Very good point Prod.

 

Thanks all for the informative replies! I did some more digging and found that my car in addition to the ignition switch recall, was designated for recall number 14113 (ignition cylinder) OR 14133 ( cut new keys only). The dealer only cut new keys . Previously I had read on the GM recall site that my car was to have both the cylinder replaced and new keys cut but on calling GM this morning I was informed by their representative that it was keys only. So that explains why the silver part on the cylinder looked used..... it is and it's mine, duhhhh, LOL! I guess my car's cylinder was not one of the potentially defective ones. It's funny , but my original keys given to me when I purchased the car last May had already been switched to the small hole; could have just kept the originals. I imagine GM required them to do so as the car had already been flagged for it.

Regardless, I do love my red HHR!

 

I'm not sure who you talked to but there is no ignition switch only recall. The reason for ordering the parts by Vin is because GM is supposed to send 1 complete recall "kit" per VIN.
This "kit" is supposed to contain the ignition switch AND key cylinder along with the owner getting 2 new keys.

I have had my key cylinder replaced by a previous "almost recall". When I ordered the parts for this current recall work, I told the dealer the key cylinder had been replaced once before. They said "doesn't matter". Everyone will get a new key cylinder with the ignition switch. It's part of the GM kit.

You said your keys were already switched when you bought your car ? Not necessarily true. My 2010 came new with the small holed keys. Since your's is a 2010, it most likely came new with the small holed keys.

Either way, the dealer is supposed to take your old keys from you when they give you the new ones.
That's to keep someone from claiming the dealer gave them back their old keys and they suffered an accident and want to blame the dealer for letting them keep the old "defective" keys.

 

Has anyone else had issues with the new keys, after taking their HHR in for the ignition recall? They felt very "brittle" and light when they first handed them to me. Very different than the original set.
Yesterday, less than two months after getting them, I went to pull the key from the ignition and the tip of the key just fell off.
I have my second key but it really doesn't feel very sturdy either. I'm just wondering if anyone else has encountered this?
The metal looks really cheap, almost like pot metal they make toys out of.

This was a great car for the first three years then all these recalls started happening, electrical issues, and seals not installed right and leaking into the passenger floor board. I guess it's time to buy a new one.

 

Haven't experienced this personally. I pull mine all the way out before allowing them to fall, twist, whatever.. And my keys don't feel brittle at all either..

by the way.

 

Yeah I've got a house key and my car key on a ring. I pulled it straight out and literally watched as 2/3 of the key fell of from the rest of the key.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

Just checked my keys. Dealer gave me one new key and one of my original keys back.

 

I wonder if they decided to cut some corners, no pun intended, by getting cheap metal keys...

 

Kev- gm has been cutting corners for years...Of course they got the cheapest keys & igns.

Then maybe later they can recall the cheap keys..

 

Man I really wish GM would run out of bullets soon, how many ways can they shoot themselves in the foot?

But brittle keys, that's gotta be an anomoly. Obviously qwed88, head back to your dealer and have them make things right.

P.S. to the forum!