2006 Chevrolet HHR: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Suspension · 37,500 miles · CA

A "clunking" noise from the front suspension when turning into a driveway or dip in street at 3 or 4 miles per hour. This problem has been taken to the chevrolet dealership and to an independent auto repair shop where I was told the "lower control arms rear bushing was torn (rubber) and therefore allowing the arm to move to where it contacts the frame of the vehicle. This is dangerous, and could very well cause the steering to malfunction at a most inappropriate time resulting in a collapse of the front end suspension. I would like gm to correct this defect in engineering, and if they cannot to repurchase my vehicle so I can purchase a safe and more reliable vehicle.

Filed May 22, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 25,000 miles · IL

There appears to be a large amount of cobalt and hhr owners with complaints about suspension clunking noises. Research shows there is an issue with the stabilizer bar parts and also the intermediate steering shaft. These problems occur at many intervals of mileage ranging from 10,000 miles and up. Gm has since sued the manufacturer of the intermediate steering shaft for those replaced under warranty equaling $30mil. I am unlucky as my vehicle was out of warranty (3yr/36000 miles) and could not get any of my suspension and steering problems fixed by a known issue from gm. They have stated that the intermediate steering shaft is not a safety concern. Now, if a part that is vital in connecting the steering column to the rack and pinion system is not a safety concern, then I believe gm executives are more concerned with cost of doing the right thing than safety of their customers. These are parts that keep a vehicle from flipping over during sharp turns at highway speeds and that keep the car traveling in the direction the operator determines using the steering wheel. After replacing the parts to correct my issues, the problem has re-occurred. The parts were not changed so even after "fixing" it, it would eventually return.

Filed Apr 12, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 33,837 miles · AZ

We have had several problems with our hhr since we bought it in august of 2007. The first problem occurred just after purchasing it, when we were driving it out on a highway for a first time outing with it, when I noticed the front wheels seemed to be floating back and forth. I slowed down and immediately took it home. We contacted our local dealer, and had the car brought in to be checked out. We were told the front bushings were bad & needed replacing. The dealer replaced the bushings. (under warranty) in september of 2007, we had to replace our cars remote control, even though it was only 1 years old. Our dealer replaced it but we had to pay $81.82 out of our pocket. October 2007, I brought our car into our dealer because it had a rough ride and groaning sounds. The dealer looked at it and said the sound was coming from the steering column. They replaced our steering column under warranty. December of 2007 my wife, mother & I went to a christmas light parade in our town; when we got home I turned off the ignition & when I attempted to remove the key, it would not come out. That monday I called our local dealer & they had us bring in the car on 12/3/07. They reported that there was no power to the inter lock2 and a fuse had brown. They found that a wire harness was pinched under the column cover & repaired the harness (under warranty) january 29,2008 I brought our 2006 hhr into our dealer again complaining about squeaking and popping noise with clunking in left front. They said they heard noise from stabilizer links pivot joint at link tires miss-matched. They replaced both stabilizers links under warranty. Continued on next report

Filed Nov 3, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 80,000 miles · MA

Originally the power steering stopped working randomly when driving but now it stops working after 30 seconds or so every time car is started and failure alert is displayed. Also while driving the power door locks unlocked, the gauges stopped working, the car hard shifted down, and it also started to display it was running at least 20 degrees hotter than normal. This has happened twice but seems fine later.

Filed Jun 7, 2011 · Steering · 53,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet her. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the steering wheel would exhibit a clunking noise. The dealer was contacted and a diagnosis was performed, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was also made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000 and the current mileage was 82,000.

Filed Feb 10, 2011 · Body, Electrical · 60,000 miles · PA

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 **key 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.

Filed Aug 18, 2010 · Transmission · FL

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?

Filed Mar 5, 2010 · Steering · 22,452 miles · TX

Clunking noise in steering. 3 dealers tried to repair on 18/may06, 26jan09, 3mar10, noise still there. Waiting on parts this date for another "fix".

Filed Aug 24, 2009 · Steering · 26,000 miles · TX

Purchased the car july 13 of this year. A clunking sound comes from the drivers side when hitting holes or on slightly rough road. Tends to occur more when the car or the weather is cold. Took it to chevrolet and they diagnosed it as a sway bar link issue. I replaced the rotors, sway bar links (pair), drivers side strut mount and balanced & rotated tires. Problem still exists. Appears that the steering column (intermediary?) has been a problem for other hhr owners according to online forums and research also points to the same issue in older oldsmobiles.

Filed Jun 16, 2009 · Suspension · PA

Bought 2006 hhr lt in november 2005, and have had nothing but problems with the front brake rotors and front suspension. Had the car back to the dealer when I first noticed problems within 5 months...front brake shimmy/shake...rotors were cut 2 times under warranty, which fixed the problem initially. I thought it odd that rotors would need to be cut with approx. 2000 and 6000 miles on the car...was told it must be our 'driving habits'. I paid for high-end drilled/slotted rotors a year ago (approx. 36000 miles), had them installed by an independent mechanic, who said the rear brakes were so far out of adjustment, he wondered how we stopped the car. Problem was ok for about a year, but has since returned...this seems to be a serious design flaw that needs to be addressed. The other problem is with the front suspension, which the dealer never could find anything wrong with since 'day one'. Clunking/chuckling noises...they finally found a bad right lower ball joint, which was replaced at no charge...noises continue to this day...48,000 miles. One more strange happening...A/C just quit...temp gauge quit...dealer finally found a defective thermostat gasket...replaced gasket and t-stat...all has been fine since. I am seriously considering unloading this car, as much as I would hate to. The problems never quit, or, for that matter, seem to be able to be fixed.

Filed Nov 27, 2007 · Brakes · 19,990 miles · WY

A loud clunking noise has been noticeable under the front of the car for 3 to 4 weeks previous. In route to billings, mt. We heard a thud and car became hard to steer, hit the brakes to slow down and stop. When stopped the right front wheel completely locked up. We discovered the rear blot on the brake caliper on the wheel had fallen out. We were able to pull of the road as there was no traffic, however once the car was stopped I could not go forward due to the brake caliper being locked into the right wheel. Had the car towed to the gmc dealership in powell, wy where they replaced the bolt and repaired the car under warranty.

Filed Oct 30, 2006 · Steering · 4,000 miles · MI

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH on a city street, there was a clunking noise coming from the front followed by the vehicle pulling to the right side. The contact managed to pull the vehicle to the side of the street without incident. Upon initial inspection, the right front tire was lying underneath the vehicle. After being towed to the dealer, it was determined the steering knuckle fractured into, and caused the right front tire to roll underneath the vehicle while attached to the remaining half of the steering knuckle. The manufacturer was alerted.