THE POWERSTEERING WILL GO OUT AS I AM DRIVING. VERY UNSAFE!! WARNING WILL COME ON AFTER THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF I WILL GET THE POWER STEERING BACK TEMPORARILY, BUT THEN IT GOES BACK OUT AGAIN. I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE ON HERE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
2007 Chevrolet Hhr
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Chevrolet Hhr do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 565.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Hhr years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
598 reports with mileage · 128 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 424 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
424 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF LEAVING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALTHOUGH THE WARNING MESSAGE DOES COME ADVISING OF THE INCIDENT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IF I STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL FOR …
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WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF LEAVING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALTHOUGH THE WARNING MESSAGE DOES COME ADVISING OF THE INCIDENT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. IF I STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BUT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN OFF AGAIN. THIS HAD LED TO A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS SINCE WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS OFF THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER AT LOWER SPEEDS SUCH AS TRYING TO PARK OR AROUND SHARP CURVES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND BOTH HAVE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE IS A SEALED SYSTEM AND THEY CAN'T EVEN CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL AND THAT IT MUST BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT CHEVROLET WOULD MAKE A VEHICLE THAT HAS NO MEANS OF CHECKING THE FLUID LEVELS ON SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON DASH AND WAS EXTREMLY HARD TO STEER, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, CHECKED WITH DEALER NO RECALL ON HHR HOWEVER THERE IS A RECALL ON THE COBALT WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. THE LIGHT SOUNDED AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH. THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. WHEN I STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I SEARCHED ONLINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT ON HH…
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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. THE LIGHT SOUNDED AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH. THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. WHEN I STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I SEARCHED ONLINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT ON HHR MODELS. I SAW WHERE MANY OF THE CHEVY MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON AND EVEN THE HHR IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE USA. I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE RECALL THE 2007 HHR FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FEAR DRIVING MY CAR NOW. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, 70MPH, POWER STEERING SIMPLY WENT OFF. PULLED OFF ONTO ANOTHER ROAD, STOPPED AT A NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP, TURNED CAR OFF TO ASK FOR SERVICE, WHEN CAR WAS PULLED IN TO BE LOOKED AT, POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THE CAR STOPPED WORKING GAS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS NOT DURING A SHIFT, JUST ACCELERATION. THE CLUTCH DID THE EXACT SAME THING ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 (MILEAGE ABOUT 115,000). I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE GONE WELL OVER 100K MILES WITHOUT REPLACING THE CLUTCH A…
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MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THE CAR STOPPED WORKING GAS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS NOT DURING A SHIFT, JUST ACCELERATION. THE CLUTCH DID THE EXACT SAME THING ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 (MILEAGE ABOUT 115,000). I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE GONE WELL OVER 100K MILES WITHOUT REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND I AM NOW ON MY 3RD CLUTCH. I KNOW THERE IS A TSB ON A POSSIBLE BAD FLYWHEEL (WHICH WAS NOT REPLACED EITHER TIME), BUT A CLUTCH TO GO OUT TWICE ON A CAR THAT HAS SEEN FOR THE LAST 55K ALMOST ALL HIGHWAY MILES INDICATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING CUTS OUT AND IS VERY HARD TO TURN I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE PARKED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE PARKED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,954.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35246. UPDATED 02/11/14*LJ UPDATED 02/12/14
Official recalls
414V171000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 10, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
14V047000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:ignition:switch
Feb 10, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
Electrical System:ignition:switch
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
08V444000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Sep 3, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 296,422 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE DOOR ON THE STORAGE BIN IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AS REQUIRED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: A REDESIGNED LATCH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
08V046000 · Air Bags
Jan 30, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 181,516 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF RAIL AIR BAGS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.' IN TESTS, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ENERGY-ABSORBING PLASTIC PIECE TO THE HEADLINER TRIM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration