I just had two new front struts installed by the dealer, 31000 miles. Guess I joined the HHR strut replacement club too!

 

I had mine replaced at about that mileage... weird thing is I think the noise I was complaining about was the sway bar end links but the dealer also replaced the struts.

 

Not very good mileage on the parts for sure. They didn't say anything about the links on mine. Parts listed as replaced on the repair order only list the struts so I guess mine were good.

Tech did leave a rag in each one during assembly which resulted in crushing the bottom of the boot on the right side when the tires touched the ground.

 

Went to dealer to get my new key fob programmed, they checked over the vehicle and said that I had one strut leaking and a bad sway bar. (around 31k miles) Then he said it's out of warranty, I said WHOA...I purchased an extended warranty on used 2009 HHR SS. Now he wants me to bring it in and double check, then he will order the parts. Seems like toro poopoo to me. Was the original prognosis bogus or what ? Said he would have to order the parts. It's these little things that aggravate me, like the 3 TPMS that I have had to replace in less than a year.

 

Well I've put about 30K more miles on the car since the replacement and no new problems with the struts or end links. I don't think you'll need to have it done again anytime soon unless you're really unlucky.

And to backinblack, I had 3 TPMS replaced during the first 6 months I owned the car, but none in the last 3 years. There probably are some bad batches of them out there.

 

Me, unlucky? Nooooooo!

 

Haven't done it yet on our 06 (71000~miles) but I replaced the struts on our nieces 08. Not sure of the mileage but she has a habit of bouncing her tires off of curbs so struts weren't her only suspension issue.....

 

Took the car back this morning due to a banging sound coming from the front end ever since they replaced the struts. Tech said the sway bar insulators are the problem. Didn't have the parts, said they would order them up and let me know when they arrive so I can bring it back for repair.