For the good of the order, the power steering motor in most non-turbo HHRs are covered by either an extended warranty or a recall. It's discussed in many threads, but there is a sticky, exhaustive and exhausting, with 27 pages of mostly chaff. (Not a criticism, it's just the way these things go )

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gm-r...tension-50057/

The extended warranty is indefinite. Think of it as lifetime of the car. The recall applies to certain 2009 & 2010 models only.

I have read many accounts of this problem, and I think the best move for anyone with a non-turbo HHR who encounters steering failure go to any GM dealer. Persistence and insistence may be required, or better, show them this, as many dealers have never heard of this "special coverage" and may be skeptical. Also, I recall a couple of accounts of repairs to vehicles that were technically not covered, but GM fixed them anyway.

 

I think on a car that went out of production in 2011, just replace the part and carry on. If you take the letter to a dealer and they refuse to do the work, go to another dealership.
you can replace the part for safety reasons. Not that hard, not that expensive

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/.../+module,10798

 

Just following up on this. The first GM dealership I took it to (closest to my work) replaced the motor under the Special Coverage 14119, it was completely covered, $0.00.
It took a week. They offered to do some other work on it, which I added to my list of things todo to my HHR myself (since I never have enough money to get work done at the dealership except in special circumstances).

 

The 'special warranty was updated a number of times and incudes all HHR years (except ss models) whic use a different steering module and motor.