Bit of a rant here:

Well unfortunately this car that I want to love is not working out so well. Besides the issues I have mentioned in the past:
-clutch sensor X2
-horn defective 3+visits
- A/C pugnant smell-wait and see this spring to see if fixed
- noises and rattles-learn to live with
- bushing replaced in front left

I have yet another issue and a re-occurring problem.


Front left strut is gone (soft driving only 8k miles), and now the tire pressure monitor comes on every start for the front right tire (separate issue). I have not replaced the tires or hit a curb whatsoever, makes me think it is a defective sensor. Unfortunately I was thinking on getting winter tires for this car as the stock aren't great in the snow.....but can't stomach to invest any more money.

I was really hoping GM had turned the corner with quality as the looks and performance are great and always have been at GM (ie last generation firebird and camaro). Too bad the quality is among the worst I have ever experienced and with a resale residual value of just %26 after 5 years, I can honestly say this is the last new GM I will ever buy....even cancelled the GM Visa card (had for nearly 15 years-put towards 4 cars for me and my wife).

My wife has an 07 Vibe with 40k miles and that car is amazing....never an issue, better interior parts and way better build quality.....too bad for GM it is a Toyota and they are no longer making it (huge mistake).

It is too bad when my wife, son and I go out for the day and we always take the 130hp Vibe instead of the 260hp HHR........

Posting for future buyers as I wish GM well, but will not recommend this vehicle to anyone.

 

It sounds as if you just have tha odd one out. While a few have had issues most of us have not.

The sensores and horns are not GM issues as much as supplier issues. THe horn in you HHR is supplied by Fiamma the very same that supplies many of the imports including Ferrari. Same on many of the sensores. For example my Maf sensores on mine are the same part number as a Alfa Romeo.

You struts are Sachs supplier of most Euro cars like Benz, Porsche and others.

I have had my SS and a new Malibu with little issues. The only real GM issue on my SS was the vaccume pump TSB upgrade they did for free. On the Bu the only issue was one tire sensore that was repaird for free. Also again this is a part not made by GM that supplies the industry that I have seen bad on many other models from time to time. As hard of a life they lead I am suprised they TPM senders hold up as well as they do.
Other wise both cars have been worry free.

Any issues I did have with the HHR were related to an accident that had nothing to do with GM quality. Few alignemnt tweeks to space the Intercooler and it was all fine. Even the GM engneer that did the turbo upgrade kit worked with us on this direct and solved the issue for us. The MaF was hitting the AC.

The intercooler was replaced after the accident and was a 1/4 inch back farther than it should have been. The original MAF mouted down so it never had an issue till the upgrade was applied.

When all these cars get older most people will not replace TPM as they should and most of these cars in 5 years will have lights on the dash.

As for the dash it is a GM issue. The plastic on plastic snap on parts will make noise in the cold. Often they can be addresses with a little padding or other material to prevent the two plastic parts from rubbing. I have done this and stopped all noises. Why GM did not so this is beyod me.

Just to note I have had two buddies with Vibes and they also have had issues with theirs too. So they are all not defect less. The sad fact is most cars are good but you get so many bad ones out of all of them.

 

Sounds like you got a Lemon car. My 08 LT is for one warranty issue which was strut mounts. 20k mile and still going.

 

I had the exact opposite experience, '05 vibe bought new, drove 60000 miles, head gasket, fuel injectors, water pump, power steering pump, 3x battery, 4x front brakes, 2x back brakes, airbag system, and every electrical switch inside broke at least once. Trim panels retainers broke left and right, I'll never buy another Toyota product again. The only good thing I can say is it has a transmission fluid drain plug.

2 hhr's, the only thing is the dash rattle in the SS.

 

great car only little things that are normal and the head gasket gone wrong but the head gasket was a freak thing other than that great car and i would buy another if i could.

 

I've had my SS for 22,000 miles, the last 4,000 miles tuned, and it's never failed to run like a champ. The interior is cheap and rattly, and the drivetrain makes some odd noises, but it's been driven quite hard on occasion and always performs well. Bang for the buck, I think the HHR SS is a great car. But if I had the problems you've had with your car, I don't think I'd buy another GM again either.

According to J.D. Power, the 2008 HHR has high powertrain quality, decent "features and accessories" quality, and low body and interior quality. That sounds about right to me - the bits that make the car go are pretty good :)

It does sound like you got a bit of a lemon, and if it gets worse I would definitely contact GM about replacing it. No new car should spend more than a few days in the shop in the first few years.

 

My Baby is a little ove 30K and tuned for about 2k, I feel bad for your experience, I too notice a popping at the left strut, and I get the pop transferred into the floor-board (having it looked at this week) but other than that it runs like a scalded dog, I just wish the engine noise was louder(I hate turning down the radio to hear shift points, and how its running). I hope you have good luck with the car.
Issues suck especially for the limited amount of these cars they built. You would figure people would take pride in their work especially building a sports car. I remember years ago reading that when Nissian first introduced the 300ZX TT, the only workers allowed to build that car had to have 20+ blemish free years on the line, just to be considred for a position. We get what we pay for.

 

While you have had some issues GM will not replace it for the issues listed. Find a good dealer and let them take care of most of these issues.

As for pride in work that is not the issue. The problems stem from the lowest bidder by suppliers pressed by auto mfg to keep cost down and to try to return to a profit.

We might think just spending a little more would solve the issues but the cost jump fast and cut into sales. One look around the HHR shows many areas they cut things to keep the cost down. If the HHR was 5k more than what we paid many would never ave bought them. It is a tough balance and all mfg have thing come on them all.

 

My car has had a few TSB issues and the turbo bearings go out. We still love it....its fast, agile and well done, everything fixed for free and loaners supplied. For the price....couldn't as for more.

The parts that failed on it for me were, brace yourself, imported! Nuff said.


Everyday I see more items produced overseas......and guess what...they last half as long and their prices are rising....making the initial reason for overseas production of cheaper costs no longer viable. I won't even go into detail on that broad of a subject.

 

To judge an entire organization on an experience with 1 vehicle is shortsighted. Or maybe it's just venting which is understandable...

If I thought like that, I would never own a Chrysler, Ford, GM, Isuzu, Suzuki, Toyota or Volkswagen again (although I thought the same way when I had issues with each of them).

I guess that the field would be very limited in this case, but I doubt that all of these mfg's have issues with all of their vehicles all of the time.