Problems · by component

2006 Chevrolet HHR power train problems

82 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet HHR cite power train, 8% of all 1,006 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
82
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and would not properly accelerate. Additionally, the front passenger’s side door would not open while using the interior door latch. The contact stated while using the cigarette lighter, the vehicle shut off, and smoke filled the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11534867
“THE SHIFT LEVER SHOWS THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT THE ACTUAL GEAR IS REVERSE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP HAS BECOME DISLODGED FROM ITS POSITION AND WILL NOT ENGAGE TO THE PROPER GEAR. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND IT WILL ALSO ROLL BACKWARDS WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE. IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IT BUT IT THEN ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ENGAGING IN PARK AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE I COULD APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS ISSUE IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT IS PART OF A RECALL 09V073000 FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE; HOWEVER IT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY YEAR OR VIN SO THE DEALERS ARE NOT TRYING TO REPAIR IT FOR ME WITHOUT COST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2017Power trainODI 11018873
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER HAD THE DEALER COMPLETE A MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE REPAIR CAUSED SEVERAL FAILURES AND DID NOT PROVIDE A PERMANENT REPAIR SOLUTION. WITHIN WEEKS OF THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY MANEUVER THE GEAR SHIFT, WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE A READING AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2016Power train, Electrical systemODI 10874602
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE VEHICLE JERKED WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTED GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WERE IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL, OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT ADHERED TO THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,732.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2015Power train, Electrical systemODI 10715994
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,350.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2014Power train, Electrical systemODI 10651481

Showing 6 of 82 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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