Problems · by component

2011 Chevrolet HHR Panel electrical system problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet HHR Panel cite electrical system, 19% of all 203 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
19% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and forth, while the bell inide the car when stared keeps chiming.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2024Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11564742
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL MILEAGE INDICATOR TO GO HAYWIRE. GILL CHEVROLET (4700 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43213, (614) 364-4376) REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE VISITS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER WITH THE COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2019Electrical systemODI 11189738
“I TRIED TO USED REMOTE START FROM MY FOB. IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME BUT NOTHING AFTER THAT..STATIONARY THESE WERE THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED: ALL AT THE SAME TIME LOST POWER STEERING (POWER STEERING ASSIST) LANDED ME IN THE HOSPITAL WITH TORN CHEST MUSCLE WHILE CAR WAS MOVING ON A INTERSTATE NO A/C (COMPRESSOR DOES NOT COME ON) STATIONARY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CAR WAS MOVING ON THE INTERSTATE SERVICE TIRE MONITORS STATIONERY NO TEMP READING STATIONARY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2019Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11164343
“INSTRUMENT PANEL FUNCTIONS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND FLASHES ON AND OFF. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE SPEEDOMETER FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. WHEN VEHICLE IS CHECKED USING DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, COMPUTER FAILS TO DETECT CODE ERROR OR IDENTIFY PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE.ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11102499
“MY 2011 HHR HAS STARTED ACTING UP BY THROWING OUT THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT, ESC LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN IN PARK(WHEN WARNING UP THE VEHICLE) AND WHEN IM DRIVING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT REDUCES THE SPEED DOWN TO 25MPH AND LURCHES FORWARD AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE INTERSTATE (LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER SAFELY. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT ALSO WILL DO IT WHILE STOPPED WAITING FOR A STOP LIGHT TO CHANGE. IT WILL THROW ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WE HAVE CHECKED THE CODES AND CHANGED WHAT IT SAID NEEDED CHANGE BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. FROM WHAT I HAVE LOOKED UP IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE HAVING ALL SORTS OF ISSUES WITH THIS BUT NO ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION BECAUSE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR IT NOT TO FIX IT IS NOT RIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2018Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11078667
“I PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE FOR THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE CONSOLE AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. IGNITION ISSUES WHERE MY KEY GETS STUCK ALWAYS HAD TO PULL FUSE FOR LIGHTS AND DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE. AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS STAYED ON. SENSORS IS OFF, AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. HEATER AND AIR WORK WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. REPLACE EXHAUST SYSTEM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2017Electrical system, Structure, EngineODI 10956677

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.