Problems · by component

2011 Chevrolet HHR electrical system problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet HHR cite electrical system, 19% of all 203 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
39
19% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL MILEAGE INDICATOR TO GO HAYWIRE. GILL CHEVROLET (4700 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43213, (614) 364-4376) REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE VISITS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER WITH THE COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2019Electrical systemODI 11189738
“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
“INSTRUMENT PANEL FUNCTIONS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND FLASHES ON AND OFF. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE SPEEDOMETER FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM ALSO AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. WHEN VEHICLE IS CHECKED USING DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, COMPUTER FAILS TO DETECT CODE ERROR OR IDENTIFY PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE.ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11102499
“MY 2011 HHR HAS STARTED ACTING UP BY THROWING OUT THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT, ESC LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN IN PARK(WHEN WARNING UP THE VEHICLE) AND WHEN IM DRIVING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT REDUCES THE SPEED DOWN TO 25MPH AND LURCHES FORWARD AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE INTERSTATE (LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER SAFELY. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT ALSO WILL DO IT WHILE STOPPED WAITING FOR A STOP LIGHT TO CHANGE. IT WILL THROW ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WE HAVE CHECKED THE CODES AND CHANGED WHAT IT SAID NEEDED CHANGE BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. FROM WHAT I HAVE LOOKED UP IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE HAVING ALL SORTS OF ISSUES WITH THIS BUT NO ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION BECAUSE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR IT NOT TO FIX IT IS NOT RIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2018Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11078667
“I PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSE FOR THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE CONSOLE AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. IGNITION ISSUES WHERE MY KEY GETS STUCK ALWAYS HAD TO PULL FUSE FOR LIGHTS AND DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE. AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS STAYED ON. SENSORS IS OFF, AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. HEATER AND AIR WORK WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. REPLACE EXHAUST SYSTEM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2017Electrical system, Structure, EngineODI 10956677

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 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 9, 2026

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