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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,928 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Chevrolet HHR electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Chevrolet HHR Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #132

Jul 162022

HHR

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving my 2009 HHR the steering wheel shakes & vibrate at different intervals. Usually while slowing down to a stop & sometimes after during high speeds. Recently the noise it made was frightening. I had to use my emergency flashers & drive 50 mi per hr. on the freeway to arrive home safely. I took my car to Mark Chevrolet & reported it on 08/02/2021. The car's mileage was 133344. The car is not an everyday vehicle that is driven often. I received the car on 08/17/2021 after the steering column & shaft were replaced along with resurfacing front brake rotors & rear brake job. On August 18, 2021 while driving on the freeway I went to blow my horn at a hazardous situation & discovered none of the steering wheels controls were working, horn & etc. I immediately returned my car to Mark Chevrolet & reported their negligence & how they had risk my life to release the car without these functions working. They supposedly corrected the problem. On 07/05/2022 I had to return my car to Mark Chevrolet because I was experiencing the identical problem with my steering wheel vibrating & make noise. My cars mileage was only 137641 less than a year later with just 4,297 miles driven. They claimed to have tightened something up in the column & returned my car on 07/12/2022. As I was driving on 07/16/2022 again the steering wheel started vibrating & making strange loud noises. I felt so unsafe & tried to make it home safely driving at a reduced speed. I plan to return the car this week back to Mark Chevrolet and am asking for support to rectify this situation. I understand there was a recall on Chevrolet HHR 2009 Steering Electric Power Assist System. I don't know if this issue is related to that. I never received communication from General Motors stating that my vehicle was affected but apparently there is a problem. Please Help!

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #131

Jul 282021

HHR

  • 145,853 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that after parking, a popping noise was present coming from inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact discovered flames coming from the interior roof dome lights. The contact used water to extinguish the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,853.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #130

Jul 252021

HHR

  • 145,385 miles
The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that a loud popping sound was heard after exiting the vehicle. The contact turned around and saw fire coming from inside the roof of the vehicle. The fire was coming from the rear interior roof light. The contact was able to put out the fire with water. No police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 145,385. The VIN was unavailable.

- Lockport, LA, USA

problem #129

Mar 302021

HHR

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving about 30 miles an hour in town when the check engine light started to Flash then immediately following all the dashlight started to Flash and then not a second later the car shut off the steering will locked the brakes locked up And all the doors were locked So at 30 miles an hour the brakes locked up the steering wheel locked so I couldn't turn the wheel and the car shut off There were no injuries thank God

- Gordonville , TX, USA

problem #128

Apr 022021

HHR

  • 105,000 miles
My steering wheel begins to violently shake, onset about 10 minutes into driving, speeding up or braking has no effect on the frequency or level of shake. My steering wheel will be normal, about 10 minutes into the drive, going the same speed will begin to shake. I can stop and park the car, restart it, will not shake until I am driving again about 10 minutes into the drive. While shaking, it becomes very difficult to move the steering wheel even to get into the next lane. This has happened while city driving, I am too afraid to take it on the highway or go over 40 mph as I feel like I have no control of the vehicle when the steering wheel shakes.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #127

Apr 042021

HHR

  • 60,000 miles
Started smelling smoke and the whole vehicle shut down with the being stuck on ignition. Couldn't open the doors and smoke was billowing out and fire start coming out of lower middle console. Luckily was able to open door and exit vehicle. Fire then erupted and quickly traveled straight down the center console to the rear of the car. Within minutes the car was totally engulfed in flames and was completely burned to nothing. Suffered several burns and smoke inhalation and the car and every thing in it was destroyed

- Cutler Bay, FL, USA

problem #126

Mar 132021

HHR

  • 189,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car's power steering has dangerously disappeared while I was driving on the highway. The power steering came on on the dashboard and I had to stir the car with so much force to get off the highway. I had my 10-year-old son with me on his way to school. No one knows why this happened and I can't drive it with a 10-year-old boy who I have to get to school and myself and my wife to work. Mechanic after mechanic no one can tell why the power steering wont work. Please help!

