Automatic SS brake problems -- dealer results
Senior Member
Joined: 07-04-2008
Posts: 142
From: Spring Hill, TN
I bought my SS on June 30th and had it for a week or so, Then I had the brake problem with about 400 mi. so I took it in and they reprogrammed it. I got it back and it was ok for about another week or 2 then it happened again. This time I told the dealer that I did not want the car back until they knew what was wrong and that it was fixed and I told my service adviser that it is a huge liability for them and GM if i get it back and hit someone or something. They gave me a rental and a week later told me that they have no fix for it yet and would do whatever I want to make me happy. So I said order me an 09' and pay for my rental till it comes in. They said "Okay". I got to order the car the way I wanted it and they didn't even chrge me for the miles used on my buyback. So all in all I was really happy with the way the situation has been handled thus far. P.S. I never went in to the dealer demanding or yelling and screaming, I really just asked for their help.
What did you have to do to get them to order you a new one and was it any better? I traded my '06 HHR LT2 for the '08 HHR S/S. My wife usually drives this vehicle however I got in it one morning and the brake boost failed and I nearly pulled out in front of high speed (55mph) traffic at the end of my driveway! The pedal was spongy and travel was increased resulting in increased effort (I had to really stand on it as the idle was enough to pull through the "normal" braking force) and "white knuckle" fealing as I neared the oncoming traffic! I took it in to my local dealer and they preformed the service bulletin, 08-05-22-001, if this number is correct, where they reprogrammed the electronic brake control module (EBCM) which resulted in a lower idle RPM at startup. The OHB, Optimized Hydraulic Braking System is a faulty system originally used on the 2.0 turbo Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice in 2008 that according to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation has been replaced by a Vacuum Pump which was used on 2007 models. GM started building these vehicles with the vacuum pump again in late April. The NHTSA Action number is PE08016 available for viewing at www.nhtsa.gov. It gives the so called service letter information. I have seenwhere the 07-05-22-002 buliten (Office Of Defects Investigation, complaints- search results,Chevrolet HHR 2008, ODI ID Number 10239766, where GM states "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE OHB". This is a downright offensive jesture to the many unsatisifyed customers with these "DEFECTIVE VEHICLES"! If GM knew about this system "OHB" causing problems, enough to return to the vacuum pump system in the Sky and the Solstice, why in the hell did they use it on the S/S HHR's? All who have this problem should take the time to report this to the NHTSA in hopes of GM actually doing something besides calling it "normal operation". I suppose if we could get their wives behind the wheel there would be some action in this case! Does someone have to die to get action from the NHTSA? If they can put a vacuum pump on the other vehicles why dont they put one on our's? Do we need to find the necessary parts and install them ourselves? I am currently going through the "escalation process" with GM hoping to get this simple problem resolved! I believe that a giant lemon painted on the vehicle with some of the quotes from the service letters and my dealers name included might get their attention while I go through the motions of filing for "Lemon Law" here in Texas! I might even resort to trying to go through the offices of elected officials to get us some support!
Senior Member
Joined: 05-06-2008
Posts: 1,076
From: Over here
I have seenwhere the 07-05-22-002 buliten (Office Of Defects Investigation, complaints- search results,Chevrolet HHR 2008, ODI ID Number 10239766, where GM states "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE OHB". This is a downright offensive jesture to the many unsatisifyed customers with these "DEFECTIVE VEHICLES"!
NHTSA is a federal regulation body. It requires an issue exist before they take action (they don't go looking for issues). Until this issue reaches a threshold, it won't get much action from NHTSA. What triggers that threshold? People filing complaints, and yes, someone dying (so long as a complaint is filed that suggests the death is related to the issue). Those of you on this thread who have experienced the brake issue but haven't filed a complaint are part of the problem. <-- that was a call-to-action through application of a "guilt mechanism."
Founding Member
Joined: 11-23-2007
Posts: 8,210
From: Texas
I am pro capitalist, without them this forum wouldn't be here for us to learn, teach, gripe and be merry.
