2006 Chevrolet HHR Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN AND WENT TO SUNSET CHEVROLET (910 TRAFFIC AVE, SUMNER, WA 98390) WHERE HE RECEIVED MECHANICAL ADVISE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATION STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE RADIO AND BRAKES WERE WORKING. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED IT, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE BEING OPERATED 45-50 MPH. THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT *CN

WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF ENGINE EXHAUST COMING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE A/C VENTS. THE FLEX HOSE COMING FROM THE ENGINE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK. THE EXHAUST FUMES WERE BEING SUCKED INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND OUT THROUGH THE A/C VENTS, FILLING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WITH EXHAUST FUMES. THE DESIGN OF THE FLEX PIPE IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED AS IF IT'S MADE TO FAIL. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE THAT WE WERE BREATHING FROM THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY ALSO BE THE CAUSE OF SEVERE HEADACHES THAT I HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM.

MY CAR COOLANT WENT FROM 187 TO 216 WHAT CAUSE THIS. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I GOT A MESSAGE SAYING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND THEN "ENGINE DISABLED" AND MY CAR SHUT OFF. I TRIED STARTING IT A FEW TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED BACK UP.

OIL COOLER THAT IS MOUNTED ON TOP OF ENGINE STARTED LEAKING. TOOK TO GM DEALER AND AFTER RESEARCH THEY FOUND THAT THE PART WAS ONLY MADE FOR 6 MONTHS AND WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING. THERE WAS A BY PASS PRODUCED FOR A SHORT PERIOD THAT ENDED UP BEING WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL PART. AS A RESULT THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX MY CAR EXCEPT CHANGE OUT THE ENGINE WITH A NEWER MODEL. I CALLED GM TO ASK ABOUT IT AND AT THE DEALERS SUGGESTION TO ASK FOR HELP PAYING FOR THE $5,999 ENGINE. GM FLAT OUT REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. HOW CAN AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY KNOWINGLY MAKE A DEFECTIVE PART AND HAVE MILLIONS OF THEM ON THE ROAD AND NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE PART OR MAKING A REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE? THIS ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE UN DRIVABLE AS THE AMOUNT OF OIL AND ANTI FREEZE THAT IS LEAKED NOT ONLY CONTAMINATES THE ENVIRONMENT IT ALSO EMPTIES THE OIL FROM THE ENGINE CAUSING FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

DRIVING AT 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY, BETWEEN TWO SEMI TRUCKS, MY CAR DINGED AT ME AND THE DISPLAY SAID, "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT SO I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO TRY AND MANEUVER BETWEEN THE TWO TRUCKS AND PULL OVER. SECONDS LATER, THE WARNING BELLS HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS "ENGINE DISENGAGED." THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF! I COASTED OVER TO THE BERM. TO BE HONEST, I WAS SO SCARED, I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE DISABLED TOO BUT WITH NO ENGINE RUNNING, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THEY COULD BE. THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOW ON AND I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS, IT JUST ACTED DEAD. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SEEMED OPERATIVE. WITH CARS AND TRUCKS ZIPPING BY AT HIGH SPEEDS, I DECIDED TO WAIT IN MY CAR, HOPING AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE WOULD PASS BY. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT AND THE CAR ACTED NORMALLY NOT EVEN ACTING LIKE IT WAS IN LIMP MODE. I WARILY DROVE MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THE COMPUTER GAVE HIM LIMITED INFORMATION. HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BUT WASN'T SURE IT WORKED OR NOT. IMAGINE MY HESITANCY TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY AGAIN, NOT KNOWING IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. A SEARCH OF INTERNET BOARDS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SHOWED THIS IS DESIGNED BY GM TO HAPPEN AND HAPPENS OFTEN! A DESIGN FEATURE THAT SHUTS OFF THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS BECAUSE OF A DIRTY THROTTLE? THIS WAS NOT A FATAL CONDITION OF THE ENGINE THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO BLOW UP OR SOMETHING BUT MERELY A MAINTENANCE ITEM. JUST SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE HARDLY SEEMS LIKE AN PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE TO A DIRTY THROTTLE. THE DISCUSSION BOARDS SAY THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS THIS HAPPENS, NOT JUST THE THROTTLE CONDITION. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS DESIGN FLAW. THE IDEA OF LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR QUITE FRANKLY SCARES ME AS IT DID ME THAT COLD WINTER DAY. *TR

