Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Chevrolet HHR problems

Owners filed 203 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet HHR with NHTSA between Jul 2011 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (43).

Complaints
203
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system43
  2. Electrical system39
  3. Air bags30
  4. Steering25
  5. Engine24
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)23
  7. Structure21
  8. Service brakes12
  9. Power train10
  10. Latches/locks/linkages7
  11. Suspension6
  12. Vehicle speed control6
  13. Exterior lighting5
  14. Fuel system, gasoline4

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 9, 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
20114
20128
20137
201447
201539
201616
201712
201815
20193
202012
202116
20228
202311
20243
20251
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

Fuel/propulsion system

43 reports1 fire
“Last week, I noticed fuel leaking out from the bottom of my vehicle on the rear passenger side in my driveway after returning home. I had my vehicle towed into a local shop to get looked at. The shop informed me that my entire fuel line assembly needed to be replaced. They stated that the metal assembly has rusted and corroded over time. At the time of this writing, my vehicle is still in the shop awaiting to get fixed. It is available to be inspected upon request. There are no warning signs on my computer system prior to this. This leaking fuel could have put myself and my family at risk for harm due to the fire risk.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11631633

Electrical system

39 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and forth, while the bell inide the car when stared keeps chiming.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2024Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11564742

Air bags

30 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED AN UNKNOWN SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2018Air bagsODI 11118299

Steering

25 reports3 crashes
“I TRIED TO USED REMOTE START FROM MY FOB. IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME BUT NOTHING AFTER THAT..STATIONARY THESE WERE THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED: ALL AT THE SAME TIME LOST POWER STEERING (POWER STEERING ASSIST) LANDED ME IN THE HOSPITAL WITH TORN CHEST MUSCLE WHILE CAR WAS MOVING ON A INTERSTATE NO A/C (COMPRESSOR DOES NOT COME ON) STATIONARY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CAR WAS MOVING ON THE INTERSTATE SERVICE TIRE MONITORS STATIONERY NO TEMP READING STATIONARY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2019Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11164343

Engine

24 reports
“THE ENGINE BEGAN A RANDOM MISFIRE PROBLEM, P0300 CODE. I GOT THE THROTTLE BODY CHANGED OUT, NOW THE CAR REVS HIGHER EVERY TIME I START IT. IT GIVES ITSELF FUEL IN REVERSE AND DRIVE, WITH NO HELP FROM THE GAS PEDAL. IT IS UNSAFE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2018EngineODI 11152273

Electronic stability control (esc)

23 reports
“ABS AND TRACTION STABILITY LIGHTS ON..REPLACED WHEEL HUB AND CLEANED SELINOIDS..ESC SERVICE COMES ACROSS DASH HOLE IN DRIVERS SIDE BACK FUEL LINE...REPLACED FUEL LINE DUE TO GAS LEAK...TROUBLE STARTING CAR DRIVING CAR WHEN ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON AT HOME AND WENT TO LEAVE WHEN NOTICED CAR HAVING TROUBLE STARTING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11338876
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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