Brake light tail light and rear blinker housing keeps melting leaving us with no working lights what so ever. Costly and dangerous
- NHTSA ID
- 11445931
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2022
Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Hhr submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 63 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 63, in the owner's own words
Brake light tail light and rear blinker housing keeps melting leaving us with no working lights what so ever. Costly and dangerous
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the low unknown fluid warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the fluid levels and the fluid levels were at full. After a couple of days the contact restarted the vehicle and the warning light was off. The contact was concerned that there might be an issue with brake fluid not flowing through the brake lines as designed which could cause the brakes to not work properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE IT WAS 27 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS DUE TO COLD WEATHER AND THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT MAY REMAIN ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE ISSUE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR WOULD ERRONEOUSLY OPENED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN SECURELY CLOSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
HARD BRAKES
WE WAS GOING DOWN HE ROAD IT JUST SWITCHED OFF I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BREAKES.I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE OR MY SELF IF NOT WORSE AND I HIT A CURVE HARD.
AFTER ABIDING BY THE RECALL TO CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CAR STARTS FREAKING OUT RANDOMLY. THE DASH LIGHTS START GOING ON AND OFF. LOOSE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES AND THE CAR JUST STOPS. YOU CAN BE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST GIVES OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT UNLESS I AM WILLING TO PAY ALL THE FEES. I HAD A SECOND DEALERSHIP REPLACE SOME FUSES BUT AFTER 2 DAYS IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODES, I CALLED AND OPENED A TICKET WITH CHEVROLET, BUT BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP I USED DIDN'T WANT TO MESS WITH THE CAR ANY MORE THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. NOW I AM DRIVING A DEATH TRAP BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR AND I WON'T LET MY CHILDREN DRIVE OR BE IN THE CAR.
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT IT I HAD A SMALL ANIMAL RUN IN FRONT OF THE CAR, THE CAR SKID A LONG WAY AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO CHANGE THE TIRE BECAUSE IT MADE A FLAT SPOT ON THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I HAVE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS TWICE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS DUE TO HAVING TO STOP ABRUPTLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES SKIDDING INSTEAD OF STOPPING, BOTH TIMES MY CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT ACROSS SEVERAL LANE LEAVING ME FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BEING HIT.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I REALIZED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SEIZING UP MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AND SHAKE ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. I FOUND OUT THAT I NEED A 2008 MASTER CYLINDER TO FIX IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
ON MY WAY TO WORK I SLOWED DOWN TO CHANGE LANES TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN TO A PARKING LOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A MAJOR JOLT AND MY FOOT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS LOOKING DOWN AT MY RIGHT FOOT AND SEEING IT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THINKING I NEED TO MOVE MY FOOT. I REMEMBER THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR A MOMENT WHEN I ASKED THEM NOT TO CUT MY CLOTHES. MY NEXT MEMORY IS FOR A MOMENT IN ICU AND THEN I WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL ROOM A WEEK LATER. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE CAR CROSSED THE TWO WESTBOUND LANES AND HIT A SIGN AND FENCE, JUMPED THE CURB, AND THEN HIT SHRUBBERY AND SEVERAL HEADSTONES AT A MEMORIAL SALES BUSINESS. POLICE ESTIMATED MY SPEED AT 50 MPH? I THINK THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE JOLT AND DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I WAS DISABLED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I AM UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK. ACCORDING TO GM I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE IF THE IGNITION CAUSED THE ACCIDENT? *TR
ALL ELECTRONIC SHUT OFF NO BRAKES NO STEERING WOUND UP IN THE DITCH KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, A NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED WHEN ENCOUNTERING A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE STABILIZER LINK, SWAY BAR AND BUSHINGS, AND FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT
2006 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND POWER STEERING AND OTHER VEHICLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED TWO DAYS AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE FLAT-BEDDED BACK TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. IT WAS DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE RIGHT PASSENGER OUTSIDE MIRROR FELL OFF, THE RIGHT PASSENGER WIPER ARM BROKE, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEARS, AND THE REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED.*JB
FUEL LEAK IN FRONT OF DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN AN 8 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE FUEL LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED HEAVILY, COST ME $254.22 TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY GAS LINE. I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I HAVE ALSO HAD ALL THE OTHER TYPICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION, BAD ROTORS, LOOSE FRONT END BUSHINGS AND EXCESSIVE FRONT END VIBRATION OVER TYPICAL STREET CRACKS. BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE, CRACKED WINDSHIELD...... *TR UPDATED 10/22/2014 *JS
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES IT CHATTERS SO BAD I THOUGHT THE FRONT END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF, IT CONTINUED UNTIL I PULLED THE FUSES FOR THE ABS, AFTER REPLACING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. *TR
