2006 Chevrolet HHR Brakes Problems

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.

HARD BRAKES

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

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

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE OF A VIBRATION AND SHAKING THAT OCCURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE MECHANIC TURNED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SIX MONTHS IN ADDITION TO AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE EXHIBITED BY THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OF FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 06/17/11*LJ UPDATED 06/21/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INITIAL START, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FALL FURTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN NORMAL. WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, THE ABS AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STEERING AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN BEARING. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE THE FRONT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,084 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY 2006 HHR VIBRATES VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES FROM APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES ON. I AM CURRENTLY AT 55000. AFTER INSPECTIONS I WAS ADVISED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE BRAKES HEATS SO RAPIDLY THAT IT COULD CAUSE IT. I QUESTIONED ABOUT THE MATERIALS USED AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS TO KEEP THE WEIGHT LOW ON THE VEHICLE FOR GAS MILEAGE. YESTERDAY I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK WHICH I HAVE TO TRAVEL A LONG GRADE. I SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR TO REDUCE SPEED GOING DOWN THE GRADE, I PRESSED ON THE BREAKS AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY I ENDED UP TRYING TO USE THE EMERGENCY HAND BREAK IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 52 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WARRANTY REPAIR RECORD ON IT INCLUDING A FIRE. I FIND THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING PROBLEMS. *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

2006 CHEVY HHR. AT 30,000 THE FRONT END SHAKES WHILE BRAKING. REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WITH NEW FROM NATIONAL AUTO PARTS RETAILER. SHAKING STILL OCCURS. DANGEROUS, AFFECTS STEERING AND ABILITY TO STOP. ROTORS CHECKED FOR TRUENESS AND THEY ARE PERFECT WITH NO WARPAGE. DEALERSHIP IS NO HELP. THIS IS WORSE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH, COLD OR HOT BRAKES. *TR

MY BRAKES SHIMMIED/ VIBRATED BADLY WHEN MY HHR HAD 14300 MILES, FERRIS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TURNED, GROUND, THE ROTORS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON 07/30/07 AT THE SAME TIME THE HEATER/AC FAN SWITCH WAS REPAIRED ON 9/28/08 WITH 28365 MILES ON MY HHR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT SHIMMY AND NEED REPAIRING EVERY 14000 MILES, THIS NEED TO BE CORRECTED WITH NEW IMPROVED ROTORS BEFORE THEIR IS A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WE PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME, WHO IS GOING TO PAY TO FIX THIS!AT THE SAME TIME THE HEATER/AC FAN SWITCH WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED, WE WERE TOLD WATER LEAKS ON THE FAN, WE HAVE HAD WATER LEAK THRU THE HEATER VENTS BEFORE. *TR

BOUGHT CHEVY HHR W/ @23,000 MILES AT @32,000 EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKING WHILE BRAKING. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE AS WARRANTY REPAIR AND SURFACED ROTORS. CAR EXHIBITED SAME ISSUE AT @45,000 MILES. IT IS OBVIOUS BY REVIEWING THESE FEW SOURCES (THERE MANY MORE) THAT CHEVY IS DENYING THE USE OF INFERIOR ROTORS. HTTP://WWW.CHEVYHHR.NET/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP?T-2768.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F113FCD HTTP://BLOGS.CARS.COM/KICKINGTIRES/2008/02/RECALL-ALERT--1.HTML NTSB COMPLAINT 10229961 NTSB COMPLAINT 10229818 NTSB COMPLAINT 10223434 NTSB COMPLAINT 10222711. *TR

MY HHR HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AT LESS THAN 12K MILES, NOW AT 29K MILES IT NEEDS IT AGAIN. WE DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD AND BRAKE FAST. IT IS FAR FROM NORMAL WEAR. ALSO, NO LARGE HILLS TO DRIVE UP/DOWN. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP DOING 40 OR HIGHER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. HAD TO HAVE THE ROTOR TURN AGAIN JUST HAD THEM TURNED AT 17,511 MILES AND NOW AT 25,124 MILES THAT IS ON 7613 SINCE THE FIRST TIME. IT IS NOT MY DRIVING EITHER! *TR

BRAKES DEFECTIVE HAVE 65,000 MILES ON 06 UNIT AND BRAKES AND / OR ROTORS WORKED ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES BRAKES WORKED ON JAN 07, MAY 07, JULY 07, OCT 07 AND JAN 08. *TR

A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS PREVIOUS. IN ROUTE TO BILLINGS, MT. WE HEARD A THUD AND CAR BECAME HARD TO STEER, HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. WHEN STOPPED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. WE DISCOVERED THE REAR BLOT ON THE BRAKE CALIPER ON THE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OUT. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OF THE ROAD AS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, HOWEVER ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED I COULD NOT GO FORWARD DUE TO THE BRAKE CALIPER BEING LOCKED INTO THE RIGHT WHEEL. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP IN POWELL, WY WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BOLT AND REPAIRED THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I'VE HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, ROTORS, ALIGNMENT AND TIRES ON THE FRONT END OF MY 06 CHEVY HHR. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 2000 MILES AND 12000 MILES AND EACH TIME THEY HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS AND IT SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOW I'M AT 29000 MILES, THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I'VE OWNED MANY NEW VEHICLES IN MY LIFE SINCE MY FATHER IS RETIRED FROM GENERAL MOTORS, AND I'VE NEVER EVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES OR HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED FOR THAT MATTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TELLING ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS AND FAILURE TO SERVICE THE CALIPERS. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY FOR THIS AND OTHER CHRONIC PROBLEMS AND THEY'VE NEVER MENTION THAT THE CALIPERS NEED ANY SERVICING. ADDITIONALLY, I'M 40 YEARS OLD AND THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND NOT MUCH MORE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, SINCE MY LAST TIRE ROTATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS BECOME ALMOST COMPLETELY BALD. THIS IS BIZARRE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VIGILANT ABOUT ROTATING MY TIRES EVERY 6000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT THEIR COST, BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE COVERED AND REPAIRED 100% AT GMS EXPENSE. IT'S A RESULT OF POOR DESIGN. THEY NEED TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *JB