I have this problem too... I didn't know about the button under the steering column at first. But then I did start using it. The shifter stuck a couple of times in the past and I wondered how it correlated.

Today I took it apart to see because I was being told it was a bad solenoid. So on taking off the cowling, I noticed the switch and that the pin was pushed back so it wasn't actuating. I then took it further apart and realized that the pin was loose. Simply slipping it back in would not suffice. I pulled the pin out and removed the stalk which WAS broken. So, I wonder why GM won't sell me a better/new stalk and let me install it? It's a $5.00 part! So I have to buy a 100-200 $ part instead??

BTW, I don't think gluing it will help much

 

Somewhere on this site there was a poster who made his own part using a plastic driveway reflector. I didn't find it with the search function yet but I'll keep trying.

 

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/shifter-broken-removed-disassembled-fixed-34214/

 

Thanks for finding that. I searched for shifter pin but it didn't bring up that thread.

 

I used the info on the link to come up with a fix of my own. Saved some money with a .50 part. Cool!

 

+1 [only I don't know how to +1 you officially]

 

Called the dealer today, Service Dept said the Gear Shifter is covered under GM warranty till 120,000 miles. We have 77,000 miles. They have the part in stock and it will be replaced at no charge. We have a 2008 HHR.

Our key would not come out Thursday 03-21-2013

 

Well the warranty covers just the key cylinder in the steering column. They replaced that under the recall. However my problem still existed after that fix. So the wanted $78.00 to diagnose the problem and if it is the Gear Shifter it would cost $400.00 I left the dealer upset, she or I had a miss understanding about what was covered in the Warranty.

I left without getting it fixed, I will manually release the key in the steering column till I figure out what to do.

 

I am in SoCal and my dealer fixed it for free. Harbor Chev rocks. I wrote to GM about the problem and they also denied responsibility.

 

Bob, how handy are you? I bought the gear shifter for about $100 through gmotors.com and put it in myself. On difficulty scale of 1-10, 10 being the most complex, I'd rate this repair to be about a 5 or 6.