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HHR 2007 Lemon

24 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 10:24 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet HHR, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 24 HHR 2007 Lemon by hhr_07_lemon

Jul 22, 2009 (9:09 am)

We purchased a brand new 2007 HHR in Sept of 2007 at Gainesville Palm Chevrolet. Ever since then, we have had the car back to the dealership several times for repairs. The steering column, had to be replaced, the electric seats have a short and have gone out (a couple of times) and they cannot find the short, the sunroof motor had to be replace and we had to take it in a couple of times to get it repaired,the radiator fan blade fell off, the paint job, (which was bad on the roof and had a few scratches that they were supposed to fix before we picked up the car, when we bought it. It wasn't done. We had to take it in 4 or 5 times for the paint job alone. It was never done correctly and they ended up putting swirl marks in the paint. The manager said he was done, that they weren't going to touch the paint again. And THEY dented and scratched the car while they had it and tried to give it back like that) Clicking noises in the car when it is put into gear, fwd or reverse and you accelerate, which they still haven't figured out what is wrong with it, now that we are out of warranty, (bumper to bumper) they want to charge us to fix it or to tear it down and diagnose the problem. This problem has been a problem for over a year and we keep taking it back and they keep telling us it is one thing or another and do not fix it or tell us they can't find what is wrong with it. They never broke the car down to find the problem when it was under warranty. Also now our HHR is losing power. Well it no longer has get up and go. They told us it was filters or the fuel injectors needed cleaning. That didn't do the trick. They have no idea why it is bogging down.
   
We talked to a law firm and they believe not only do we have a lemon law case they also think we may have a breach of warranty case. They asked us to send in copies of all our service records. We were on our way to the dealership at the time because our car once again started messing up. Which was last Friday, July 17th. I told them that I would scan and email the reports when we got back from the dealership. Because our HHR's cooling system and a/c went out that morning.
  
We called the dealership ahead of time, we already had a pending appointment with the General Manager for the following Tuesday (today) at 8:00 AM to discuss this case and told the G.M. what was going on. He agreed to meet us when we got there. He took all of our service records we brought for him to look over and said he would like to take care of the problem in house.He offered to give us a trade in amount of $12,000.00 which is over the KBB value. If he could trade us out that morning he would do it then and there to get us in a vehicle that works.
  
We picked out a Jeep Which was only 16,200.
and then they asked us if we wanted to put down a down payment on the Jeep, besides the HHR.
   
We told them no, that we just wanted to trade across the board. That this is not something we planned on doing, we are in the middle of moving, and we hadn't saved up to put a down payment on a car, we already put $10,000.00 on the HHR. He understood and agreed. He let us keep the Jeep for the weekend and was supposed to have things worked out for Monday, with NO down payment, just the HHR as a trade in. The General Manager said he was going to sell us the Jeep wholesale and turn around and sell the HHR wholesale. We were just supposed to sign and drive away.
  
When I called them Monday AM July 20th, they said they still didn't have the loan worked out and that they would call me in a little while. (I work in my car on the road all day long.) They called several hours later. It was also hours after I did an interview with one of the loaning banks. They again started to pressure me on the phone wanting $2500.00 down or we couldn't get the Jeep that I am still driving. They haven't started working on our car. They told me to keep the Jeep again, until I heard from them this morning. Tuesday July 21st. But we may not get the loan with out a good faith down payment. (I don't understand this when the bank called and interviewed me she said everything looked great. We even talked about why I wasn't giving cash down along with our HHR.)
  
We have contacted GM and the BBB. We are seeing who can do what for us. GM said they would exchange the car, but only for another GM car at that dealership. We are so tainted on GM cars right now we are looking to just get a refund and start over.
  
We now have our records in our hands again, we have faxed them to the lawyer's office. If he thinks we have a case, then we will follow accordingly, whether it be with the BBB or the Lawyer.
  
It was explained to us that the General Manager was trying to get another sell from us instead of taking care of us and our lemon car. Also that the down payment plus GET THIS the interest rates. (They can legally set your interest rate up to 2% higher than the bank asks for), and that is all gravy for them of course so is the down payment. He was just trying to get us to give them MORE money!!! I actually told him he should be ashamed of himself.
  
We had to leave the car at the dealer's service department and pay for the diagnosis and a rental. We are now just playing the waitng game.

#2 of 24 Update on our HHR by hhr_07_lemon

Jul 23, 2009 (6:59 am)

We found out today that the Thermostat had gone out. That is why our cooling system shut-down. It was under warranty and replaced. That means we don't have to pay for this diagnostic. Whoo hoo!
 
They still have the car though, they cannot find out what the clicking noise is when we put it into gear and accelerate.

#3 of 24 Re: Update on our HHR [hhr_07_lemon] by dmathews3

Jul 23, 2009 (8:54 am)

Replying to: hhr_07_lemon (Jul 23, 2009 6:59 am)
If you don't have the extended warranty are are stuck keeping it you had better get it. I think I'd go the lemon law and get another car.