I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING A DASHBOARD MESSAGE SAYING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND THE CAR LOSES POWER AND WILL ONLY GET TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH. I WAS DRIVING AT ROUND 45 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TOO FAST WITH NO BREAK LIGHTS UNTIL I HIT THEM. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY A FEW TIMES A WEEKS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO USE IT AS MUCH AS I CAN. I HAVE READ FORUMS AND THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE CAN PIN POINT THE EXACT PROBLEM AS IT CAN MEAN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TRY OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FIXES FOR THIS IN HOPES THAT I GET THE RIGHT THING FIXED BEFORE I SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO AT LEAST HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC.( DEL PRADO EAST ) WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW HIT FLASHERS AND WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF STALLED ENGINE, STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES STILL WORKED; BATTERY POWER STILL INTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A LEFT HAND TURNING LANE WITH REAR END STILL OUT BLOCKING TRAFFIC HORNS BLARING !. TRIED TO START ENGINE 3 X'S IT STILL HAD BATTERY POWER SO WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND STEP ON BRAKE TO START AS IS REQUIRED. AFTER 3RD TRY THE ENGINE CAME TO LIFE. I CROSSED OVER 3 LANES OF ON COMING TRAFFIC AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, PULLED INTO CAPE CORAL HOS PARKING LOT. AND TOOK BACK ROAD TO MY HOME, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN SAME PROCESS , AFTER 4 TRIES IT STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, TIME WAS 5:43 PM CALLED ROGER DEAN CHEV. SERVICE DEPT CLOSED. 3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT ON MONDAY 08/25/14 . DIAG INTERNAL FAILURE DTC CODE PO601 ECM, PART REPLACED 1 GTY/ 1259917 / MODULE 3.670 PART $ 670.00 LABOR $ 249.88 . TOLD THIS IS JUST A FAILURE BUT NOT A WORRY ENOUGH TO BE A RECALL, AND LIKE ANY COMPUTER IT CAN CRASH IE NO BIG DEAL ! A HOME COMPUTER DOESN'T CRASH IN TRAFFIC LIKE A CAR DOES. I BEG TO DIFFER IF I HAD NOT BEEN AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER I'M NOT TOO SURE HOW THE OUTCOME WOULD OF BEEN, AND GRATEFUL THAT MY 18 YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD WASN'T BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE OUT COME COULD OF BEEN TRAGIC ! WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT I COULD GET A NEW CAR IF I WAS WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IT. WHAT THE -------- THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THE INTERNAL FAILURE HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE SPECIFIC PART THAT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

ENGINE DIED TODAY FOR 6TH TIME WHILE DRIVING. WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 73MPH AND ENGINE DIED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED WITH MY YOUNG INFANT IN THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART IT. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

SINCE AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, OUR HEATER WENT OUT AND THE COOLANT SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY TO COOL THE ENGINE CAUSING THE CAR TO GO HOT AFTER ABOUT ONLY DRIVING 5 MILES. NOT TO MENTION, I CAN'T LOCATE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING COMPARTMENT IN THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BYPASSED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE GM HHR CARS, IT APPEARS THAT I AM ALONG WITH MANY OTHER HHR OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE(S) WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAVING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. GM REALLY NEEDS TO EVALUATE THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL THESE CARS FOR REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER HAD MISFIRED. AS A RESULT, THE EXHAUST VALVE AND THE EXHAUST HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE RESET. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL PACK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

BOUGHT CAR 5/29/2011 WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT ANY AFTER MARKET PARTS INSTALLED OR THAT IT WAS INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. VEHICLE TITLE RECORD ONLY INDICATED A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS WAS PENDING. ON 6/27/2011 UPON LEAVING RESIDENCE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET HEARD LOUD SOUND FROM BOTTOM OF CAR. PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE NOISE CAME FROM EXHAUST PIPE SOMEWHERE. WENT TO CHEVROLET DEALER LEARNED THAT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE FLUNG CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR AND THE REPLACEMENT INCLUDED THE CATALYTIC CNVRT AS ONE PIECE. THEY SAID NOT A WARRANTY ITEM COSTS APPRX. $700.00 TO INSTALL. ON 1/27/2012 WAS TOLD BY THE LICENSING BUREAU THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A AFTERMARKET EXHAUST SYSTEM INSTALLED. *TR

STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. NO OBVIOUS REASONS OR SIGNS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE ENGINE COMPONENT WIRES NEEDED TO BE RE-ADJUSTED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 05/25/11