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2011 Chevrolet Hhr

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Hhr are lower than the model-year median of 565.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

144 reports with mileage · 59 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

203 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2017
Electrical System

PURGE VENT VALVE GROUND WIRE KEEPS BREAKING OFF IN THE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION(FROM THE ELEMENTS)AND CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON(P0449 -PURGE VENT VALVE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION) AND SOMETIMES HAVE A GAS ORDER IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS ONGOING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON HOW TO REMEDY THIS IS…

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PURGE VENT VALVE GROUND WIRE KEEPS BREAKING OFF IN THE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION(FROM THE ELEMENTS)AND CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON(P0449 -PURGE VENT VALVE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION) AND SOMETIMES HAVE A GAS ORDER IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS ONGOING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON HOW TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10955218

86,000 miles · Feb 13, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO START, WHEN IT DID , IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH, WENT TO STORE, CAME OUT , IT WOULD START. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ENGINE CRACK AND FROM THAT CRACKING IT BROKE OTHER STUFF. I OWE 3700. ON THE CAR AND TO FIX IT IS 3200.00 SADLY I DO T HAVE THE MONEY. NO CARE, NO WAY TO GET TO WORK. CAR WAS SITTING IN PARKIN…

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CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO START, WHEN IT DID , IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH, WENT TO STORE, CAME OUT , IT WOULD START. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ENGINE CRACK AND FROM THAT CRACKING IT BROKE OTHER STUFF. I OWE 3700. ON THE CAR AND TO FIX IT IS 3200.00 SADLY I DO T HAVE THE MONEY. NO CARE, NO WAY TO GET TO WORK. CAR WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT OF OUR LOCAL SAVE A LOT.

NHTSA ODI #10954206

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON

NHTSA ODI #10929794

100,000 miles · Oct 19, 2016
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10917292

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2016
Air Bags

THE SERVICE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SAYING SERVICE AIRBAG

NHTSA ODI #10916737

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2016
Electrical System

ON SEPTEMBER 20 2016 WHILE PARKED AFTER PICKING UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. MY KIDS GOT INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND WHEN CLOSING, THE DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT. THE LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH ONTO THE BAR TO KEEP THE DOOR SHUT. UPPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF CHEVY HHR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR …

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ON SEPTEMBER 20 2016 WHILE PARKED AFTER PICKING UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. MY KIDS GOT INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND WHEN CLOSING, THE DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT. THE LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH ONTO THE BAR TO KEEP THE DOOR SHUT. UPPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF CHEVY HHR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CAR DOOR LOCKS AS WELL. THE LOCK ACTUATOR NO LONGER FUNCTIONING CAUSING THE LATCH TO NONLINEAR WORK. CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. WE CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND STAY SHUT. IT JUST POPS RIGHT BACK OPEN. SEEING HOW MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS THERE ARE ONLINE, THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVY AND GM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR IN THE PAST AS WELL. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10908319

20,000 miles · Sep 16, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. AT TIMES, EVEN WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. AT TIMES, EVEN WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCONNECTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY DID NOT REMAIN IN THE IGNITION AND HE FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WAS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN SPEED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10907257

45,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER NEAR ME, IN ROCKAWAY, NJ. THEY REPORTED THAT THE CHARGE WOULD BE OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THERE IS A RECALL

NHTSA ODI #10905836

131,000 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY EPS POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN MY CAR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET IT BECAME REALLY HARD TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE I HEARD CLICKING COMING FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL PANEL ALSO THE POWER STEERING CAME ACTIVE ON MY DASH PANEL WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #10896794

56,977 miles · Jul 5, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PROMISED TO ORDER THE PART. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PART HAD NOT BEEN O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PROMISED TO ORDER THE PART. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PART HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,977.

NHTSA ODI #10882786

Official recalls

2

14V171000 · 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. GM’s 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. GM’s 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. GM’s 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.