#4 of 24 Lemon Law by pao

Jul 24, 2009 (5:09 am)

not knowing what state you are in all lemon laws are different....the fact you are trying to work a case on a 3 MY year old car at this point and based on mileage puts it beyond most lemon laws in most states....would get the specifics first....and way against lawyer fees.....also most lemon laws take effect when there is a repeated attempts at fixing the same issue...usually a safety related issue that keeps the vehicle out of service for more than 30 days....you had mentioned paint issues..which probably will not fall under lemon law. plus a single repair of the steer column and a persistent problem with the power seats.....again..a judgement call if that is an actual safety issue.....so be aware of what actually falls under the lemon law clause in your particular state..based on time limits, mileage of ownership and number of attempts to repair for a specific issue.
 
seems the dealership is trying to handle in house....is the dealer a Jeep dealer as well....if so..dont really see the probably with the cross the board trade....but again...I would work specifically with the GM.....did he ok the Jeep trade....you had mentioned that he (GM) now apparently only wants to trade across for another GM vehicle......if your original selection of the Jeep was Ok's by the GM...dont see the problem....unless he is now changing his story on ya.......keep pressing...and good luck to ya....

#5 of 24 Thanks by hhr_07_lemon

Jul 24, 2009 (6:40 am)

Yes he changed on us. He never mentioned the fact the GM would only trade for another GM, nor did he mention that we would have to trade up to the current year,of the same type of vehicle or pay the MSRP with NO discounts.
 
Been talking to GM corporate. That is the deal they are willing to offer.

#6 of 24 Re: Thanks [hhr_07_lemon] by pao

Jul 25, 2009 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: hhr_07_lemon (Jul 24, 2009 6:40 am)
Now the question is...is this corporate GM or the dealership laying out the restrictions.....this is a dealer problem...I went though this with another dealership with a Kia..back in 03......but was within 90 days of purchase.....the dealership gets the reimbursement from corporate GM......so its up to the dealership to make this happen.....if they really want to...they can...to be honest....keep pressing....
 
own 3 GM cars here...04 Chvy Malibu Maxx LT (148K), 06 Pontiac Solstice (40K) and 09 Cadillac CTS (16K) and they all have been great....dont give up on GM....look around.....the issue seems to be they want to keep you in a HHR.....the BBB will arbitrate for a deal.....again..will be a like car....or moneuy returned or applied toward another model....if Im not mistaken.....see what they say
 
good luck

#7 of 24 2008 HHR water leak lemon by tharp

Oct 08, 2009 (9:50 am)

My hhr was bought new and within a month (and our first rain) my front passenger floorboard was covered with an inch of water. I told them at the time I didn't want a "new" car that I would be paying on for years that leaked but they said under the law they had a right to fix it! Well, I am now on my 4th water leak and they still are pulling my chain! They keep advertising great customer satisfaction but I have not seen anything close! They know my car is crap, but they just don't care. I have contacted a lawyer this morning and hope to hear from them soon!

#8 of 24 HHr 2007 Lemon Also by realtorlady

Dec 07, 2009 (1:47 pm)

My 2007 limited half year edition, or so I was told, Limited because of the black chrome is a lemon in Massachusetts. Its been in since new for the check engine light 6 times.It nevers stays gone for more than a day or two once its fixed. I comp-lained early on about the clunking sounds and even thought I heard things falling off and hitting the underside. ...turns out it was the stabilizer bar snapping off and then it took out the running board on the passenger side as it flew out from under the car. At least it has (had) running boards to protect the paint. The bug screen/deflector on the sunroof flew off as I drove it down the road. I've had to replace both headlights and this morning I discovered that the autostart doesn't autostart. The chrome on the driver door handle peeled off. The dealer replaced it with a black chrome handle that didn't match the others proving that I was right from the beginning when I told them the handles were not right for the model. The grill is black chrome but the handles are not. Now the replacement doesn't match the others. This car is in the dealers more than its in my own garage.
For the folks trying to make a lemon law claim on a three-year old car: I hope you live in Massachusetts. At least we do have another law ( I will look it up later) that covers those vehicles with consecutive on-going problems that are no longer under warranty.

#9 of 24 Re: Update on our HHR [hhr_07_lemon] by recovery2010

Jan 18, 2010 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: hhr_07_lemon (Jul 23, 2009 6:59 am)
I have a 07 hhr bought in Mar 07 I have over 162k miles on this vehicle I replaced the brakes and rotors only twice had several blowouts especially in the mountains, been in two accidents (an 18 wheeler, and a full size van) hauled extremely heavy loads while traveling all over the country. And this vehicle still cranks up good but it does get the mileage it used to get. I change the oil regularly and I use cruise control a lot. It powered down once about a month ago it was extremely cold I turned it off for a few moments turned it back on it never had that problem again. The engine light turns on and off when it feels like it and runs a lil rough when it does but I don't really worry about bc its been doing this for three years y worry. I going to replace my suspension all of it lil by lil. I can't keep the lights working properly they go out every 6 months.

#10 of 24 Re: HHR 2007 Lemon [hhr_07_lemon] by red87

Apr 04, 2010 (9:06 am)

Replying to: hhr_07_lemon (Jul 22, 2009 9:09 am)
My grandfather bought a 2007 HHR from Nicholson's dealership in Millersberg, Ohio and has had nothing but problems with it, the breaks in particular.

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