Steering. Review the 424 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

42 crash reports4 fire reports23 injury reports

Steering complaints

424 reports

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62,300 miles · Oct 3, 2012

Steering

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT TO TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING JUST SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER GOING TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR BUT THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY CHEVY. VERY DANGEROUS. MANY COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478545

78,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012

Steering

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THE HHR HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE STEERING ASSIST FAILS AND MAKES THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS AN INTERMENT PROBLEM. SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WILL RESET THE FAULT AND ALLOW THE STEERING TO HAVE POWER ASSIST AGAIN. IT SEEMS GM HAS RECALLED ALL CARS WITH THAT STEERING SYSTEM EXCEPT THE HHR. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOOSE ASSIST. I CAN HAPPEN IN A TURN AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STEER THROUGH THE TURN. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE DUE TO THIS ISSUE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. CALLED MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD I'M ON THE HOOK FOR THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. CANADA DID RECALL THIS MAKE AND MODEL FOR THIS ISSUE. HOW IS IT A SAFETY PROBLEM IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE US? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478128

124,000 miles · Sep 28, 2012

Steering

MY POWER STEERING MOTOR KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF...IT WORKS FOR A BIT WHEN STARTING CAR BUT THEN THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE COME UP ON THE DASH BOARD AND IT BECOMES HARD TO STEER. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE HHR AND THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE BECOMES SERIOUSLY HURT. GM APPEARS NOT TO CARE AND HAVE NOT …

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NHTSA ODI #10477449

60,000 miles · Sep 25, 2012

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2007 CHEVY HHR KEEPS CUTTING IN AND OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS> SAME MOTOR AS THE CHEVY COBALT AND THEY RECALLED THAT!! SAME MOTOR AS THE CANADIAN HHR ( AND SAME PLANT) CANADA RECALLED!! YET NOTHING FOR HTE US CONSUMER--AND WE BAILED THEM OUT WITH OUR TAX MONEY. THIS IS PATHETIC WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. NOW IM STUCK WITH A DANGEROUS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477031

96,000 miles · Sep 11, 2012

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED A STEERING FAILURE WHILE MAKING A TURN IN WH…

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NHTSA ODI #10475031

106,000 miles · Sep 9, 2012

Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING SIGN COME ON AND UNABLE TO STEER SAFELY, AND ITS BECOMING FOR FREQUENTLY.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474434

93,989 miles · Sep 9, 2012

Steering

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING" INFO LIGHT FLASHED IN THE INFO AREA, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, AND THEN LATER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING ACTED FINE AT FIRST, THEN LATER IT DID THE SAME THING WITH THE POWER STEERING, THE SAME E…

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NHTSA ODI #10474375

50,000 miles · Aug 26, 2012

Steering

POWER STEERING MOTOR GOES OUT AND GENERATES AN ERROR IN HIGH TEMPERATURES. RESTARTING THE CAR CAUSES IT TO FUNCTION AGAIN, BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO OUT RANDOMLY IN HIGH HEAT. THIS EXACT SAME COMPONENT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER CHEVROLET CARS AND IS RECALLED ON THE HHR IN CANADA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472534

150,000 miles · Aug 20, 2012

Steering

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I WAS OPERATING MY VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I HEARD AN INDICATOR SOUND AND THEN 'POWER STEERING' APPEARED IN MY DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER/ODOMETER AREA. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT. THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED RIGHT BEFORE A LARGE CURVE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD TO STEER WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY TO A LOCATION WHERE I COULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. I AM NO LONGER OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT SCHEDULE FOR MAINTENANCE. I BELIEVE, IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE OPERATED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND THIS OCCURRED IT COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE AND THEIR IS NO WARNING THAT A MALFUNCTION IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471582

69,500 miles · Aug 13, 2012

Steering

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I HAD JUST LEFT WORK AND HAD JUST ENTERED THE FREEWAY DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN I HEARD A CHIME FOLLOWED BY A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD THAT READ POWER STEERING. IT WASN'T UNTIL I BEGAN TO TURN THROUGH AN OVERPASS WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD COMPLETLY FAILED. I HAD TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND HOLD THE TURN USING A STRONG PULL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT WENT OUT. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY SAID NO. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS BUILT ON THE SAME PLATFORM USES THE SAME PART AND THAT VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS CAR. SHE CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AT A DEAD STOP. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL LEFT THEN RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470358

Official recalls

14V171000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 10, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

14V047000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:ignition:switch

Feb 10, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Electrical System:ignition:switch

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

08V444000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Sep 3, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 296,422 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE DOOR ON THE STORAGE BIN IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AS REQUIRED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: A REDESIGNED LATCH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

08V046000 · Air Bags

Jan 30, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 181,516 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF RAIL AIR BAGS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.' IN TESTS, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ENERGY-ABSORBING PLASTIC PIECE TO THE HEADLINER TRIM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.