2007 Chevrolet HHR Door Lock & Latch Problems

Which parts fail

• Doors › Latch
  9

Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  29%
• 50k–75k
  1359%
• 75k–100k
  314%
• 100k–150k
  314%
• 150k+
  15%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chevrolet HHR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. While attempting to exit the vehicle, the driver's side door latch failed to open. The contact had to exit the vehicle through the window. The contact also stated that previously the passenger side door latch failed to open, and the contact stopped using the door. The contact was concerned that she could injure herself exiting through the windows and, if the vehicle were to lose power, the windows would fail to operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called ferman Chevrolet tarpon springs at [phone] (located at 43520 us hwy 19 n, tarpon springs, fl 34689) where it was confirmed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN and there would be a fee for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while attempting a right turn, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact crashed into a retaining wall and another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact securely. Additionally, the vehicle stalled and the doors could not be unlocked. The contact became trapped in the vehicle. A police report was filed of the incident. The contact sustained injuries to the knee, chest and arm. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,990. Kmj

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that when opening the front passenger side door, the latch fractured and the contact was unable to exit the vehicle due to a disability of her left arm. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer and informed the contact that they would not replace just the handle but would need to replace the entire door. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000. Updated 02/08/11 the consumer stated she was involved in an accident and became stuck in the vehicle due to the failed latch. Updated 04/21/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that both front door handles failed on the interior due to defective material. The front passenger?s door handle failed first, was replaced, and failed a second time. The front driver?s door handle failed most recent. The doors could only be opened from the exterior. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 91,000. Updated 11/13/12 the consumer stated recently a driver and passenger got into the vehicle, closed the doors, then realized the driver did not have the key. The driver and passenger were stuck in the car. The door handle assembly needs to be repaired. Updated 11/29/2012

2007 HHR ls - when trying to exit the vehicle the front driver side door handle broke. Thus making the only way to exit the vehicle is to roll down the window and access the exterior door handle. In the event of a serious crash or accident the driver would be trapped in the vehicle. GM's fix for the broken door handle is to replace the entire interior door panel at a cost of $450. The dealership does not stock this item and it has to be ordered which could take up to 2 weeks. GM's poor design of the door handle mechanism could lead to an tragic event and is also a rip off to the consumers who purchased this vehicle. This door handle mechanism needs to be redesigned and recalled by GM before someone does become trapped and killed.

2007 Chevrolet HHR ls while attempting to exit vehicle, with interior door handle in open position and foot on brake, I shifted into park and the automatic door locking/opening mechanism feature broke the handle rendering exit from interior impossible without lowering power window and reaching from through open window to access exterior door handle. In the event of a serious crash this will in effect trap the driver in the vehicle. GM refused to acknowledge this serious defect in design which has occurred many times according to public reports. The door handle is available only through GM dealers at a quoted price of 450.00 dollars . For a plastic door handle that broke due to poor design.

When putting the car in park, the key would not remove from the ignition. Also, the car could be shifted through the gears without pressing the button on the shifter. There is a safety issue in that the gear shift can be bumped into and out of various gears. After opening the center console, I discovered that the plastic plunger that goes down through the shifter had broken, and in the process allowed the metal pin that closes the contact with the ignition to come loose. This has occurred approximately 6 - 10 times in the past 2 weeks, with increasing frequency. I called the local dealership, terry labonte Chevy in greensboro, nc only to be told that I had probably spilled some liquid.

Tl contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the inside door handles were made of plastic; the driver side door handle broke suddenly when he opened it. The contact believed that the door handles were a safety hazard. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership who informed him that the entire door panel had to be replaced to fix the door handle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was approximately 60,000. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

2007 Chevy HHR interior door handle broke when trying to open the door. No longer can I exit the vehicle without rolling down the window and opening the door from the exterior handle. Unable to replace just the handle, the only way to fix the piece of plastic that is holding the door handle together is to replace the entire door panel. It is unacceptable that a cheap piece of plastic is controlling the opening of the door. With this piece broken, I am unable to exit in the event of an accident if the windows can't be rolled down.

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the driver side door handle fractured from the vehicle while attempting to exit. The contact was unable to open the driver side window and had to climb to the passenger side door to exit the vehicle. The contact spoke with a dealer and was told that the entire door panel would have to be replaced and even although the vehicle was under warranty, the door handle was not and would be the liability of the contact. The failure and current mileage was 72,000.

Related recalls

Door Lock & Latch complaints in other HHR years