Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Hhr submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
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.
Fuel line/s started leaking just infront of the left rear wheel about 06/27/2023. Ignition switch started sticking about 06/22/2023.
The gauge cluster is not working.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
PURGE VENT VALVE GROUND WIRE KEEPS BREAKING OFF IN THE WIRING HARNESS DUE TO NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION(FROM THE ELEMENTS)AND CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON(P0449 -PURGE VENT VALVE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION) AND SOMETIMES HAVE A GAS ORDER IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS ONGOING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON HOW TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE WITH THIS ISSUE.
ON SEPTEMBER 20 2016 WHILE PARKED AFTER PICKING UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. MY KIDS GOT INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND WHEN CLOSING, THE DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT. THE LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH ONTO THE BAR TO KEEP THE DOOR SHUT. UPPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF CHEVY HHR OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CAR DOOR LOCKS AS WELL. THE LOCK ACTUATOR NO LONGER FUNCTIONING CAUSING THE LATCH TO NONLINEAR WORK. CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. WE CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND STAY SHUT. IT JUST POPS RIGHT BACK OPEN. SEEING HOW MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS THERE ARE ONLINE, THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVY AND GM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR IN THE PAST AS WELL. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. AT TIMES, EVEN WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCONNECTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY DID NOT REMAIN IN THE IGNITION AND HE FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WAS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN SPEED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,818.
IGNITION RECALL , THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE . I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WHEN LEAVING KEY IN IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION , ALL DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND A LOT OF CLICKING NOISE AND WILL ALL LOCK DOORS . THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON , WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND RESTART CAR IT GOES OUT . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SWITCH DEFECTIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT , OR CHECK INTO THE MATTER WITH OUT CHARGING ME A SERVICE FEE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS . I TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES , AND CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY , AND OTHER THAT COULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT .
IN COLDER TEMPERATURES MY CAR SPUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING AND RPMS JUMP QUICKLY FROM 2 TO 3 AND THEN BACK DOWN. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO MAY TURN OFF, ALL DASH GAUGES (FUEL, SPEED, RPMS) GO TO 0, VARIOUS SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON (NOT ALWAYS THE SAME) AND THEN EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. CAR WORKS FINE IN WARMER TEMPERATURES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2013 AND WHEN PLUGGED IN THERE WERE REPORTS IF 20 THINGS WRONG AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSAND TO CHECK ALL OF THE ISSUES BEING REPORTED. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALTHOUGH THEY WERE VERY NICE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HELP DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE WAS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SERVICE PLACE AND WHILE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE PROBLEM THEY PUT DIELECTRIC GREASE ON ALL MY ELECTRONIC CONNECTIONS IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD AND IT WORKED FINE THE REST IF THE WINTER. THEY SAID IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT I CAME IN WHEN I DID BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IF I DROVE IT ANY LONGER I WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN 2014, I HAD THEM DO THE SAME "FIX". NOW IN 2015 IT HAS STARTED BACK UP AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE SERVICE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED AND HESITATED AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. UPON TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE COMPUTER RESET AND THE WARNING LIGHTS DIMMED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2011 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JANUARY 8, 2013, AS HE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HE HIT A POT HOLE IN THE ALLEY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF. HE HIS SOME HEDGES AND A SNOW BANK AND PUT A DENT IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEXT DAY, HIS BACK, LEGS AND FEET WERE NUMB. *JB UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/20/2017*CN
I WILL BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WILL GO OUT BEEN IN THE SHOP 10 TIMES TOTAL STILL CANT FIX
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. THE POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED IN PARKED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS LOCKED WITHOUT COMMAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,900.
THE RADIO HAS BEEN GOING OUT WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WOULDN'T DO IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN BUT THEN WE HAD THE RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THAT WAS REPAIRED AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE. THIS MORNING IT POPPED AND SIZE LED IN THE DASH AND THRU THE RADIO EVEN AFTER TURNING THE RADIO AND CAR OFF. IT DID START BACK UP BUT EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP THE RADIO MAY GO OUT. I CALLED CHEV AND THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL 11/17. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THESE HHR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, WHICH RESULTED IN TWO CRASHES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER EACH CRASH. THE FIRST CRASH OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE SECOND CRASH OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS CRASHED INTO A TREE. POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED FOR BOTH CRASHES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER BOTH CRASHES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING.. CAR SUDDENLY STALLED LOSING POWER STEERING ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ON GAGES FLICKERING CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN. UNABLE TO START. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .