2007 Chevrolet HHR: harsh or hard shifting

8 of the 726 complaints about the 2007 Chevrolet HHR describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 8
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 36,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 42 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2009
2
2008
5
2007
8
2006
12

What owners say

Filed Mar 13, 2015 · Brakes, Suspension · 79,505 miles · MI

I have been hearing some clunking sounds but not sure where they are coming from. The right turn signal does not shut off by itself. Brake pedal feels very soft.

Filed Dec 10, 2014 · Suspension · 147,000 miles · FL

The car since september 2014 has been rattling and shaking, and clunking continually. It feels as if the wheel is going to fall off. I've read numerous other complaints from this same vehicle and the cobalt with has the same suspension. Unfortunately I can't afford to pay for these repairs. It sounds like this should be recalled. Also to note, other complainers have stated that after they have paid to have the repairs, the same issue arise again.

Filed Dec 5, 2012 · Suspension · 36,000 miles · NY

Whenever I would go over small bumps in the road, there would be a large clunking sound as if I had hit a pot hole.

Filed Oct 25, 2011 · Steering · 18,221 miles · CO

At low speed while turning the steering pops. Clunks and catches. This also happens after stopping with the wheels turned. When the turn has been completed and the steering returns to center it clunks. Asked the dealer if this was the same as the colbalt problem and I was told there was not any problems he knew about with the hhr steering. This is a low milage car and should not have this problem.

Filed Aug 7, 2011 · Steering · 57,000 miles · CA

My 2007 hhr w/ 57k miles has an issue with its steering. The steering is jerky, hard to steer at low speeds, and low clunking noises can sometimes be heard from the steering column. I have taken my car to the dealer, but they claim there is nothing wrong. The federal safety agency issued a recall in march 2010 on 2005 to 2010 chevrolet cobalts for a similar issue with the cobalt's steering column. The hhr is based on the cobalt and was built in the same factory. The recall should be expanded to cover the hhr model.

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Steering · 31,000 miles · OR

I have a 2007 hhr. Since new it has had front end problems. The swaybar bushings are defective and cluck in cold weather. Replacing them does not fix the problem. (my dealer has replaced them at least once.) the struts make noise too in cold weather, the intermediate shaft has to be replaced every 10000 miles because it starts binding and clunking. (replaced on my car 3 times now) however my biggest (safety) concern is the electric power steering. All other gm cars with the same system have been recalled and alot of hhr steering systems are failing. Mine has not yet failed, but is does have a loud rattle (my research tells me that it is the gear on the motor) that my dealer "cannot duplicate" I have only 31000 miles on it now and worry about the power assist failing at the worst possible moment when my wife is driving with our kids. I understand that I won't lose all steering, just power assist, however if you are not expecting a sudden increase in steering resistance, the wheel could jerk out of your hand and you could easily take out someone on a sidewalk. Gm, please just recall the hhr too and replace my steering column before someone gets killed.

Filed May 18, 2008 · Brakes · 10,000 miles · AZ

Vehicle was bought new in november 2007, and has had a couple issues. When new, the vehicle seemed to not track straight, or was at least 'twitchy' on the road. With less than 6000 miles, the vehicle developed a noticeable 'clunk' in the front end. Took to the dealer, and they found a "damaged sway bar bushing", decided that it was defective from the factory, and replaced under warranty. This seemed to fix that issue, as well as made the car less 'twitchy' to drive. With just under 10,000 miles, the vehicle has developed a sensation of having a warped rotor when braking. Rotors turned by dealer and the problem has gone away for now, but tech at dealership says this seems to be a common occurrence for hhr's.

Filed Jan 14, 2008 · Steering, Suspension · 249 miles · CA

Purchased 2007 hhr new in october 2006. With only 249 miles on the car, I returned to the dealer and reported a loud banging noise from the drivers side front end. The could not verify the noise. Since then they replaced two shift assemblies, one steering column and in november 2007 they replaced the drivers side front strut. The banging noise was still there. Now they think it may be the chassis tweaking ,but still cannot find or fix the the rattling noise. Also the transmission makes a clunking noise and the car surges when starting it while still in park. The say this is normal. My car has been in courtesy chevrolet's shop for moore than 30 days since I purchased it. I do not drive it anymore as I believe it is unsafe, and a lemon. The car now has less than 15,000 miles. The car was taken to their shop on 10/19/06, 1/08/07, 7/19/07, 10/27/07, 10/22/07 and 11/13/07.