2011 Chevrolet HHR: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Mar 6, 2022 · TX

I have owned 2 Chey HHR. On both vehicles, the inside driver door handles have broken within a year of ownership. Cheap plastic door handles did not last as they should. It is not replacing just the door handle, but you have to take apart the whole door and replace the complete mechanism. I very expensive fix. I had to roll down driver window in order to reachoutside and open door from outside the vehicle.

Filed Nov 22, 2021 · TX

In 2016 the rear passenger door latch failed. Thinking it was a natural wear & tear type thing, we ordered parts online and re[paired it ourselves for about $100 With in 6 months something inside the door failed, we opened it up and thought we repaired it again, but something is wrong and it just wont open. Has not opened in over 5 years, but I can live with it. after all it is the rear passenger door. In 2018 the front passenger door latch failed and again we ordered parts online and repaired it ourselves for about $100. In 2019 the spring inside the front passenger door broke, but since the door still opened & locked, we let it ride. I can live with the interior door handle feeling loose as long as it still opens the door. In June, 2021 the front drivers interior door handle broke off in my hand while opening the car door. I took it to the dealership for repair at a cost of $237....should have just ordered the part and replaced it myself....or switched out the one from the rear passenger door (lol) since we dont use that door anymore. Wednesday, 11/17/21, the driver front door latch failed. It would not have been much of an issue, but we were not home and I had to drive home with the window down and holding the door closed. This caused my husband, who already has anxiety issues, MUCH anguish. I now also had to deal with his having a panic attack while driving, with the window down and holding the door so it would not open while moving. We did stop at the local mechanic and their initial parts search says $245 for parts, plus labor, so roughly $400 this time. I am starting to wonder if the door latches on Chevy cars are just defective and needed to be recalled way before 2016? I know there was a recall on Ford door latches. I have heard instances where the hatch latches have failed on 2011 HHRs, so I know it is just a matter of time before my hatch latch as well as the drivers rear door latch fails.

Filed Sep 10, 2020 · Body · 71,168 miles · AZ

The driver side door unexpected unlatched while backing out of the the driveway. The door closed and latched normally while stationary. While backing up then turning the wheel to the left out into the street, the driver door suddenly to swing open. The vehicle was stopped and closed the door again, the door shut and latched but wouldn't stay latched. The door latch and door strike don't look damaged, the door just won't stay latched.

Filed Nov 23, 2017 · 80,000 miles · FL

Both front inside door handles broke off on separate occasions. The only way out was to lower the window and open from the outside. The situation could be an extreme hazard should the vehicle be on fire or under water. What if in a cold climate the window was froze? What if the vehicle was in an accident and wouldn't start therefore the window wouldn't work. What if a elderly person or a child was in the passenger seat and was unable to lower the window and open from the outside? Internet research shows numerous other incidents of the same problem. The potential for life and death is likely, not to mention nearly $600 for repairs. Vehicles are equipped with door handles for a purpose.

Filed Jun 9, 2017 · 53,189 miles · NY

The interior driver side door handle broke off while trying to open it while I was parked. I had to put the driver side window down to open the door from the outside. If I had to get out in a emergency I won't be able to get out safely and become trapped because if this safety issue.

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Locks · 60,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet hhr. While the vehicle was stationary, the rear passenger door opened without warning. The contact stated that the door would not close when prompted. In addition, the driver's door experienced the same failure. An unknown chevrolet dealer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2017 · Body · 41,050 miles · AZ

I am filing this complaint, as a safty concern / hazard notice, associated with my 2011 chevrolet hhr. Please be advised that this vehicle was purchased new by me, and has never been involved in any traffic accidents. This complaint concerns the mechanical failure of the vehicles passenger side, front door latch. This is the second door latch failure ( different door ) which has occurred on the same vehicle, and happened on march 31, 2017, during a stop at a shopping center. Again, I attempted to firmly "close" the door, however, the door would not latch closed. My hhr has now been repaired with a new latch assembly. The failed front door latch has been returned to me, and I will store it, in the event that the federal safety agency would want it / need it, to perform a failure analysis. Please refer to the federal safety agency id number: 10790779 report, for details about failure # 1 ... Which was the drivers side, rear door latch. In conclusion ... I feel that the failure of this door latch could have possibly resulted in serious injury or death, if it had not been noticed while at the parking lot. Further investigation of my failed front and rear door latches should be given serious consideration.

Filed Mar 8, 2017 · Body · 80,300 miles · FL

Back drivers door will not latch.

Filed Sep 20, 2016 · Electrical · CA

On september 20 2016 while parked after picking up my children from school. My kids got into the rear passenger side door and when closing, the door would not shut. The latch would not catch onto the bar to keep the door shut. Uppon further research I found many complaints of chevy hhr owners having the same problems with their car door locks as well. The lock actuator no longer functioning causing the latch to nonlinear work. Causing a huge safety problem. We can not drive a car that's door will not close and stay shut. It just pops right back open. Seeing how many similar complaints and reports there are online, this should be addressed by chevy and gm. This has happened to our driver side passenger door in the past as well. Thank goodness it did not happen while we were driving.

Filed Sep 16, 2016 · Body, Driver assistance · 20,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet hhr. The contact was experiencing multiple failures with the vehicle. The vehicle was previously repaired per a recall for the ignition switch; however, the repair was insufficient. At times, even with the key in the off position, the vehicle would not shut off. The battery would have to be disconnected to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that the key did not remain in the ignition and he felt unsafe driving the vehicle. In addition, the driver side door handle was not working properly and was replaced twice by the dealer. The contact stated that the ESC (electronic stability control) indicator illuminated shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Each time the ESC indicator illuminated, the vehicle drastically reduced in speed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The federal safety agency campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Filed Apr 20, 2016 · 34,500 miles · FL

I am 1 person, and my door handles on the inside are plastic and have broken off! I have to climb to the back and have 1 door that still has a handle working! I only have 48000 miles on it! The handles are cheap plastic and I live in fflorida and it gets hot!

Filed Mar 29, 2016 · Body · 139,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet hhr. The contact stated that the driver and passenger side interior door handles fractured in half. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the door handles fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred twice more. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 139,000.