2009 Chevrolet Hhr Engine Problems

STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH THE BEING STUCK ON IGNITION. COULDN'T OPEN THE DOORS AND SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT AND FIRE START COMING OUT OF LOWER MIDDLE CONSOLE. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND EXIT VEHICLE. FIRE THEN ERUPTED AND QUICKLY TRAVELED STRAIGHT DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY BURNED TO NOTHING. SUFFERED SEVERAL BURNS AND SMOKE INHALATION AND THE CAR AND EVERY THING IN IT WAS DESTROYED

NHTSA ID

11406550

Incident

Apr 4, 2021

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IN FRONT OF THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED MATTHEWS-HARGREAVES CHEVROLET (2000 TWELVE MILE RD, ROYAL OAK, MI 48067) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT ONLINE FOR SALE HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING THE REPAIR KIT, THE WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11339155

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

210,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ESC OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON VEHICLE STARTUP AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A LOW POWER MODE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN FIVE MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ID

10986228

Incident

May 16, 2017

Mileage

99,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SECURITY LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE IGNITION KEY BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10917376

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/05/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10908152

Incident

Aug 25, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE WARNING CHIME. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN AUGUST 2013, AND SOON AFTER GETTING IT THE VERY SAME WARNING CAME ON. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD IT SENT TO A LOCAL GM DEALER TO BE FIXED. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DODGE AND SUBARU DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THE REPAIR. I WAS SHOWN THE REPAIR PAPERWORK STATING THAT A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. WELL JUST LAST WEEK THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON THEN GOES OFF SOMETIMES AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS. THEN ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT WENT ON STATING FAULTY AIR PRESSURE SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL GREMLIN IN THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I LIKE THE CAR BUT ALL OF THESE STUPID LITTLE ISSUES MAKE ME WANT TO TRADE IT IN, AND NEVER BUY ANYTHING MADE BY GM EVER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714542

Incident

Apr 28, 2015

Mileage

84,500 mi

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS SHUT DOWN AND HAS CAUSED MY POWER STEERING TO GO OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING. IT DINGS SO I HAVE SOME NOTICE. BUT NONE THE LESS REALLY SCARY AND VERY HARD TO TURN GOING 20 MPH. MY BRAKES ARE VERY HARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY THERMOSTAT/ COOLANT INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY DISPLAYED AS DASHES (----) ACROSS MY DASH, MAKING THIS REALLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF IT IS HOT OR HAS RUN OUT AND MY AC IS CONNECTED TO THIS ALSO SO WHEN IT DECIDES TO WORK MY AC WILL WORK. IT WILL TURN OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING TOO. MY MPH READS MY SPEED GOING 20 MPH OVER WHAT I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING. MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET CODES.

NHTSA ID

10712793

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

I HAVE HAD MY RECALL COMPETED ON MY IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND EITHER I HEAR THE ENGINE STILL RUN SLIGHTLY, BUT MORE COMMONLY THE ISSUE IS THAT THE DOOR CHIMES AS IF I OPENED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION (ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT). I THOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT AFTER THIS RECALL WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS I HAD PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE IT" OR SEE ANY IMMEDIATE ISSUES. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS STILL HAPPENING AFTER THE RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10680332

Incident

Oct 31, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

WENT TO LEAVE FROM FRIEND'S HOUSE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.CALLED TOW TRUCK, BUT BY THE TIME ( 2 HRS ) I WAITED CAR STARTED-UP.CANCELLED TOW TRUCK. NEXT TIME WHILE MAKING TURN, POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE APPROX 05/21/14. CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE APPOINTMENT ON 06/03/14. THEY GIVE ME THE PAPERS SERVICES. AND THEY TOLD ME IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE BETWEEN 6 WEEKS TO 7 WEEKS FOR THEM TO GET THE PART.I BEEN CALLING, STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS. ON ANOTHER NOTE, I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY CONDITION. I HAVE ONE ARM THE IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH OUT POWER STEERING. I HAD SURGERY ON MY LEFT ARM. ( A SURVIVOR OF SARCOMA). FOR THEM MAYBE IS NOTHING. I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL SORRY FOR ME. I JUST WANT TO FALLOW THE RULES, AND THE PROMISES THEY MAKE TO ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10617672

Incident

Jan 6, 2001

Mileage

58,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY HHR BRAND NEW. WITHIN WEEKS OF HAVING IT, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPING. THIS HAS BECOME AN EVERY SIX MONTH ROUTINE NOW. THE BRAKES DON'T ALWAYS CATCH AND CAN BE SCARY WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. I'VE BARELY AVOIDED WRECKS SEVERAL TIMES, AND USUALLY THAT INVOLVES STEERING TOWARDS A DITCH. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617472

