Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Chevrolet HHR problems

Owners filed 726 complaints about the 2007 Chevrolet HHR with NHTSA between Mar 2007 and May 2026. The most-cited component is steering (424).

Complaints
726
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
42
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering424
  2. Electrical system111
  3. Air bags48
  4. Fuel/propulsion system43
  5. Structure43
  6. Power train40
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic32
  8. Suspension27
  9. Latches/locks/linkages25
  10. Service brakes18
  11. Engine18
  12. Engine and engine cooling17
  13. Seat belts11
  14. Vehicle speed control10

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20078
200835
200923
201047
201153
201259
201372
2014198
201564
201640
201738
201826
201913
202017
202112
20226
20234
20244
20256
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

424 reports15 crashes1 fire
“Power steering went out while I was driving and it put me in danger and other drivers because it was hard to control the vehicle, the steering wheel was really tough to turn. The vehicle wasn't inspected by a professional because the problem just occurred.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2025SteeringODI 11700657

Electrical system

111 reports5 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while exiting the driveway of a restaurant, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. There were unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a second independent mechanic who informed the contact that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and the electrical system was burned. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2022Steering, Electrical systemODI 11496417

Air bags

48 reports21 crashes2 related recalls
“I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON FEBRUARY 7, 2021. I LOST CONTROL ON AN ICY HIGHWAY AND FLIPPED MY CAR IN A DITCH FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE DITCH HARD ENOUGH IT BOUNCED BACK ON ALL FOUR TIRES. MY JAW HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, MY LEFT SHOULDER WENT THROUGH THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND OF COURSE I NOW HAVE ONGOING BACK ISSUES AT THIS TIME. MY CONCERN IS THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I FIND THIS CONCERNING AS THE IMPACT WAS GREAT AND I HOT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY FACE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11406459

Fuel/propulsion system

43 reports
“The fuel line rusted causing it to leak. We discovered it when we had some exhaust work done on the car. No one other then myself and the people that have done the exhaust work. There was no warning of the issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11738005

Structure

43 reports6 crashes
“THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR LT WHICH WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE. IT IS 'ALWAYS GARAGED'. IT HAS 36,1XX ORIGINAL MILES. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WE BEGAN TO NOTICE 'CHUNKS' OF RUST GATHERING UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AN INSPECTION MADE BY SELF REVEALED EXTENSIVE RUST-OUT TO THE "REAR REINFORCEMENT BAR" (PART #10 IN THE ENCLOSED DIAGRAM). I CONTACTED "GM" VIA THEIR 'SOCIAL MEDIA CUSTOMER CARE CENTER', THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, AND WAS DIRECTED TO A LOCAL BUICK/GMC DEALERSHIP FOR AN EVALUATION, WITHIN HOURS I HEARD A NEGATIVE RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS BY SELF HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION AS TO THE "WHY" OF THIS RUSTED PART. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED TO A HIGH DEGREE. THE EXAMINER TOLD ME HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY OTHER RUST ISSUES ON OR UNDER THIS VEHICLE. KEEP IN MIND THAT I AM NOT AN 'AUTOMOTIVE' ENGINEER; BUT- TO MY 'UNTRAINED EYE' PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PART IS DEEPLY HIDDEN WITHIN THE REAR BUMPER COVER; AND THE DESIGN OF THE REAR BUMPER COVER IS SUCH THAT IT FOSTERS THE COLLECTION OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD ON IT'S HORIZONTAL SURFACES. THIS DEBRIS THEN IS IN SITU WITH…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2018StructureODI 11114299

Power train

40 reports2 crashes1 fire
“OUT OF NO WHERE, SPEED ODOMETER WENT TO FLASHING AND CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE GAS... HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT STOPPED WORKING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, HAD TO TOW IT HOME BECAUSE WAS TOO SCARED TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOME. WHEN PUSHING THE GAS, YOU CAN FEEL IT LOSING POWER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11365656
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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