Fascist is bad, I too am anti.
Pigs are good, as long as they have lipstick or are served with lettuce and mayo.
Why would OSHA care?
100% agree, dealers can submit product reports all day long, but uncle sam will always get more done than anybody.
Fascist is bad, I too am anti.
Pigs are good, as long as they have lipstick or are served with lettuce and mayo.
Why would OSHA care?
100% agree, dealers can submit product reports all day long, but uncle sam will always get more done than anybody.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-06-2008
Posts: 1,076
From: Over here
Joined: 09-16-2008
Posts: 8
From: Texarkana,TX
GM lost another customer
I have had it with GM's customer care! The call I recieved concerning my brake problem was totally unresponsive! They are not and will not do anything to assist in our concern with the brake issue! So much for completely satisified customers! I hope this issue cost's GM their company! I would rather push a freakin Ford than buy from GM ever again! I will get rid of this junker before someone in my family is injured or worse! Perhaps trading for a competetor will start the downfall of this once greatly respected company! I have never been so disgusted and will never park another new GM vehicle in my drive! Good luck all and "safe driving", hope your onstar system works better than the brakes!
Senior Member
Joined: 05-10-2008
Posts: 314
From: Illinois
I just took my HHR in today for its first oil change and I mentioned the brake problem which they previously worked on and applied a computer flash to the car. They said they had an updated flash and they did that today. Of course I will probably have to wait until the engine is cold to try it again. They seemed to understand my concerns and also stated that GM is working on a replacement vacuum pump to better fix the issue.
GM Customer care has always taken care of me and my family that have purchased GM cars. They are not free of their problems but I am on my 4th GM car in my lifetime and the first two had almost 200,000 miles on it (bought used) when I got rid of them and the last one (My S10 SS) had about 110,000 when I sold it and every one of them have been good cars to me. The last post mentioned pushing a ford over buying GM again and I have to think to a buddy of mine that has a Lincoln LS (wife's car) that for the last year of its warranty it had random problems of dying out. Borught into the shop many times for repair and Ford said they never could find a problem. Now that the car is out of warranty the dieing out problem happened 2 or 3 more times and they miraculously found that the ignition coils were shot from being overstressed (their words) and said that it is an out of warranty repair despite the past history. They said they have no proof that this could of been the problem when the car was under warranty. Talk about poor customer service...
GM Customer care has always taken care of me and my family that have purchased GM cars. They are not free of their problems but I am on my 4th GM car in my lifetime and the first two had almost 200,000 miles on it (bought used) when I got rid of them and the last one (My S10 SS) had about 110,000 when I sold it and every one of them have been good cars to me. The last post mentioned pushing a ford over buying GM again and I have to think to a buddy of mine that has a Lincoln LS (wife's car) that for the last year of its warranty it had random problems of dying out. Borught into the shop many times for repair and Ford said they never could find a problem. Now that the car is out of warranty the dieing out problem happened 2 or 3 more times and they miraculously found that the ignition coils were shot from being overstressed (their words) and said that it is an out of warranty repair despite the past history. They said they have no proof that this could of been the problem when the car was under warranty. Talk about poor customer service...
Founding Member
Joined: 11-23-2007
Posts: 8,210
From: Texas
Founding Member
Joined: 11-23-2007
Posts: 8,210
From: Texas
I have had it with GM's customer care! The call I recieved concerning my brake problem was totally unresponsive! They are not and will not do anything to assist in our concern with the brake issue! So much for completely satisified customers! I hope this issue cost's GM their company! I would rather push a freakin Ford than buy from GM ever again! I will get rid of this junker before someone in my family is injured or worse! Perhaps trading for a competetor will start the downfall of this once greatly respected company! I have never been so disgusted and will never park another new GM vehicle in my drive! Good luck all and "safe driving", hope your onstar system works better than the brakes!