ENGINE SHUT OFF FIRST TIME RESULTING IN MINOR CONTACT WITH GARAGE DOOR WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. SHUT DOWN 2 MORE TIMES AT LOW SPEEDS AND A 4TH TIME AT 50MPH IN A CEMENT BARRIER CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON A BRIDGE, NO ROAD SHOULDER, DUE TO SPEED AT SHUT DOWN WAS ABLE TO COAST THROUGH CONSTRUCTION TO ROADSIDE. IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AFTER INCIDENT, HOWEVER SHUTDOWNS CONTINUED AFTER. DROVE CAR WITH SINGLE KEY ONLY SINCE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER MY VEHICLE STILLS SHUTS DOWN! IT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT IT STILL IS NOT SAFE AND I DON'T BELIEVE WILL BE SAFE AFTER RECALL REPAIR! I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I KILL SOMEONE TO HAVE THE GOV, GM, OR ANYONE CARE, THAT THE CARS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SHUTTING DOWN NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD AND REPLACED! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP THE CAR OWNERS LIKE ME! HELP US FEEL SAFE AGAIN AND NOT AS THOUGH WE ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE EVERY TIME WE DRIVE OUR CARS! I AM BEGGING SOMEONE AT THIS AGENCY TO PLEASE MAKE THEM REPLACE OUR KNOWN DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE CARS! MY CAR CONTINUES TO SHUTDOWN AFTER REMOVAL OF ALL THINGS ON THE KEY! HELP! I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND HAVE TO KEEP THEM SAFE! *TR
WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED APPLIED BRAKES AND STARTED TO GET A VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE STEER WHEEL WHERE I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE BRAKES CHECK.THE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS TURNED. THE DEALER STATED THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF HHR'S COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE ABOUT 20,000 MILE SINCE AND THE VIBRATIONS ARE STARTING TO RETURN EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 40 MPH. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR LOOKED IN TO BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT HAPPENS. *TR
THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE, USUALLY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WHEN BEING CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, HITTING THE BRAKE HARD AND STEERING AWAY FROM THE OFFENDING VEHICLE CAUSE THE HHR TO FISHTAIL AND GET VERY SQUIRRELLY. IT JUST STARTS GOING BACK AND FORTH IN A ROCKING MOTION AND ONLY SETTLES DOWN BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR COULD EASILY GO INTO A ROLL OVER. I HAVE HAD IT INSPECTED BY LES SCHWAB AND THEY REPLACED THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS, BUT SAW NO REAL PROBLEMS. THIS LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED MANY MONTHS AFTER THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED, SO THAT APPARENTLY WAS NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM. IT WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY GIVE ME A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DECELERATING FROM A MODERATE SPEED. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT OCCUR MOST OF THE TIME... ROTORS APPEAR TO BE FINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND LIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE ONTO GRASS AND CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ANKLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
I BOUGHT MY HHR IN APRIL 1006. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THAT FALL, IN SEPTEMBER 2006, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER EVERY TIME I APPLIED THEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUND AND TURNED. HE DID THIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT SUMMER (2007) WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHUDDER AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED. THIS TIME I HAD TO HAVE BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS REPLACED. IN FALL 2008, HE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE ROTORS ONE AGAIN NEEDED TO BE GROUND AND TURNED AND ONE SHOCK WAS LEAKING. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR EVERY DAY AND ALTERNATELY DROVE MY PICKUP AND THE BRAKES LASTED BEYOND THE ONE YEAR MARK. HOWEVER, IN 2010, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER AGAIN AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN AND HAVE THE ROTORS GROUND AND TURNED AGAIN. IT IS NOW MARCH 2012 AND HE BRAKES ARE BAD AGAIN. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE THE WARM WEATHER SEEMS TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE ISSUE, I HAVE HAD TO PUT TWO NEW SETS OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO ABNORMAL WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I DO NOT SPEED AND DO NOT BRAKE QUICKLY OR RIDE THE BRAKES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS EXCITING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT INSIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH BOTH SIDE FRONT ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V046000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WAS DEPRESSED AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE POLICE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY PLANNED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY: AT THE UPPER BRAKE PEDAL, AT THE CROSS TUBE THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE WELD, ONLY WELDED ON ONE SIDE AND THE WELD DID NOT ADHERE TO CROSS BAR. THE WELD DID NOT PENETRATE METAL, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT. *KB
I AM SCARED, FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY FEAR THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WE WILL CRASH OR BE HIT BY SOME ONE...WHEN A VEHICLE STALLS YOU LOOSE ALL POWER...THAT IS POWER STEERING, BRAKES.....THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE I AM ATTACHING A LINK THAT GM SHOULD REVIEW.....DANGER THIS VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN !!!!!!!!!!!!! COPY THIS LINK TO YOUR WEB BROWSER HTTP-//ABCLOCAL.GO.COM/WTVD/STORY?SECTION=NEWS/ABC11_INVESTIGATES&ID=6811236 IF YOU WOULD PREFER I CAN SEND A TYPED TRANSCRIPT (WORD FOR WORD) OF THIS NEWS BROADCAST? I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE AND KIDS LIFE TO BE PUT IN DANGER, BY LETTING THEM RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED THE LINK I AM ATTACHING SHOWS A NEWS BROADCAST IN RALEIGH NC. ON CHANNEL 11 NEWS !!!!! INVOLVING NUMBER 12 ISSUE ON MY LONG LIST BELOW WITH THE CHEVY HHR STALLING WHILE DRIVING..... I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVY HHR LT, IN 2007. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED. MILEAGE ON CAR 33,346 1) THE KEY LOCKED UP IN IGNITION..9/06/07 2) SHIFTER FROZE UP AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. . 9/06/07 3) HEADLINER TRIM ? ENERGY ABSORPTION CAPABILITY 4) FRONT END AND WHOLE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN APPLYING BRAKE..9/06/07 DEALER TURNED ROTORS( BUT DID NOT FIX ISSUE) 5) REPLACED DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD..9/06/07. 6) GOT IN VEHICLE ONE MORNING TRIED TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 15 MPH, HAD TOWED BACK TO LAWSON CHEVROLET. WORKING ON GETTING DATE/MILEAGE..THIS ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. *TR
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