RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Hhr Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Mar 29, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 508 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Hhr submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH at night, the low-beam headlights became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local mechanic which replaced the headlight bulbs; however, the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,087

NHTSA ID
11458863
Incident
Mar 15, 2021
Mileage
172,087 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 12, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11354570
Incident
Aug 16, 2020
Mileage
162,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 5, 2017

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

NHTSA ID
11021561
Incident
Aug 30, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS AND BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 05/18/16*LJ

NHTSA ID
10846507
Incident
Sep 9, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2015

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT FLICKER CONSTANTLY, DOES THIS IN PARK AND DURING DRIVING, NOTICED LATELY THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ALSO DIMMING AT START UP.

NHTSA ID
10722065
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
78,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Jul 19, 2014

TOOK MY CAR N FOR THE ENGINE RECALL FIVE DAYS LATER I NOTICE MY HEAD LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE IS OUT. ON THE 18TH IM INFORMED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE IS OUT. PLUS ONE OF MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHT IS OUT. BASICALLY THE LIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR ARE OUT. ALSO THE STEERING WILL SHAKE WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND SLOWING IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10614680
Incident
Jul 10, 2013
Mileage
80,857 mi
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed May 21, 2014

THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE IS TICKING. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN....I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM [XXX] MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED 7/27/14 [XXX] IS CHARGING ME 135.00 AN HOUR FOR THE DIAGNOSIS THIS IS NOT FAIR. MAY IPLEASE RECEIVE SOME ARBITRATION AND NOT PAY THIS CHARGE SECOND SUBJECT: [XXX] CHARGED ME $200.00 FOR REPLACING MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY REFUSED TO REFUND ME. SINCE THIS A RECALLED ITEM I SHOULD HAD NEVER BEEN CHARGED PLEASE REFUND ME MY MONEY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10593023
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
49,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 19, 2014

HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS NUMEROUS TIMES! THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10573377
Incident
Jun 20, 2013
Mileage
65,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 2, 2014

HEADLAMPS ON MY 2009 CHEVROLET HHR BURN OUT PREMATURELY, VERY RAPIDLY. I AM NOW REPLACING THE THIRD HEADLAMP FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. I AVERAGE ROUGHLY 10,000-12,000 BEFORE I NEED TO REPLACE BULBS. MY DRIVER SIDE LAMP WAS OUT, AND TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE LAMP WENT OUT. HEADLAMP BULBS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF HOW COSTLY THEY ARE, SHOULD NOT BE BURNING OUT EVERY 10-12,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558237
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
39,655 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2012

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2009 CHEVROLET HHR BURN OUT PREMATURELY. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER HEADLAMP BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS APPROX. EVERY 10000 15000 MILES. MY FEAR IS THAT BOTH BULBS WILL BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NO LIGHTS. THESE LIGHT BULBS APPEAR TO HAVE A MUCH GREATER FAILURE RATE THAN MOST VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478504
Incident
Mar 2, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 6, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH UNTIL THEY WERE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. HOWEVER, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT CANCEL IN A TIMELY MANNER AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. UPDATED 08/14/12

NHTSA ID
10464396
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
25,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2012

7/10 - CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS INOP. DEALER REPLACED INTERNALLY SHORTED RELAY. WARRANTY 11/10 - ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK/SERVICE AIRBAG & POWER STEERING MSG ON DIC. DEALER TOWED IN, REPLACED STARTER AND FOUND LOSS OF COMM W/ BCM DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT. DEALER REPLACED BCM. WARRANTY 12/10 - ENGINE TURNS OVER WONT START. DEALER TOWED IN, FOUND POWER TRAIN RELAY OPEN. REPLACED RELAY. WARRANTY 4/11 - SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT. DEALER FOUND OPEN CIRCUIT AT PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG. RECONNECTOR CONNECTOR ADDED DIELECTRICAL GREASE. STABILITRACK LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON (EVER). WAS TOLD SYSTEM IS OKAY, SOME MODELS DON'T HAVE WARNING LIGHTS. (GO FIGURE, WILL NOT RETURN TO THAT DEALER) WARRANTY 2/12 - SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT. COMES ON AND GOES OUT 3 - 4 TIMES DURING FIRST 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING FIRST TRIP OF THE DAY. HAPPENS 90% OF THE TIME. IF I CAN FIND A DEALER I CAN TRUST I WILL HAVE THEM CHECK THIS AND THE STABILITRACK PROBLEM. MILEAGE IS NOW 63,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450134
Incident
Jul 28, 2010
Mileage
25,104 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 27, 2011

VISITING MY DAUGHTER. STARTED TO GO HOME. THE HEAD LAMPS WOULD NOT COME ON. AFTER 10 OR 15 MINUTES OF TURNING SWITCHES, TURNING MOTOR OFF AND ON, NOTHING WORKED. SO HERE AM I STUCK MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WONT COME ON. IN FURSTRATION I SLAPPED THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT,IT CAME ON. SO I WALKED TO THE OTHER SIDE AND GAVE IT A SLAP,AND IT CAME ON. WE DROVE THE THIRTY MILES HOME WORRYING IF THEY WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. GOT HOME OK. NOW WE HAVE TO HIT BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO GET THEM ON.THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY TO EVEN GET TO THE HEAD LIGHTS. WHY WOULD GM ALLOW SUCH DESIGN IS BE ON REASON. GOOD LUCK HHR OWNERS MY WIFE HAS ALREADY EXPERINCED THE LOCK IGNITION SYNDROME, WHEN THE KEY WONT COME OUT. WHY DOESNT THE NHTSA HELP US HHR OWNERS *TT

NHTSA ID
10427677
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2009

FAILURE OF BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS IN NEW 2009 CHEVY HHR. FIRST TIME DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT, I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO LOW BEAMS. TOOK THE CAR TO MEDVED CHEVY IN CASTLE ROCK, CO WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. SERVICE REPORTED "LOW BEAMS INOP; FOUND OPEN IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, REPLACED SWITCH". COPY OF SERVICE INVOICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286162
Incident
Sep 24, 2009
Mileage
2,852 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .