The 2010 HHR is a decent compact wagon built on GM's Delta platform, sharing architecture with the Cobalt. Main concerns center around ignition system failures, power steering gremlins, transmission cooling issues, and some unfortunate engine bottom-end problems on higher-mileage examples.
Ignition Lock Cylinder / Key Stuck Issues
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Key won't turn or gets stuck in ignition, Shifter won't move out of park even with brake depressed, Vehicle won't start intermittently, Steering wheel locked with key inserted
Fix: GM issued a recall for ignition switch but lock cylinder wear is separate. Replacement involves removing steering column covers and drilling out shear bolts. 2.5-3.5 hours labor including programming if needed.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering cuts out completely while driving, Service StabiliTrak and power steering warning lights, Heavy steering effort at low speeds or suddenly at any speed, No warning before complete failure
Fix: Electric power steering motor assembly fails internally or loses communication. Entire column assembly usually requires replacement. 3-4 hours labor. This is a recall item (14V-342) but many units failed outside recall scope.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid dripping from radiator area, Pink fluid spots on driveway, Low transmission fluid warnings, Overheating transmission if leak progresses
Fix: Quick-connect fittings at radiator or steel lines corrode and leak. Often requires replacing hard lines and cooler section. 2-3 hours labor including fluid refill and leak check.
Estimated cost: $400-750
Harmonic Balancer Failure (2.2L/2.4L)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe vibration at idle that worsens with RPM, Visible wobble of crankshaft pulley, Serpentine belt wearing unevenly or shredding, Squealing or grinding from front of engine
Fix: Rubber isolator separates allowing outer ring to wobble. Can damage crankshaft snout if driven too long. Requires special puller and installer tools. 3-4 hours labor on 2.2L/2.4L engines.
Estimated cost: $500-850
Timing Chain Stretch / Guide Wear (2.4L)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise from front of engine on cold start, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes (P0016, P0017), Rough idle or hesitation, Metal shavings in oil
Fix: 2.4L Ecotec has known timing chain stretch issues. Requires front engine disassembly, new chain, guides, tensioner, and often VVT actuators. 8-12 hours labor depending on additional valve train damage discovered.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: No start condition with crank but no fire, Stalling when fuel tank below 1/4 full, Loss of power under acceleration, Whining noise from rear of vehicle
Fix: In-tank fuel pump assembly fails, particularly if vehicle regularly run low on fuel. Requires dropping fuel tank. 2.5-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $550-900
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 50k miles even though GM says 'lifetime' — prevents cooler line and valve body issues
On 2.4L engines, use quality synthetic oil and change at 5k intervals to minimize timing chain stretch
Check power steering column for TSBs or open recalls by VIN before purchase — replacement is expensive out of pocket
Never run fuel below 1/4 tank — fuel pump uses gasoline for cooling
Solid platform if the electric power steering and ignition have already been addressed, but budget $1,500-2,000 for deferred maintenance and known failure points on any 100k+ mile example.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.
Consequence: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
Remedy: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners requiring additional information on that recall campaign should contact GM at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac) or 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · 14V171000
2014-04-10
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: 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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 14V153000
2014-03-31 · EA11014
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: 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.
AIR BAGS · 14V047000
2014-02-10
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: 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.
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