I have not written in such a long time. Sorry...
I have a 2006 2LT. The tailgate has developed a dent where the chrome strip ends on the left side above the license place area. I have seen a number of others and they have a dent on either side or both sides as the metal is so soft.
Maybe this has been discussed or discovered already, but I didn't see anything with Search.

Sorry I don't have a photo right now. I'll take one tomorrow, but go look at yours if its a year old or so and you probably had a dent also.

 

I've kind of adapted to mine, see so many with them.

 

Hey booksmitty...long time no see. How have you been?

I'm sure you're talking about the dents on either side of the beauty bar. Here's a few threads about the problem from different points of view. Common denominator seems to be it comes from closing the rear hatch by pushing on the tailgate or beauty bar itself...instead of using the little cup area in the bottom of the tailgate.

Check out the threads below

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/i-did-my-own-paintless-dent-repair-1133/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/dent-near-chrome-rear-hatch-2945/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/its-broken-now-1572/ (posts 2, 6, 7 and beyond)

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/appearance-modifications-discussions-6/word-caution-easily-dented-back-panel-8758/

 

Deb is absolutely correct...using the beauty bar to close the deck will cause the dents...

 

WOW! looks like it has been talked about. I have been well. I still have my HHR though I may be selling it soon. I also bought a "classic: 1973 GMC motorhome. I have been doing some things for it.

My grandsons have really kept me busy. I'll blame them for the no writing

 

I know it has been mentioned before but for those that don't want to go through all the old threads.............

You can start to close the hatch with the handle at the bottom of the door interior but that will not get the hatch closed with out slamming pretty hard. A better way that avoids the issue of denting the rear door, is to start to close it with the inner handle then push it closed the rest of the way by pushing on the license plate. This also keeps the plate from banging around like it will if you are slamming the door to try to get it closed using just the inner handle.

Just my $.02 for what its worth.........

 

I have dented both of mine by pushing on the beauty bar to close the hatch, and I also added a dent just above the right rear side window above the gas cap..... I tried to burp out air from the fuel tank to fit in just a little more gas by rocking the car a bit. Bottom line, don't push too hard on any of the sheet metal.

 

As HHorange said, the best way to avoid the dents is to push on the license plate to close, which is how I have always done it, and so far it's dent free. We bought our KIA minivan used, which has the same type of beauty bar on the back, and it has the same kind of dents on each side. seems this is not just an HHR issue, or even an American car issue.

 

Using the cup in the rear hatch has/is/always the only way I ever close the rear hatch. Never had any issue of getting the pressure right to close it.

Also no bagging around of the license plate either. Just a little rattling which would be normal for its placement. If your plate is banging around so much then would you be scared of scratching the paint under the plate, since it obviously moves around so much?? Or maybe putting a dent there?

Maybe you're missing the little rubber bumpers that the plate is suppose to rest against?

 

i have the same problem and i plan to take of the rear panel and try and push them out at least a little to lessen their appearance.