Problems · by component
2007 Chevrolet HHR structure problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Chevrolet HHR cite structure, 6% of all 726 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
6% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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…”
“I GOT INTO MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEM, WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR I COULD NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO LET THE WINDOW DOWN TO GET OUT.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DETACHED FROM THE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.”
“INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS FROM INSIDE CAR BROKE OFF ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDES. THE ONLY WAY NOW TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WE COULD NOT EASILY GET OUT, POSING A LIFE THREATENING DANGER. VEHICLE STATIONARY.”
“EXCESSIVE RUST ON INTERNAL REAR BUMPER SUPPORT. IT'S TO THE POINT OF FLAKING. THIS METAL SUPPORT IS MOUNTED TO THE BODY, BETWEEN THE VEHICLE BODY AND PLASTIC COVER. THIS IS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 31,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO COVER THE EXPOSED AREAS WITH A INDUSTRIAL RUST CONVERTER CHASSIS SAVER TYPE OF PAINT.”
“2007 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL LINE CORROSION AND FUEL LEAK ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED HESITATION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONSUMER KEPT SMELLING GASOLINE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT A RUSTED FUEL LINE WAS A MATTER OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR OWNER NEGLECT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RUSTED FUEL LINE, HAD TO DO WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE ISSUE WAS PREVALENT WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD NOT BE ASSISTING HER WITH THE MATTER. *JB”
Showing 6 of 43 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.