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

VEHICLE RAN FINE ENTIRE DAY(12-20-2013), I PARKED TO SHOP WITH MY WIFE AT A LOCAL MALL. WHEN WE WERE READY TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES, MY BATTERY WAS BEGINNING TO DRAIN SO I STOPPED. MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO CONTINUE OUR SHOPPING AND COME BACK TO VEHICLE LATER. ONCE AGAIN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING SERVICE (AAA) TO TOW US TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC DID TELL US THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS ERROR CODES FROM LAST NIGHT POINTING TO IGNITION AND STARTER UNITS, BUT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECALL NOTICES FROM GM DESCRIBING THIS VERY THING AND HAVE REQUESTED A FULL REFUND OF MY TOWING FEES ($95.00 INVOICE#73066) AND TRYING TO SET UP MY REPAIR SINCE THE RECALL NOTICES WENT OUT IN APRIL 2014. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING SINCE. GM CASE # [XXX] OPERATOR (JIM). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID

10616801

Incident

Dec 20, 2013

Mileage

51,000 mi

TURNED THE KEY AND STARTED MY CAR AND THEN I COULDN'T TURN IT OFF. I COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AS THE IGNITION SWITCH APPEARS TO BE STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. TOOK IT TO GM DEALER IN SALINAS TO ASK ABOUT IT BUT SAID COULD NOT ASSIST ME TILL WEDNESDAY, GRANTED IT WAS SATURDAY SO OKAY, BUT COULD NOT HELP ME SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. SAID IT MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL THOUGH IT SEEMS RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596852

Incident

Jun 7, 2014

IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT BE TURNED TO OFF POSITION. CYCLED THRU GEARS (AUTOMATIC TRANS) SEVERAL TIMES THINKING PARK SENSOR SWITCH PIN MAY BE THE PROBLEM - NO EFFECT. AWARE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS IGNITION - CALLED HOTLINE - 1ST ATTEMPT, BUSY, 2ND ATTEMPT RECEIVED RECORDING. CALLED DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE, SERVICE DEPT CLOSED AT 1PM SAT. LOCATED FUSE PANEL, REMOVED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FUSE, THIS STOPPED ENG. ELEC POWER STILL ON DUE TO KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION, REMOVED BATTERY CONNECTION. FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING CALLED DEALERSHIP & REPORTED PROBLEM, SERVICE DEPT VERIFIED RECALL & INFORMED ME REPLACEMENT IGNITION CYLINDER IS TAKING IN EXCESS OF 4 WEEKS DELIVERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595488

Incident

Jun 30, 2013

Mileage

109,517 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO POWER OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10593467

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

104,000 mi

2009 CHEVY HHR HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE RUNS VERY HOT WITH NO EXPLANATION. FLUIDS FULL, CLEAN AND REGULARLY SERVICED. THE COOLING FAN KICKS ON WHEN SITTING IDLE FOR ANY SMALL PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577482

Incident

Apr 4, 2014

Mileage

51,386 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ROAD TRACTION PICTURE AND MY CAR STARTED JERKING AND SHAKING AFTER A FEW MINUTES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS MISFIRING SO HE CHANGED OUT THE SPARK PLUGS BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. THE ESC LIGHT WILL GO OFF FOR A FEW MILES BUT WILL CAME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510934

Incident

May 7, 2013

Mileage

87,154 mi

I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND COULD NOT TURN OFF THE KEY. I TRIED TO EVERYTHING, STEERING WHEEL, KEY, SHIFTER, BRAKES, ETC AND I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF OR GET THE KEY OUT. I HAD TO PULL A FUSE TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR, IF NOT EXACTLY, THE SAME OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE CAR. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED AND REPAIRED BY A DEALER AT GREAT EXPENSE. NOT GOOD FOR GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493608

Incident

Jan 16, 2013

Mileage

97,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES INCLUDED THE BRAKES, POWER STEERING ASSIST AND A FOUL ODOR BEING EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE CABLE FRACTURED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING RACK WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE ROUGHLY AFTERWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE, DOOR HANDLE AND THE EXHAUST AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE BRAKE PROBLEM OR THE FOUL ODOR THAT WAS COMING THROUGH THE EXHAUST. IN ADDITION, THE CABLE IN THE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID

10483163

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CONTACT BECAME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID

