The ice really builds up on the running boards and the front of the door scrapes across it when opening the door. I noticed that it freezes to the exposed insulation in the fender in front of the door too.

Jim

 

Okay.

 

I haven't noticed any ice on our running boards, but then again, we don't have them.

 

Yep...noticed that too...and it makes one heck of a noise when it happens too. Unfortunately, I don't have a garage, so I make sure I scrape ice off the boards when cleaning the car. Not much you can do about when the door opens though.

 

Hmm, this is why I didn't get running boards, I had similar problems with my Ram before, where the drain from the windscreen would run down the door pillar and create huge icicles that the door would have to break through before it could be opened.
Now I notice the first chipping on the rear door spats, so I'll have to get splash guards on soon.

 

I haven't had a problem with ice on the boards. On the other hand, you have to clean all of the snow and ice off the rear bumper or risk scraping everything when opening the hatch.

 

Are you saying that snow,ice,mud,ect. never froze on or got on any car/truck van that you have ever owned in cold weather ? but it will on a HHR ??

 

None of my other vehicles scratched up as easily from snow and ice as the HHR does.

 

i have running boards but no ice for me................HHR sleeping in my heated garage

 

I've noticed too, last week, that the front wheel wells pack up with ice really quickly (more so than with anything else I've owned), and that creates an interesting collections of scraping sounds whenever you brake or turn. I've had the ice on the running boards as well, but it's not from not clearing them, it's all stuff being kicked up by the front wheels, and not to the point of scraping any door.

No biggie, just getting to know the HHR winter specifics...

Yves