Do newer HHR's (09-11) have some of the same ills of earlier HHRs?
 

Specifically the intermediate drive shaft clunk or water leaking into the passenger compartment (think there was a membrane under the cowl that was sometimes leaking and also HHRs with sunroof sometimes had an issue.

Might be back in the market for another HHR but would like to know if the newer models still had same issues


Thanks


Goose

The butyl patch was done away with for the 07 or 08 model year. :thumb:

And they supposedly updated the steering columns in 2008 when they sued the manufacturer.

What's wrong with the steering columns in the 2006/2007 models?

Do a search for more, but some failed at very early mileage. The symptom was a rattle coming right from the column at lower speeds over rough pavement. My '06 had it happen at about 20K miles or so. Not all of them had a problem, just more than you would expect.

I know my '08 has been more reliable by far than the '06 I had but that doesn't take much to accomplish as the 06 was the most troublesome car I have owned. The 08 still had the issue with the end links making a racket which was replaced under warranty and some tire sensors failed early in its life. Other than the end links, I haven't experienced any of the other common early failures on the 08.

Goose,

No they don't.

I rented an HHR LS for a business trip to St. Louis. I think it was an 10, it had that funny yellow gas cap. It felt less responsive than my 06. Are they tuned down for the E rating?

No issues with my 11/2009 built HHR other than an Service Air Bags message which was easily repaired by the Dealer (connectors needed dialectric grease) and a broken Battery vent tube. The new tube looked like a redesign.

If it was less responsive maybe an old lady was using it while it was in its drivability learning phase.

I'll take you any day in my 09 LS..... Even with E85.