10472052

Incident

Aug 19, 2012

Mileage

39,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVY HHR WHEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING AND DIDN'T SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AT ABOUT 147,000 MILES DUE TO OVERHEATING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE 4,000. WANTING A SECOND OPINION, WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO BASICALLY SAID THE EXACT SAME THING. THEN WECALLED GM BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A TECH BULLETIN OUT ON IT AND THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE HHR'S SO WE WERE HOPING THAT GM WOULD HELP US SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. GM SAID THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY HELP US BUT FIRST WE HAD TO PAY ANOTHER 200 TO GET IT TOWED TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEN PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I WAS HESITANT, BUT HE TOLD ME THAT IF WE DID THAT HE SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT WITH THE ENGINE. WE DID ALL THAT, AND THEY CALLED US BACK THIS MORNING TO SAY THAT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD TOLD THEM FROM THE BEGINNING BUT NOT ONLY WOULD THEY NOT HELP US OUT AT ALL, THIS DEALERSHIP WANTS 6,000 FOR THE NEW ENGINE INSTEAD OF THE $4,000 THAT THE FIRST DEALERSHIP QUOTED US. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE CAN'T TELL IF THE ENGINE CRACKED BECAUSE THE CAR OVERHEATED, OR IF THE CAR OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE ENGINE CRACKED, BUT EITHER WAY HE SAID HE CAN'T TELL IF IT'S A MANUFACTURERS DEFAULT OR NOT SO THEY'RE DECIDING TO GO WITH NOT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO HELP US. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456719

Incident

Apr 13, 2012

Mileage

170,000 mi

AFTER PARKING IN THE DRIVE WAY AROUND 11:30 PM THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I TRIED TO USE THE RELEASE PLUNGER BUT ENDED UP REMOVING THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN COVER AND FORCING IT OVER THE KEY. THEN I PULLED THE WIRE HARNESS OFF WHICH SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BY PUTTING THE WIRE BACK ON AND TWISTING THE KEY. THE DEALER SAID THE KEY WAS BENT AND CHARGED ME $400 TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. THEY OBVIOUSLY USED PLIERS TO REMOVE THE KEY. WHILE IN THEIR WAITING ROOM I READ AN ARTICLE IN A MARCH ISSUE OF MOTOR MAGAZINE THAT SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL CARS INCLUDING HHR'S AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON RECALL AND NOT BE CHARGED TO US. THE KEYS MAY BE TOO SOFT OR IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454883

Incident

Apr 9, 2012

Mileage

41,000 mi

UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGITION. ONE HOUR LATER THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING AND KEY IS STUCK. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. ITS 7PM WILL HAVE IT TOADED TO DEALERSHIP IN AM

NHTSA ID

10455159

Incident

Apr 9, 2012

Mileage

27,080 mi

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER PARKING. COULD NOT TURN CAR OFF AND COULD NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. MORE SPECIFICALLY, PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND COULD NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH OPENING. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I COULD NOT PULL IT OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REMOVED GAS PUMP FUSE AND CAR STOPPED RUNNING. DEALERSHIP TODAY (1-15-2012) CONFIRMS THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE A CHEVY COBALT 2009 WHICH HAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THESE ARE BASICALLY THE SAME KINDS OF CAR AND SO THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL ON THE HHR IGNITION SWITCH, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS NOT ONE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE HHR IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THERE IS ON THE COBALT IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443942

Incident

Jan 14, 2012

Mileage

45,000 mi

I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND REMOVE THE KEY TO GO INTO A STORE. I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND PARKED. I COULD STILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF PUTTING CAR INTO REVERSE, OR DRIVE AND INTO PARK DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE KEY WAS TRAPPED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH! CALLED ONSTAR AND WAS FORWARDED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE; TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. TOW TRUCK DELIVERED CAR TO DEALERSHIP WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED IN IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WHICH WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442475

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

54,255 mi

LAST FRIDAY I TRAVELED TO NEW ORLEANS TO PERFORM A REPAIR AT A LOCAL FURNITURE COMPANY. UPON MY ARRIVAL I COULD NOT EXTRACT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER (ROSS DOWNING CHEVY IN HAMMOND, LA) TO FIND OUT HOW TO EXTRACT THE KEY. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER I DID SO AND RETURNED TO HAMMOND, LA AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN FEB 2010. MY VEHICLE IS A CHEVY HHR LT 2009. MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS ALSO HIGH (267F) AND I COULD NOT SHUT IT OFF. THE DEALER HAD THEIR MECHANIC REPLACE THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND ADDED COOLANT TO THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO LEAKS AND NO EXPLANATION WHY THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD LOST COOLANT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPERATOR OF THIS VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WHERE ANY RECALL / DEFICIENCIES ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY SAID NO. WHY WOULD A VEHICLE LESS THAN 18 MONTHS OLD HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH? *TR

NHTSA ID

10405376

Incident

Jun 3, 2011

Mileage

35,500 mi