Banned
Joined: 10-24-2006
Posts: 1,761
From: The Show-Me State
What did you have to do to get them to order you a new one and was it any better? I traded my '06 HHR LT2 for the '08 HHR S/S. My wife usually drives this vehicle however I got in it one morning and the brake boost failed and I nearly pulled out in front of high speed (55mph) traffic at the end of my driveway! The pedal was spongy and travel was increased resulting in increased effort (I had to really stand on it as the idle was enough to pull through the "normal" braking force) and "white knuckle" fealing as I neared the oncoming traffic! I took it in to my local dealer and they preformed the service bulletin, 08-05-22-001, if this number is correct, where they reprogrammed the electronic brake control module (EBCM) which resulted in a lower idle RPM at startup. The OHB, Optimized Hydraulic Braking System is a faulty system originally used on the 2.0 turbo Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice in 2008 that according to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation has been replaced by a Vacuum Pump which was used on 2007 models. GM started building these vehicles with the vacuum pump again in late April. The NHTSA Action number is PE08016 available for viewing at www.nhtsa.gov. It gives the so called service letter information. I have seenwhere the 07-05-22-002 buliten (Office Of Defects Investigation, complaints- search results,Chevrolet HHR 2008, ODI ID Number 10239766, where GM states "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE OHB". This is a downright offensive jesture to the many unsatisifyed customers with these "DEFECTIVE VEHICLES"! If GM knew about this system "OHB" causing problems, enough to return to the vacuum pump system in the Sky and the Solstice, why in the hell did they use it on the S/S HHR's? All who have this problem should take the time to report this to the NHTSA in hopes of GM actually doing something besides calling it "normal operation". I suppose if we could get their wives behind the wheel there would be some action in this case! Does someone have to die to get action from the NHTSA? If they can put a vacuum pump on the other vehicles why dont they put one on our's? Do we need to find the necessary parts and install them ourselves? I am currently going through the "escalation process" with GM hoping to get this simple problem resolved! I believe that a giant lemon painted on the vehicle with some of the quotes from the service letters and my dealers name included might get their attention while I go through the motions of filing for "Lemon Law" here in Texas! I might even resort to trying to go through the offices of elected officials to get us some support!
I have had it with GM's customer care! The call I recieved concerning my brake problem was totally unresponsive! They are not and will not do anything to assist in our concern with the brake issue! So much for completely satisified customers! I hope this issue cost's GM their company! I would rather push a freakin Ford than buy from GM ever again! I will get rid of this junker before someone in my family is injured or worse! Perhaps trading for a competetor will start the downfall of this once greatly respected company! I have never been so disgusted and will never park another new GM vehicle in my drive! Good luck all and "safe driving", hope your onstar system works better than the brakes!
I have had it with GM's customer care! The call I recieved concerning my brake problem was totally unresponsive! They are not and will not do anything to assist in our concern with the brake issue! So much for completely satisified customers! I hope this issue cost's GM their company! I would rather push a freakin Ford than buy from GM ever again! I will get rid of this junker before someone in my family is injured or worse! Perhaps trading for a competetor will start the downfall of this once greatly respected company! I have never been so disgusted and will never park another new GM vehicle in my drive! Good luck all and "safe driving", hope your onstar system works better than the brakes!
Senior Member
Joined: 02-06-2008
Posts: 177
From: Hilo, HI
Normally I warm mine up, but once I was in a hurry and took off without warming up. The poor brake performance and increased stopping distance caused me to go into an intersection. It would have caused an accident, but luckily the intersection was empty at the time. Not what I consider normal operation, since the entire point is that the braking distance is increased.
It was dangerous to use a design that ties the critical functionality of the brakes in with the nonessential functionality of turbo boost. Of course, we all make mistakes. I just hope GM will own up to this mistake and come up with a way to insure safe brake operation. Stating that every driver always remember to warm up the vehicle 100% of the time is disingenuous, and that reduced operation is normal is just plain silly.