Etching of paint on rocker panel and rear door rock guard
Senior Member
Joined: 11-17-2005
Posts: 126
From: Springfield Vermont
My rear quarter panel is beginning to show signs of stone damage. I contacted GM via their web page and also my dealer by phone. Neither admits any awareness of the problem and have promised to contact me (eventually!) regarding the situation.
New Member
Joined: 12-17-2005
Posts: 28
From: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Running Boards vs. Mud Flaps
I just put mud flaps ($10/pr.) on my HHR because of the increase in abuse that the rear doors are experiencing. My car came without running boards and when I asked for a price I got a quote of around $1000 cdn. dealer installed. The parts manager said that the price will likely coming down in the future. It seems to me to be a fairly universal problem with cars that have to drive in the real world of northern winters. I have yet to see the price come down to where the consumer can solve the wear and tear problem with a running board fix. My question to other members is this ...What did you pay for your factory running boards?...Were they dealer installed?....
Senior Member
Joined: 02-03-2006
Posts: 1,406
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Originally Posted by Firewatcher
I am subscribed to a GM website for owners.....
https://www.mygmlink.com/main/US/en/gm/home
They have lots of features that everyone should check. They also have a "contact us" link which is how I made my complaint.
https://www.mygmlink.com/main/US/en/gm/home
They have lots of features that everyone should check. They also have a "contact us" link which is how I made my complaint.
I just subscribed too! 
Senior Member
Joined: 09-27-2005
Posts: 299
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Originally Posted by lrg760
I just put mud flaps ($10/pr.) on my HHR because of the increase in abuse that the rear doors are experiencing. My car came without running boards and when I asked for a price I got a quote of around $1000 cdn. dealer installed. The parts manager said that the price will likely coming down in the future. It seems to me to be a fairly universal problem with cars that have to drive in the real world of northern winters. I have yet to see the price come down to where the consumer can solve the wear and tear problem with a running board fix. My question to other members is this ...What did you pay for your factory running boards?...Were they dealer installed?....
WHOOOOOAAAAA! That is double what I paid for my running boards and having them installed by the dealer. Mine did not come with them but after seeing them with the boards I had to have them, I paid $508.00 total! The $445 is if you purchase them when you order the HHR, I also bought the hard plastic (rear) mud flaps with HHR and paid $40 for those.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-03-2006
Posts: 1,406
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Originally Posted by teknobunie
WHOOOOOAAAAA! That is double what I paid for my running boards and having them installed by the dealer. Mine did not come with them but after seeing them with the boards I had to have them, I paid $508.00 total! The $445 is if you purchase them when you order the HHR, I also bought the hard plastic (rear) mud flaps with HHR and paid $40 for those.
(still would depend on the CDN to US currency conversion??) 
Senior Member
Joined: 11-17-2005
Posts: 126
From: Springfield Vermont
Originally Posted by Jddrumman
The $1000 price tag that he mentioned is in Canadian $$$. (still would depend on the CDN to US currency conversion??)
(still would depend on the CDN to US currency conversion??) I think that still brings it in around $800-850 American. Sounds steep to me for fixing a design flaw in the vehicle.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 5,359
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by GeeMac
Sounds steep to me for fixing a design flaw in the vehicle.
The running boards were one thing that attracted me to the HHR. I think they complete the vintage image it portrays. Others may not feel the same - but if it comes down to ruining your paint, I would either harass GM until I got free running boards, or look into buying another vehicle.
Just my $0.02