Hey Folks,

I've been fighting this battle with the dealership.

I've got a 2010 HHR LS with about 87k on it.

I picked up my HHR last month on the 27th. I noticed a slight lean to the left, basically, the steering likes to go left. If I line up the wheel straight, it will fairly quickly hop into a slight left turn and stay there. In a block or two worth of time I will be in the next lane if I leave it.

So far, here is what they have done.
1st Visit, they investigated and decided it was my tires that werent wearing properly. They rotated them and told me that should fix my problem. It felt a little better, but soon was back into its usual groove.
2nd Visit, they decided to do an alignment (why they didnt do that the first time I dont know.). It felt a little bit better after this visit, but soon was back into its usual groove.
3rd Visit, After talking with the used car sales manager, they gave me a set of two new tires (the car had two new tires, and two old tires when I purchased.) So all four tires are the same now, give or take 500km of wear. This was immediately noticable for the lean, so..
4th Visit, They performed another alignment. (They didnt do it the visit before as they wanted to get me out in the least amount of time). This was good for a little bit then now it is back into its usual groove.

I dont know if they have inspected the suspension, however, I would assume that since they performed the safety and everything, they would have caught a blatently obvious flaw that would cause this. I'm trying to gather ideas as to what might be happening.

So far, I've also found that it doesnt always do the lean right off the bat into my drive, and seems to start after I've had to make a few stops. I'm thinking that perhaps my left brake caliper may be sticking and might be causing it to wear and pull the car leftward. Am I crazy on this?

Racking my brain trying to think of what else it might be. I'm at the point I think I'm going to take it to another mechanic and send a bill to the dealership.

Any suggestions as to what might be causing it, or known trouble points that I havent understood could relate to my problem?

Also, to the mods, I hope I picked the right section to post this in. :)

 

I had the same issue with my 2011 , It had Factory Firestone's on it! If I remember right several people had the same issue with the Firestone's.. I just installed Goodyear Assurance tires and it now track's straight!! And I assume the dealer checked the alignment! Have you check your tire pressure with a hand gauge? Do not rely on the HHR DIC as it can be off a few PSI on each tire....

 

I was gonna mention possible caliper dragging at times.

When it does this again, I would get out & (carefully) feel the caliper heat & compare to other side. Should be about same temps.

 

Every HHR I have driven wants to go to the left. Try this: put a person that weighs the same as the driver in the passenger seat. I am starting to think that's the thing.

 

When you say lean to the left, do you actually mean the left side seems physically lower than the right? Or do you just mean pulls to the left?
If its actually lower on the left, measure from the ground to the fender lip on both sides up front(on level ground). They should be about the same height. Any more than a 1/4" difference means a problem. Either it's had some previous body work, or you have suspension problems( blown strut?)

 

Woops. I mean pulls to the left.

It did have two firestone tires on it when I got it. It is now four Bridgestone Ecopia that are within a few KM of eachother. (Two new, two about 500-1000km on them. I have checked them with an analog hand guage and they were all matching. off the top of my head I beleive it was 35 or 36 psi.

I didnt think to check it in this fashion. I noticed it earlier today, so when I go back out tonight I'll give it a check.

Actually, I did think of that. I have a friend who is the same build and weight as me, so I put him in the passenger. Same thing. Even had him drive and me in passenger and still happened. Same guy I actually blindly got him to identify it was pulling to me. I asked him to take it for a drive. Without even mentioning it to him beforehand, when he came back he said It is pulling to the left constantly. ( I wanted to make sure I wasn't just nuts or nitpicking).

 

Mine does not pull in either direction.. It tracks true.

Be curious to what you learn by caliper temps.

 

Improper alignment....it has to be tweaked/massaged within GM's spec's.

The spec.'s GM has for these and some other cars are so ridiculous. You can be in spec on one side and have very different spec for the other and still be in allowable tolerance (which generally Kocks the steering wheel slightly, pulling to the left).

I had this problem also, until I took my car to a Vette handling and tuning shop. They knew instantly what the problem was and corrected with a proper alignment.

Just recently I was at my Chev. Dealer and spoke to the Service Manager about this. He said their "front end" people are NOW aware of this and do the proper alignment. I'll find out the end of next week. It's going in for some service and I'm having them do an alignment (it's been about 3 years).

 

Great ideas above.
Just wanted to share this.
I had the same issue my car pulled left even on a angled road to the right It eoukd pull left.
Used the old hot rod trick of a couple pounds less air in the right side just to test,
Swaped front tires left side to side helprd a little.
Had gm alogn it.
Then brought it to a shop with a better alignment rack
but.more importantly a better tech.toe in was out etc.
maybe a.little.better so I gave up it was.just a.little.off
about a week later I notice that the steering column felt loose inside.
gm tech verified and replaced.
did not expect that to help with the pulling issue but it cured it.

 

At your mileage, I would check lower control arm bushings, and strut top mounts. My wheel is slightly left, but tracks true for awhile, but then wanders left. I am sure it is a torn bushing. I will know today when I do my brakes.