rear ended a car went to stop and car died and lost brakes steering and air bag did not deploy,this car has parts of low quality,gm doesnt care

Posted by
Christine
on December 6, 2015

I purchased my 2008 HHR last June. One month ago, I filled up my tank and the gas gauge started messing up and I would watch as it want down to empty and then back up to full. Immediately after this gas gauge problem, my check engine light came on and has not gone off. Today, my remote stopped working, the power steering light came on and my car started sputtering. I am very nervous about this, as I have no money for repairs. What the hell is going on here? My car sounds like it's falling apart every time I go over the slightest little bump in the road. What am I to do about this?

Posted by
Russell Roig
on August 21, 2015

I have a 2008 hhr and I've had to replace all kinds of things on it and now my hhr is hard to start and I don't know why wish I could find out why I like the car put don't like all the stuff that is going wrong with it

Posted by
Jessalina Rivera
on August 4, 2015

I've had my hhr 2011 almost 3 yrs. now. It really drive me crazy ever since I got it from the dealer it was giving me problems and for the payment they gave the vehicle wasn't worth it. I told the dealer about the issue they said had to bring it to the GM cause they need it to deal with that. So second yr I had the car change spark plugs and started to act up check engine light on top to a Autozone they said misfiring and coil no good. So brough it to dealer they said coil and spark plug ok. I got that fix but it was still riding sluggish. Now this past most I was having a problem with it the check engine light come on stay on for few day then shut off then the traction light was on indicating traction off and the car felt like it wanted to shut off at times . To my car to the dealer explain the so they took my car for a few days and they figure few engine wasn't good 2 weeks in the shop. So I pick my car last thrusday didn't ride it for to long work home come Friday after work I realize the car was over heating. The problem is that the car is not mines yet and it's giving me a hard time. I truly wish I could get a better car but I have to wait until I finish paying. This vehicle from chevy suck. Thank you Bod from Milford in Ct. And a special s/ o to Chloe me jodistes God don't like ugly.

Posted by
Anonymous
on November 5, 2014

Have had many problems with this car since purchasing first key got stuck in ignition had to have it towed ,after researching it on line discovered that the gear shift had a faulty part and my husband replaced this and that solved the problem ,then check engine light came on went and had problem diagnose and replace part ,light went out for a couple of hours check engine light back on and tire pressure monitor light also on took car and had it diagnosed now a different code is shown saying we need a different part ,car has also started to make noise like rattling when you go over a bump researched and found that it needs sway bars replaced purchased those and my husband replaced and did not solve problem also told by GM that none is these repairs are covered and can not be reimbursed for anything I lucky that my husband is able to do the repairs and we are only out of pocket for parts.

Posted by
Anonymous
on October 4, 2014

I have a 2011 HHR. Since the beginning I have taken it to a chevy dealer because, while driving the esc, etc, shuts down the motor to what appears to be one cylynder. This has happened more than I can count. Every time I take it, they do not fix the problem, say they can't find it, the computer does not keep the codes, or say that it's something different then charge me. This has more than one time almost created an accident. Perhaps this is what they want as then the problem goes away. This is still happening. I believe it is the computer that is the problem.

Posted by
Anonymous
on August 28, 2014

The front end makes a clunking sound when going over bumps. It is so loud that people stare when I go over the speed bumps on our street. It sounds like it is going to fall apart. I take really good care of my car. So, far in one year I have gotten to 2 recall notices. The rear hatch came down on my neck. one inch higher, I might not have been here. I have a brain tumor. My concerns are that this car is not going to be drive-able by the time it is paid off. I have had Chevy's most of my life, this one I would like to have it replaced. I see a lot of other folks having the same problem. We all can't be wrong.

Posted by
Anonymous
on August 5, 2014

I have a 2008 Chevy HHR with only 60,000 miles on it. I took it in for the ignition, which I had to wait for 3 months to get, and noticed a noise coming from the front end. Since I have had numerous front end problems with this vehicle, I asked the dealership to do a free check up on it. They called back and said my Serpentine belt was cracked! Now, I keep my vehicle in the garage and always keep it maintained. Had I not asked for a free inspection regarding the front end noise, I may have ended up in an accident!

Posted by
Oklahoma
on August 2, 2014

My key is stuck in the ignition in the running position. I can't turn my car off!!

Posted by
Mississippi
on September 13, 2011

Happened with a 2010 HHR with 40,000 miles. The car was purchased by me a week prior. I have been stuck at home without transportation for 2 days with car still in the repair shop. The Chevrolet dealership says these problems were fixed in 2009 prior to the manufacture date of my car so they are still trying to find out what is wrong.

Posted by
Missouri
on August 26, 2011

Car won't turn off with the damn key stuck in the on position while running- Also the computer is screwing up and throwing code and shuting off air-bags (dealer said it was a dirty contact) Next day after I get it back it the damn computer throws ANOTHER code to "Service Tire Monitor" All out of warrenty service work---and I am in the middle of the key thing right now!! So mad I bought this car new and it is a piece of engineering CRAP!