Chevrolet HHR Steering Problems
Owners have filed 1,562 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Chevrolet HHR across 6 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (458). The words owners use most often: “steering motor” (11% of reports).
- 1,562steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 57mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $690typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering motor: mentioned in 177 of 1,562 complaints (11%)
- Became difficult: mentioned in 95 of 1,562 complaints (6%)
- Electric power: mentioned in 86 of 1,562 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Chevrolet HHR at $690, and half of them between $420 and $1,200.
Based on 61 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 1,362 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,562 complaints, 57 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 17 an injury.
Chevrolet HHR steering complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Model years: 2009, 2010
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Power steering went out while I was driving and it put me in danger and other drivers because it was hard to control the vehicle, the steering wheel was really tough to turn. The vehicle wasn't inspected by a professional because the problem just occurred.
Power steering lights up and I am unable to turn the steering wheel. When I shut the motor down and start back up, the steering starts working again. This has been doing this for about 4 years now. I took it to White Allen Chevrolet when it first started happening and they told me that they drove…
My power steering keeps going out. It randomly makes it hard to turn which could cause a crash. It's common in other hhr models, mine has not been inspected personally yet. It has a chime and then the console says "power steering". There were no signs before it started. It goes away when you…
While replacing 3 motor mounts, engine oil pan,transmission oil pan, also CV axles, wheel bearings needed replaced. When i got my car back the power steering wasn't working. My mechanic said there was a recall for my year, make and model for the power steering assist. I haven't gotten this fixed…
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, with the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet HHRs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,562 owner complaints about steering for the Chevrolet HHR. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet HHR steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Chevrolet HHR?
Owners report a typical cost of $690 (half paid between $420 and $1,200), from 61 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Chevrolet HHR?
The most frequent phrase is “steering motor”, in 177 of 1,562 complaints, followed by “became difficult” (95).
Other Chevrolet HHR problems
- Electrical System problems (750)
- Air Bags problems (332)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (316)
- Structure problems (261)
- Power Train problems (191)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (145)
- Engine problems (133)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (131)
See all Chevrolet HHR problems.