I bought a new HHR in 06 and will never buy another one. I drive my car less then my Suburban and the HHR looks terrible outside. The paint is chipping all over (hood, roof and the side). I had it looked at and was told the paint only had a very light covering on the body. Now I have restored a few vehicles and this paint is terrible. I mean if you lean on it you can scratch it down to bare metal... I can drive my Suburban on gravel roads at 60mph and there is NO chipping like on the HHR. So don't tell me it is road debris because the HHR should be able to take the same roads as the Suburban and look the same in the front. I know about the running board issue on the back door area now.... Other then the pain the HHR has been a good vehicle, but the paint totally sucks!!

This might be my first post, but I am not new to this type of board. I understand then some might think I am bashing the HHR because I am new, not that is not the case. I have a LOT of info and experience with this. Just thought I would let this board know what i have gone through in the past year with the HHR.... They look cute, but there are issues that need to be fixed and I wish an average person like myself would not have spent this much $$ on my FIRST new vehicle to get let down like this!!

LeEarl

 

There have been plenty of people to complain about stuff with the HHR... You're not the first and definitely won't be the last

Sorry to hear about your paint issue, though.

 

Two thoughts come to mind. First if you are unhappy, then call GM customer service. Be polite and state your case. Just before we bought our HHR, my wife called and complained about the power window replacement issue on our Pontiac Grand AM. The car is a 1999 and has 70,000 miles on it. They investigated the issue. They (customer service) contacted our selling/servicing dealer and the private garage where we had some of the windows replaced. It took a month or more but GM payed for the complete replacement. They also told us that if it happened again, call and they would replace the next window motor too.

My second comment is that if the HHR is not living up to your Chevy Suburban expectations, then shouldn't it be HHR you don't buy again rather than GM?

I hope this situation gets resolved to your expectations.

 

Actually I think that while I agree, the HHR's paint isn't the best, it's unfair to compare it to a large, expensive truck.

In no way would I ever expect ANY part of an HHR to hold up as well as on a Suburban which was originally intended for heavy work, not an over-sized grocery-getter. (not saying that's what your's is).

 

What color is the paint? Where have you been driving it? Have you tried to bring this to the attention of the dealer?

How can you say you've been let down if you've never taken the time to report the problem?

 

Road debris is going to cause paint chips no matter what vehicle it is.

 

True, mostly. If it is similar vehicles.

This person is talking about doing 60 down a gravel road in his Burb and complaining about the HHR. NOT a fair comparison.

 

Agreed.

 

I was probably the first to read this initial post. I started to write a response......but then decided not to.

GDZHHR and Crafty........each expressed EXACTLY what I was going to express. To compare an HHR to a Suburban is JUST A LITTLE unbalanced. While agreeing the paint, on the HHR, isn't the best in the world...to compare a "stump puller" to an economy car is not quite on par.

 

I'm surprised your Suburban is any better! After all, they are both GMs and they are notoriuos for bad paint!!!