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

Steering complaints

231 reports

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52,750 miles · May 18, 2013

Steering

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DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 65MPH WHEN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. COULD BARELY GET MANEUVER CAR OFF ROAD ONTO EXIT. SHUT CAR DOWN TO CHECK OUT, RESTARTED CAR, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE AND POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING. TURNED BACK AROUND TO GO HOME AND PARK CAR, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN - THIS TIME AS I WAS TURNING OFF MAIN ROAD, INTO MY SUBDIVISION. ALMOST HAD CAR IN THE DITCH AS WHEEL JERKED BACK AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. GOT CAR TO DRIVEWAY AND SHUT DOWN. RESTARTED CAR AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ONLINE AGAIN. DROVE CAR DOWN SUBDIVISION STREET TO TEST THE PROBLEM. COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM A 6'2", 225 LB GUY AND I STRUGGLED TO GET CAR OFF THE ROAD. WHEN STEERING, THE CAR IS NOT LIKE AN OLDER CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, IT TURNS LIKE YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL. IF SOMEONE IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT GOES OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MID-TURN, THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512628

54,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013

Steering

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, THERE IS A DING, AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT FIRST HAPPENED 10 DAYS AGO AND HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES EVERYTHING THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THE POWER STEERING WILL RESET IF THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT IT WILL SOON GO OUT AGAIN WITHIN SECONDS OR MINUTES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND HAS CAUSED US NEAR ACCIDENTS. I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON HHR'S OF MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD POWER STEERING ON A VEHICLE JUST GO OUT BEFORE. THIS IS A LATE MODEL CAR AND AN ISSUE OF THIS TYPE AND OF THIS FREQUENCY DEFINITELY POINTS TO A DEFECT AND NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. A RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509969

91,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013

Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON SAT 04/27/2013 AT A RATE OF 45 MPH I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING FROZE UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY KIND OF TURN. I FOUND OUT THEN THAT IT HAD A POWER STEERING MOTOR VS A RESERVOIR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. TOOK IT THE NEXT DAY TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID FUSES CHECKED OUT GOOD HE BELIEVES I…

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NHTSA ODI #10509860

988,556 miles · Apr 29, 2013

Steering

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I WAS TURNING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND A BELL WENT OFF AND THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD TO TURN. I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND SAW THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD COME ON. I GOT OUT MY BOOK AND IT SAYS THE POWER STEERING DOESN'T NEED MAINTENANCE, BUT TO CALL THE DEALER IF IT HAPPENS. WELL, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT, SO I DROVE TO THE STORE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND IT DID IT AGAIN. LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING FAST OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS, I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ROTOR REPLACED. TWO OF THE SAME SIDE BROKEN INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLES AND BAD GAS MILEAGE. THE STEERING HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS SO FAR. I READ ON-LINE HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND I WONDER WHEN THEY WILL RECALL THIS VEHICLE. WHEN SOMEONE DIES? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509816

43,441 miles · Apr 22, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE…

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NHTSA ODI #10509109

50,000 miles · Apr 16, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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I HAVE HAD TWO ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND IT HAS MADE ME FEEL UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING IT. THE FIRST INVOLVES THE BRAKES. WHEN BRAKING AFTER DRIVING AT 45MPH OR MORE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS SHAKING. I WAS TOLD THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I DID AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. LAST MONTH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, IT WENT AWAY BUT SOON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TOO HARD TO TURN. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE POWER STEERING MODULE AS INDICATED BY THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST. ONCE THE CHANGE WAS DONE, THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR HAS BEEN CRAZY EVER SINCE. I HAVE YET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH ALREADY. I AM UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYBODY. AFTER LOOKING IT UP, I SEE THAT MANY HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS VERY UNSAFE SINCE THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508394

56,000 miles · Apr 14, 2013

Steering

DRIVING DOWN ROAD COMING TO STOP LIGHT. CHIME WENT OFF & POWER STEERING WAS INDICATED ON MY INFORMATION SYSTEM. MY CAR LOST ALL POWER STEERING- WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. GLAD I WAS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE OR TURN WHEN THAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508188

160,000 miles · Apr 9, 2013

Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME WE DRIVE OUR HHR BUT AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED 4 ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK PROPERLY. THE POWER STEERING ALERT WILL SHOW UP ON OUR VEHICLE AND WE HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND …

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NHTSA ODI #10505609

67,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013

Electrical SystemSteering

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WHILE GOING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD AT APPROX 35/40MPH, THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2010 CHEVY HHR WENT OUT. THERE WAS A DING AND THEN IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I ALMOST HIT A JEEP THAT WAS TURNING INTO A SUBDIVISION OPPOSITE OF US BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL TO GET IN THE PASSING AREA. THIS RESULTED IN ME GOING OFF OF THE ROAD. I PULLED ONTO THE NEXT SIDE ROAD I SAW. CHECKED FOR ANY ISSUES AND RESTARTED. I REGAINED POWER STEERING AND WAS ABLE TO BE ON MY WAY. IN APPROX. ANOTHER MILE OR SO IT WENT OUT AGAIN. IT DID SO INTERMITTENTLY ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS OF NO HELP BASICALLY SAYING IT WAS AN OPERATOR ERROR. THERE WAS A STEERING RECALL THAT I HAD TAKEN CARE OF EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS REPLACED WITH EQUALLY DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT IT'S NOT A "WEAR PART" AND NOTHING THAT I DID COULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO DO THAT. IT IS A SHORT ON THE MOTOR/COMPUTER FOR THE POWER STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505381

71,000 miles · Mar 21, 2013

Steering

AFTER MAKING A TURN THE CAR BEEPED, "POWER STEERING" SHOWED ON THE DISPLAY, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. RESTARTING THE CAR CAUSES POWER STEERING TO RESUME FUNCTIONING BUT IT WILL CUT OUT AGAIN WITHIN A MINUTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503920

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.