Problems · by component

2006 Chevrolet HHR air bags problems

63 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet HHR cite air bags, 6% of all 1,006 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
63
6% of all complaints
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR WOULD ERRONEOUSLY OPENED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN SECURELY CLOSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2020Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakesODI 11349208
“MY AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY POWER STEERING DONT WORK WHILE THIS AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. MY HEAT DONT WORK EITHER WHILE MY AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. I CAN DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE AND WHEN MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF MY POWER STEERING STARTS TO WORK AND MY HEAT DOES TOO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2016Steering, Power train, Air bagsODI 10919832
“SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON WHEN STARTING CAR. ISSUE HAS RECURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 5, 2015. MILEAGE WAS 80652. ARE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONING AND IS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2015Air bagsODI 10780497
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2015Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10725279
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AS STATED ON THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE KEYS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2015Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10692927
“CAR SPEEDED UP AND DOWN ,CAR STARTED TO SPIN IN CIRCLE,LOST POWER STEERING,LOST CONTROL OF CAR, FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES DOWN A 30 YD. CLIFF . NO HEAD AIR BAGS WORKED AT ALL ,ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG WORKED. TOOK OVER 2 HRS. TO BE FOUND BY POLICE. HAD TO USE CELL PHONE SIGNAL TO BE FOUND. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2015Steering, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10691964

Showing 6 of 63 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Air bags

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Feb 10, 2014NHTSA 14V047000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 30, 2008NHTSA 08V046000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Air bagsReported Oct 31, 2006NHTSA 06V417000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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