Problems · by component

2010 Chevrolet HHR electrical system problems

120 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet HHR cite electrical system, 23% of all 516 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
120
23% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Noticed that the cruise control would disengage randomly when activated. I checked the function of the brake lights at night and found that the brake lights would turn themselves on randomly with zero brake input, disengaging the cruise control. In this state, depressing the brake pedal more than around 30-40% would turn the brake lights off, even with the brake pedal fully pressed. Furthermore, with the brake pedal pressed to a moderate level, the cruise control is able to be engaged, even with obvious brake pressure being applied. This defeats the cruise control disengagement feature and the cruise control system will fight against the braking system to maintain speed instead of turning itself off as it seems to rely solely on the brake lights for the automatic disengagement. This issue is quite dangerous as this seems to happen quite often with the brake lights, but I cannot find any sort of consistent scenario that causes these issues to occur.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2023Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11530229
“OUR CHEVY HHR 2010 HAS BEEN DYING AND STALLING OUT ON US WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IT, THE ONLY TIME IT HAD POWER GOING TO IT WAS WHEN IT WAS BEING JUMPED. EVEN THEN SOON AS THE CABLES WERE UNHOOKED IT WOULD JERK THEN DIE RIGHT AWAY. IT SEEMED AS IF MOST OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDED OF THE TRUCK ONLY WOULD FLASH WHILE JUMPING IT, THEN NOTHING. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND EVERYTHING BASICALLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, NOR CAN I EVEN START IT AT THIS POINT,BUT I DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW BEING THAT IT POWERS COMPLETELY OFF WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. IT WAS IN MOTION A FEW TIMES ON CITY STREETS, AND IN MOTION TURNING WHEN IT DIED FOR THIS LAST TIME. ITS NOW PARKED ON A STREET UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11326059
“ON GOING ISSUE OF BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL. FIRST NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T ACTIVATE. FOUND PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN I COULD SEE THE GLOW FROM MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE TOP INSIDE EDGE OF MY REAR HATCH. REPLACING BRAKE SWITCH ABOVE PEDAL DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SOUNDS KIND OF FUNNY, BUT I GOT BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF WHILE SETTING IN DRIVEWAY AND POUNDING MY CENTER CONSOLE OUT OF FRUSTRATION. INTERNET SEARCH FOUND OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATED OWNERS THAT TOOK VEHICLES TO DEALERSHIPS THAT DIDN'T FIX THEIR PROBLEM. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE CIRCUIT BOARD RELATED WITH CIRCUIT BOARDS LOCATED ON PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CENTER CONSOLE. A SHARP RAP WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND IN THAT AREA WILL ALWAYS GET THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON. DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT SEEMS CRAZY TO HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING TO SEE IF MY CRUISE WILL SET SO I KNOW IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH AS I STATED EARLIER, INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND OTHER GM OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE OF BRAKE LIGHTS ON WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL. HAVE HAD ISSUE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11290572
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE SPEAKERS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT DID NOT CALL BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2019Electrical system, Visibility, Air bagsODI 11265619
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 CHEVY HHR, I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ENTERING THE SPEEDWAY FUEL STATION, MY STEERING JUST SEEMED TO LOCKUP ON ME AND A DASH ALERT FLASHED "SERVICE ESC" THEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER! IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY MAJOR TRAGEDY LIKE COLLIDING WITH A GAS PUMP OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO RUN IT INTO THE CURB I FELT LIKE MY ARMS WERE NEARLY RIPPED FROM THE SOCKETS. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO MY HOME AND THE FOLLOWING DAY TOWED TO A MECHANIC. DISCOVERED THAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS NOT EXCLUSIVELY MINE, APPARENTLY SOME 444 OTHERS HAD AS WELL. I CHECKED FOR RECALL NOTICES WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALLS WERE CLOSED AND REPAIRS WERE DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BY WHOM, WHEN AND WHERE EXACTLY! IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT DONE PERMANENTLY NOR SATISFACTORILY AS I'M VERY SORE NOW, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2019Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11241211
“SERVICE AIR BAGS COMES ON SOMETIMES SAYING I NEED TO GET IT SERVICED ONLY COMES ON WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN STARTED . SOMETIMES GOS OUT SOMETIMES DON'T THEN SENDS SERVICE CODE ON MAIN DISPLAY. ALSO RADIO SHORTS OUT CAUSE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPEN CHANGING FROM CD TO FM TO AUXILIARY ON ITS OWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2019Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11210532

Showing 6 of 120 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

2 recalls on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

Electrical systemReported Apr 30, 2014NHTSA 14E021000

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Electrical systemReported Apr 10, 2014NHTSA 14V171000
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.