Steering. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

25 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2015

Service Brakes

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I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS EVERY 6MONTHS AND THE TIRES WEAR UNEVEN. THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE IS LOOSE, AFTER THEY DID THE RECALL AND FIXED THE STEERING COLUMN THE VEHICLE STARED MESSING UP FROM LOUD NOISE TO VIBRATION IN THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL. IF I WANT IT FIXED I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. ONLY HAD VEHICLE NOT EVEN 2 YEARS FROM DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES. I WISH I NEVER GOT THIS VEHICLE AND DON'T RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT RAINS BECAUSE IT LOOSES TRACTION AND SLIDES CONSTANTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705140

60,000 miles · Oct 10, 2014

Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

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CURRENTLY WHAT I AM DRIVING MY GEARS ARE GETTING STUCK AND THIS NOISE COMES OUT WHEN I DRIVE, ALSO MY SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE MY LIGHTS IN MY CAR GO OFF AND ON, A LIGHT SAYING I HAVE LOW AIR ON MY TIRES GO ON. I HAVE TAKING MY CAR TO THE TIRE SHOP AND EVEN CHANGED MY TIRES BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. MY ACCIDENT HAPPEN IN JANUARY 2014 HOWEVER THERE IS NEW THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING AND I NEED HELP WITH THE GENERAL MOTORS TO FIX MY CAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS RECALLED I TOOK IT IN AND THEY ONLY FIXED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND POWER STEERING I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE REST OF THE ISSUES THAT I WAS HAVING SUCH AS THE TRANSMISSION AND I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643869

35,243 miles · Sep 25, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TRAILER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,243.

NHTSA ODI #10638866

89,232 miles · Aug 30, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesSteering

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I WAS DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT, WHEN MY POWER STEERING FLASHED ON THE DASH SCREEN AND MY STEERING WHEEL WENT FROM FLUID TO STIFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS IT HAPPENED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE STEERING WAS FLUID AGAIN, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON AS WELL AS THE ABS AND TRACTION. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FLUID ONLY FOR A FEW MINUETS, AND THEN AFTER MAKING A FEW TURNS, I LOST THE STEERING ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE LEARNED OF A RECALL ON THE HHR'S POWER STEERING AND STARTER. I WILL GO TO THE DEALER AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO. I AM FILING THIS SO IT IS NOTED IN THE RECORDS OF THE HAPPENINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629531

77,985 miles · Jun 3, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON DRY ASPHALT STREET AT ABOUT 28 MPH. THE BRAKES BEGAN APPLYING THEMSELVES VERY HARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER. MADE CAR BUCK AND NEARLY STOPPED ME DEAD IN TRAFFIC. DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER SAID "ESC ACTIVE". IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATING ITSELF FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I FORTUNATELY KNOW WHERE THE ESC OFF SWITCH IS, PRESSED AND HELD IT IN UNTIL "ESC OFF" CAME UP ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THIS HALTED THE ROGUE BRAKING. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, A TOTAL LOSS OF WOULD SEEM LIKELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595858

80,811 miles · Apr 14, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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PLEASE INCLUDE REPAIRING THIS ISSUE IN THE RECALL OF 2010 HHR VEHICLES. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT OF MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) ACTIVATES WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH. AS A CHIME SOUNDS, AND A MESSAGE IS FLASHED ON THE DISPLAY, THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY LOSES STEERING AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKE IS INVOLUNTARILY ACTIVATED. ON THIS OCCASION, THE SERVICER FOUND THE FEMALE CONNECTORS TO THE ABS SPEED SENSOR WERE NOT MAKING PROPER CONTACT. HE CRIMPED THE NEW ONES TIGHTLY WHEN INSTALLING THE REPLACEMENT ENDS. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITTED THAT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE, HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CAR CONTINUES NORMALLY. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS VARIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO MISMATCHED TIRES (REPLACED WITH ALL NEW), BAD HUBS (BOTH REPLACED), BAD SPEED SENSORS (REPLACED), BAD ALIGNMENT (FIXED) AND A WRONGLY CALIBRATED STEERING POSITION SENSOR (RE-CALIBRATED). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED, REPAIRED REPEATEDLY, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579499

75,907 miles · Apr 14, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK, THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) ACTIVATED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE LAST SERVICE WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY LOSES STEERING AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKE IS INVOLUNTARILY ACTIVATED. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CAR CONTINUES NORMALLY. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON THIS OCCASION, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS VARIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO MISMATCHED TIRES (REPLACED WITH ALL NEW), BAD HUBS (BOTH REPLACED), BAD SPEED SENSORS (REPLACED), BAD ALIGNMENT (FIXED) AND A WRONGLY CALIBRATED STEERING POSITION SENSOR (RE-CALIBRATED). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED, REPAIRED REPEATEDLY, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579498

75,692 miles · Apr 14, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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THIS IS ON OF REPEATED INCIDENTS WHERE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) ACTIVATES WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH. A CHIME SOUNDS, A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DISPLAY, THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY LOSES STEERING AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKE IS INVOLUNTARILY ACTIVATED. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CAR CONTINUES NORMALLY. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON THIS OCCASION, THE RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS VARIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO MISMATCHED TIRES (REPLACED WITH ALL NEW), BAD HUBS (BOTH REPLACED), BAD SPEED SENSORS (REPLACED), BAD ALIGNMENT (FIXED) AND A WRONGLY CALIBRATED STEERING POSITION SENSOR (RE-CALIBRATED). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED, REPAIRED REPEATEDLY, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579496

35,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AS A RENTAL RETURN, THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED INCIDENTS WHERE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) ACTIVATES WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY LOSES STEERING AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKE IS INVOLUNTARILY ACTIVATED. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CAR CONTINUES NORMALLY. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS VARIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO MISMATCHED TIRES (REPLACED WITH ALL NEW), BAD HUBS (BOTH REPLACED), BAD SPEED SENSORS (REPLACED), BAD ALIGNMENT (FIXED) AND A WRONGLY CALIBRATED STEERING POSITION SENSOR (RE-CALIBRATED). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED, REPAIRED REPEATEDLY, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576107

65,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

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THE SRS LIGHT WAS RED AND STOOD LIT FOR ONE MONTH AND THEN IT WENT AWAY, I HAVE 3 CHILDREN UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE AND THIS PROBLEM JUST WORRIES ME AND HAS ME WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE IN THIS CAR. WE HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE BY THE DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE MY WIFE COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CAR. NO OTHER PROBLEMS REPORTED BY MY WIFE. WE LOVE OUR HHR. GREAT FAMILY CAR. WE MIGHT NEED TO GO BIGGER SINCE OUR GROWING FAMILY. HOPE THIS PROBLEM OF SRS GETS FIXED OR DOES NOT BECOME A FUTURE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573428

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.

14V153000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 31, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

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.

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.