For those of you who dont know. I bought a 2008 HHR SS and within 600 miles of new I started having the start up brake problem so into the dealer it went, turns out they want to but it back and order me an 09' whoo-hoo. well that took from July when my 08' went in to middle November when the 09' showed. now the 09' with 1000 miles on the clock has been in service for the last 3 weeks. Why??? you may ask: I smelled coolant when I got home from the dealer the day i picked it up and i thought it was just the new car burn off smell.

So I take it into the dealer and here was my list of problems on my 2nd HHR
1. Coolant smell
2. The radio stopped working, wouldn't show the names of the xm stations and my ipod would have to be unplugged and plugged back in to work
3. drivers door scraped the paint off the rocker panel because the door was not fitted right.
4. strange knocking in the engine.

Well it turns out that I have a blown head gasket and a bad turbo coolant bypass or something like that. they had to put a new radio in it and repaint the rocker panel.

Now if I didnt have all the problems with my 08' ss then I would say I must have bad luck but now I have had major problems with both cars. I have made 7 payments to gmac and put a whoping 1600 miles combined on these cars.

IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE??????

 

UGH--what a mess!! Sorry for your problems!! My '09 SS, thus far, has been pretty much problem-free.. (1 TPMS re-program and a very minor issue with door panel fitment)..

I sure hope that all goes well for you!!

 

No problems with my 08, at 28000km and counting with no problems.

 

I have only had a headliner rattle, which turned out to be the drain for the sunroof coming unglued. I hardly call that a real problem. Otherwise, my SS has been a joy to own and DRIVE..... 14,000 miles and no issues that would prompt a visit to the dealer.

 

im sorry to hear to about the problems I have an 07 and I couldn't be happier although i did have to have the sun roof fixed broke like many others due to cheap pot metal parts

 

Sorry about your problems but no major problems with my '08.

 

I wouldn't call the problems you had with the 08, a Major problem.........
The fix is already been done on a few cars..........
Now the problems you describe on the 09 sound like real major problems.......
My car is an absolute delight!!

 

wowzers.. im sorry to hear that you've had these issues..
ive got 14k miles on my 08'.. ive had to use my warranty on 8-9 things n
last 2 months.. hopefully i dont have ne more issues..

 

You are not unique, I had a similar issue. I bought a 2003 Yukon XL, everything that could go wrong did. GM offered me a buy back or I could pick out a new 2004 Yukon XL. I liked the truck so I picked out a new 2004. Here we go again, this time I took the buy back and bought my GTO. That car has never been back to the dealer.

It just happens, what can you do?

 

Sorry to hear about your problem. I feel your pain and frustration.
I can live with 1 lemon but a 2nd one, no way.
I had a '92 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI ordered new by me, that went back to the dealer so many times that it had it's own spot in the service area. (not really)
Should of made the dealer buy it back but kept playing the "take it in again " game for 4 years. Finally sold it.
My '07 HHR has been great. Just a few minor non-anoying issues.
24000 miles