- Far Rockaway, NY, USA

problem #125

Aug 162020

HHR

  • 162,000 miles
Brake lights remain to be on as pedal is not pressed and ESC, traction control do not work also this is a hazard to the point where I have had road rage against me because of the brake lights not turning off issue needs to be resolved through GM as a recall on these vehicles this is not the only 2009 Chevy HHR that has had this problem

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #124

Oct 012017

HHR

  • 39,000 miles
The service ecs does not go off. Theirfor the car will not go unless the roads are completely free of snow and ice. The car just sits and spins. Traction control light on constantly.can not drive car in winter months

- Port Crane, NY, USA

problem #123

Jun 062019

HHR

  • 100,000 miles
Chevrolet HHR 2009, doors mechanism. Door latches stop working and can open at a turn or while driving. Or latch can lock you in unable to get out of vehicle in an accident and or emergency. I was driving home and back door flew wide open I had not opened it at all but when doors lock and open they all do so the back latch opened never closing unaware of this the door flew open almost causing an accident at an intersection.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #122

Jul 172018

HHR

  • 165,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

For the last month my electrical system has been going haywire, all of a sudden all my gauges start fluctuating and all service indicator lights will come on and after the car is off for a while all warning lights will go off. This morning on my way to work my security lock and ESC warning lights came on and when I stop and start to go again the car feels like it is getting hit from behind. My two rear windows no longer work, front passenger door will not unlock automatically and driver door handle is broken. I have seen a lot of electrical issues on this site, yet there have been no recalls. What is going on??

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #121

Dec 102017

HHR

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. While driving at an unspecified rate of speed, the curtain air bags deployed with force on the driver's and front passenger sides. The driver's hearing was impacted for days after the air bag deployment. A head injury was sustained and the air bags had to be maneuvered for the driver to exit the vehicle. Medical treatment was not received. The vehicle was not diagnosed; however, ourisman Chevrolet of bowie (16610 governor bridge rd, bowie, md 20716, (301) 262-7600) was contacted. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residence. The manufacturer was to investigate the failure to determine what caused the air bags to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact and the driver were waiting for a response from the manufacturer pertaining to the failure and to address NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) and 14V171000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Berwyn Heights, MD, USA

problem #120

Jul 282017

HHR

  • 1,088,223 miles
The var jerks when it reaches gear changes and makes it harder to steer and the check engin light stays on. Shows error code U0101

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #119

Aug 302017

HHR

  • 80,000 miles
One night after work I got into my car and had no headlights after having bulb changed three times!!! this car has cost me more money then any car I have ever owned and there's not even 100000 miles on it the whole car should be recalled

- St Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #118

Nov 302016

HHR

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key fob would inadvertently function when she attempted to open the vehicle doors. Also, the hydraulic for the hatchback would cause it to independently open. The contact had to use a stick to keep the hatchback from closing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

- Neworleans, LA, USA

problem #117

Nov 292015

HHR

  • 32,000 miles
The ESC has gone out and the turn signals work, but now I have to turn them off manually. The ignition has been replaced twice. Once when it was new because the ignition would not turn off. The second time was a recall. The digital display which includes the radio, and information system turns on and off intermittently.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #116

Oct 182016

HHR

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled and the ESC warning indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that the security lock warning indicator also illuminated. The contact had to make multiple attempts of turning the ignition key back and forth before the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #115

Oct 052016

HHR

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power. After attempting to manually restart the vehicle, the contact stated that the key could not be turned to start the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system); however, the recall could not be performed because the technician could not remove the ignition cylinder. The contact was informed that, in order to remedy the failure, they would have to fracture and detach the housing at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 138,000. Parts distribution disconnect. The VIN was not provided.

- Cadiz, KY, USA

problem #114

Oct 102009

HHR

  • 54,285 miles
The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled and the steering wheel seized without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the head, a fractured arm, and a fractured femur that required medical attention. The contact also stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the reverse gear failed to engage when the shift selector was placed into the reverse position. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,285.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #113

Dec 132015

HHR

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 45 mph, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not repaired. The failure mileage was 119,000.

- Tampa, FL, USA

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