2006 Chevrolet HHR: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 14, 2016 · Visibility · 85,000 miles · IN

Was driving on a busy highway, while it was raining and my windshield wiper on the passenger side jerked and stopped working.

Filed May 12, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 181,732 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet hhr. The vehicle jerked whenever the contact shifted gears. The failure occurred whether the vehicle were in drive, neutral, or reverse. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v171000 (electrical system). The contact adhered to the recall; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 181,732.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 169,350 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet hhr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 7 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The contact mentioned that the vehicle jerked forward and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,350.

Filed Aug 8, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 211,201 miles · PA · crash

We were on vacation and I was traveling on a road at the posted speed of 30 MPH. I was going around a bend and immediately my power steering light came on, there was a chime, it became very difficult to manage the bend I was going around and I hit a light pole damaging my front bumper. At that same time, my mhp and rmp needles began bouncing back and forth and the car was "jerking". I turned the car off. It was still drivable, but within a few seconds the power steering light came back on, the needles bounced and car jerked. I called gm to see if there was a recall on the power steering. They informed me that there were several gm power steering recalls on several years of hhr, cobalt and saturns. They all have very similar power steering mechanisms. However, my year, 2006, was not on that recall. I have researched and found thousands of people with 2006 hhr's complaining of the same issues but not understanding why that year is not included in the recall.

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 15,000 miles · CO

Good day. I'll keep this brief. To be clear, I went to the dealer (autonation USA) with the recall issue shortly after it occurred the first time, and a couple of other times after that. I was told that I was too short, fat, and my knee was knocking the key out of the ignition. My key never fell out of the ignition, but the car did shut off, losing control of all electrical systems while at 70+ MPH. Secondly, I have gone in to the dealer for my transmission as well. The car began to slightly jerk at around 60k miles. I was told they didn't notice anything, however, they never checked the transmission, and I was told they could do nothing. When the matter got really bad, the mileage was over 100k, and out of warranty. I have brought it to their attention that I attempted to clear this up prior, and was told they would have to treat it as a new issue. I'll make it easy. When I have had the ignition issues nearly kill my family and myself on more than 30 occurrences, the dealer fixing a small, inexpensive item, because they have been exposed, does little to quell the anger I have regarding the various other issues I have regarding warranty maintenance they could have completed while under warranty, and instead chose to belittle me and now wish to charge me obscene amounts of money to repair. Gm should offer to complete the maintenance at no cost considering I have gone to them prior to the close of the warranty and was ridiculed and further, made to have my family's life in danger 30-40 times so they could save some money. Further, I understand it is not legally required for them to do anything, however, doing the right thing goes a long way. I have spoken to gm about the issues a couple of times now only just simply be told they were sorry and I should have the situation diagnosed (needlessly). This is the first I've heard of this website so I'm trying now. Thanks.

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Steering · 72,800 miles · IN

On april 17, 2014 I started my 2006 chevrolet hhr by remote to warm it up. After it was warmed up I got in it to drive to work. The car was really jerking bad then the indicator light came on and had power steering on it. I was still in the apartment complex drive so I turned it around and managed to go back to my parking space and parked it. This morning I decided to try and drive my car again. I managed to get to work that is only 2 1/2 miles from where I live. I was driving under 30 MPH since I drive through town to get to work. As soon as I turned into my workplace's parking lot the power steering indicator light came on again. I parked the car and turned it off then back on. The power steering indicator light was still on and now the steering wheel is locked up. I have read several complaints about this problem with other hhrs but the year 2006 is not on recall while 2009 and 2010 is for this problem.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Transmission · 97,000 miles · NM

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet hhr. The contact stated that the gear lever failed to shift from park or into any gear until after numerous attempts. Additionally, the vehicle would jerk and surge once the gear shift was moved out of the park position. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

Filed Mar 21, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 115,788 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet hhr. The contact stated while driving he hit a bump, which caused the security and the tracking control light to illuminate on the dashboard. The vehicle also jerked and stalled. The failure was experienced several times. The the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the camshaft cable was rerouted. However, the tracking and security lights continued to illuminate and the vehicle continued to stall whenever it hit a bump. The manufacturer was made ware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,788 and the current mileage was 119,661.

Filed Sep 19, 2013 · Steering · 75,000 miles · MO

While driving to work in the snow the steering wheel jerked out of my hands. This same problem has been recalled for other chevy models but not the hhr. Does someone need to die in an accident first. I got a recall letter for the storage bin in the dash not staying closed and that is a minor inconvenience, for my wife who has always had power steering in a vehicle to have it suddenly go out scares you when you are at highway speeds. If you turn off the car and restart it within a minute or two its out again. Consumers pay for safety and it doesn't seem like all of the this regulations are helping when it really matters.

Filed Oct 29, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 65,000 miles · AR

Power steering message on dash; security light comes on; RPM, speed, and gas gauges jump, transmission jerks, clicking in center console under shifter. After turning engine off for period of time runs like normal, restart an drive for period of time and power steering goes out while driving.

Filed Sep 16, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

After traveling back and forth from one county to another (approx 130 miles roundtrip) as I exited the fwy the car was driving normal except for I was on empty at this point. I came to a complete stop when light turned green I began to accelerate. Upon acceleration at approx. 10-15mph the car made a hard jerking motion as though it was having a hard time shifting gears however my 06 hhr is an automatic. At this point I also noticed that the check engine light had now illuminated on the instrument panel. I took the car straight home and did not attempt to drive again for 3-4 days. Then one day I drove it approx 15 miles all was good. I went shopping upon leaving the car still appeared to be normal. Then while on the fwy approx 70mph I noticed the check engine light on again as well as the t/c light (traction control) the car continued to drive "normal" but once I came to a stop on the offramp and began to accelerate the jerking motion happened again. I've noticed that on a few occasions this happens once the gas is on empty. I also noticed on one occasion that once I had put a little over half a tank of gas in as well as a bottle of fuel injector cleaner that the indicator lights shut off as well as the jerking had disappears. We have had the transmission flushed and still the problem persists. Aside from that when you try to remote start the engine once the check engine light has come on the remote start no longer works. You hear the electrical all come on but that's it. Then all of a sudden the other night I attempt to exit my car and the driver door handle snapped right off. My husband contacted the local dealership requesting price for the part and was told $300+. I just found the piece for $63.00 online. ..unbelievable! But the handle broke so easily. I didn't pull hard. If I had the door would've at least popped open a lil. But it didn't budge.

Filed Feb 1, 2011 · 65,000 miles · OH

2006 chevy hhr. Car will jerk like you realized the clutch too fast, however it is an automatic then stall. This has happened on several occasions with in the last 2 years. On 1/27/10 the check engine light came on. Took car to the shop, after having a complete tune up, ignition module change and a coil change the car will no longer stay started unless you are giving the gas pedal constant contact. The code coming up says it's a misfiring in the cylinder but the shop can not find that. There is oil in the intake but no water in the oil. I'm several hundreds of dollars in parts only already. The car is not drivable. It will not drive in reverse without heavy pressure on the gas while trying to brake with your left foot and look to drive it backwards.