For about a week, these are appearing on my dashboard - Service ESC, Service Traction and the amber lock icon light but no service engine light. If I pull over and turn it off then start it up again, It will go away for a while the comes back again.

The other day, the HHR was instantly jerked to a slowdown with some type of loud sound when I let go the gas pedal to slow it down at the intersection etc. I had to restart the car to make it stop but it only happen one time.

What causing all three to appear?

And sometime there is another issue that appear on dash which is Traction service, red brake light and amber no traction light comes on sometime too. Bad sensor on hub?

 

Bad hub sensor, damaged ABS wires, VVT solenoids failed, low battery voltage all could cause this issue.
Have the battery load tested, 12.3 volts is a dead battery.

 

Pull the codes. Use a good code reader that will also read the ABS system.

 

Not sure about the lock light, but I had the service ABS and Traction lights.... Thanks to everyone here, I changed the VVT's and the Hub, been off ever since. The code reader showed left front hub was getting bad readings and the guys here explained the VVT issues, right on cue, fixed. Code readers are the best source to pin point location and stored issues to generalize the issue especially with ABS system.

 

This sort of problem usually comes down to an electrical problem. The fuse box halves sometimes disconnect.
This video is a little off base but it shows what and how.

 

Maybe first check if the fuse block bolts are loose. Sometimes they seem tight, but are not. Taking the whole thing apart and putting dielectric goop on every point is usually overkill.

 

Today I took it to get get ABS code pulled .. Here are the codes

C0460-5A
C0551-47
U2106-00
U2105-00
U2107-00

But unfortunately the HHR overheated about 4 miles down the road so I parked in a parking lot and got a ride home. I am going go back tonight when it cool down and drive straight home before it heat up again.

Sigh ..............

 

C0460-5A is steering position signal not plausible
C0551-47 means the VIN is not programmed into one of the modules
U2106 is lost communication with transmission control module
U2105 is lost communication with engine control module
U2107 is lost communication with Body control module

Sounds like the fuse box is acting up.

 

I am going back tonight when my wife get off work. I’ll bring 8mm and 10mm to see if tightening down the fuse box screws will help to get my HHR home without overheating

i wonder if fan stopped running tonight causing it to overheat

fuse box bolts used 8mm right. Trying to tell from the video but right now it stranded in my wife work parking lot

 

For sure it's not 8mm lol .. smaller than that! Anyway I happen to bring a crescent wrench with me and tighten the fuse box bolts. .. only one was slightly loosen. But I push down all the relay switches etc. then started HHR and drove it straight home .. the HHR did not overheat at all however the dashboard is still acting up with service esc and traction light coming on also abs and brake etc.

I am glad to get it home without having to tow it so that a good thing .. I think the fan stopped turning earlier today causing it to overheat .. probably relay came loose or something and I push it back in somehow.

I will take the fuse box apart to look at it and clean it out tomorrow

Thanks for all your feedbacks.