RoadVitals

2009 Hummer H3 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Jan 6, 2025
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.
14%
of 69 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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Hummer H3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2009 Hummer H3. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact waited for a while before the vehicle started. The contact stated that the vehicle was slow to start. The contact stated that while her husband was at the store, he waited for 15 minutes before the vehicle started. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery and starter, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11634368
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 12, 2020

PERIODICALLY 2-3 TIMES A YEAR FOR PAST 6 YEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH CAR WILL DIE, WHEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAR WILL NOT RESTART, MAY RESTART AFTER 10 MINUTES OR AFTER TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP,TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SEVERAL TIMES TO HIGH END INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOPS, NO ERROR CODE EVER FOUND. READ ON HUMMER FORUMS ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND FAULT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11324231
Incident
Mar 10, 2020
Mileage
91,350 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 5, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VISITED HILEY BUICK GMC (3535 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, (817) 349-6235), BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11184440
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 28, 2018

2009 HUMMER H3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND OTHER VEHICLE ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD *CN

NHTSA ID
10682300
Incident
Oct 8, 2014
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS ENGINE AILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10885538
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 11, 2016

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED @ 36954 MILES. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER (JUST 2 DAYS AGO) @ ONLY 53500 MILES I NOTICED AN ANTIFREEZE SMELL. NO VISIBLE PUDDLE UNDERNEATH. AFTER MONITORING FOR 1 DAY MORE POPPED THE HOOD THIS MORNING AND A BIT OF ANTIFREEZE SEEMS TO BE SPRAYING FROM THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. AFTER JUST GOOGLING ONCE FOR "HUMMER H3 RADIATOR LEAK" THE TOP LINK LEADS TO HUMMERFORUMS.COM IN WHICH IS LOGGED MANY MANY MANY OWNERS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS UP THE THE PRESENT HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. PER WHAT IS DESCRIBED ON THE 52 PAGES DEDICATED TO THIS ONE THREAD AND FROM WHAT I SEE ON MY OWN VEHICLE THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW. IT SEEMS A RARE FEW DEALERSHIPS ARE OWNING UP TO THIS "FLAW" AND CHARGING A SMALL AMOUNT IF ANY TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHILE OTHERS ARE PLEADING IGNORANCE/INNOCENCE AND MAKING THE PLETHORA OF CUSTOMERS EAT THE NEARLY $800 DEALERSHIP REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE FLAW APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO METAL CHASSIS PARTS RUBBING ON THE PLASTIC RADIATOR TOP CREATING A HOLE AND A VIBRATORY EFFECT WEAKENING THAT PLASTIC CAUSING A CRACK.

NHTSA ID
10864364
Incident
May 11, 2016
Mileage
53,500 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 1, 2016

EVERY SO OFTEN THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND MY HUMMER WON'T START. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE I CAN START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. ITS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. THERE WAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED IT STARTING TO ACT UP. I SLICED MY FINGERS OPEN ON A JOB AND HAD TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BUT MY HUMMER WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SECURITY FAILURE. I LOST A LOT OF BLOOD IN MY HAND SITTING WAITING THE 10 MINUTES. THE DOCTOR SAID I MIGHT LOSE THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS BECAUSE IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET THERE. I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAD WORSE SITUATIONS, BUT I SEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.

NHTSA ID
10839148
Incident
Feb 23, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 10, 2015

THE HUMMER WOULD NOT START, THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN, WITH BATTERY IN GREAT CONDITION, SIGNS OF FAULTY IGNITION AND PASSIVE LOCK SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10747647
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
79,772 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 16, 2015

P2135 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH A/B VOLTAGE CORRELATION THAT PUTS THE VEHICLE INTO ?STABILITRAK DISABLED", "TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED", AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". WHILE THERE IS A TSB#11-06-04-007B REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WARRANTY COVERAGE; UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY ENGINE. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS A WIDELY KNOW ISSUE, AND THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONDITIONS, ONE WOULD THINK THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED UNDER THIS TSB EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. 12/04/2014: FIRST SERVICE ATTEMPT: CLEAR CODE EVERYTHING TESTS FINE, LET?S SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. 12/10/2014: SECOND SERVICE ATTEMPT: BOTH THROTTLE BODY AND ACC PEDAL POSITION SENSOR TESTED "GOOD". WEAK BATTERY - REPLACE BATTERY. 12/22/2014: THIRD SERVICE ATTEMPT: TECH REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. RELEARNED THROTTLE/IDLE. 12/26/2014: FORTH SERVICE ATTEMPT: RELEARNED THROTTLE/IDLE PROCEDURE. 01/13/2015: FIFTH SERVICE ATTEMPT: REPROGRAM AND APPLY 6 UPDATES TO ECM. 01/14/2015: CODE THROWN AGAIN: DEALERSHIP ADVISING TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY (BUT UNCERTAIN THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM)? *TR

NHTSA ID
10673043
Incident
Nov 27, 2014
Mileage
74,100 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2012

AT APPROXIMATELY 49,000 MILE MARK, VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE IE. GROAN, CLICKING, USUALLY BETWEEN 10-20MPH, WOULD DISAPPEAR,THEN RETURNED BETWEEN 30-40MPH AND DISAPPEAR AGAIN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES TO DEALER. FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT BRAKES/ROTORS, COST $120. NOISE STILL THERE. SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT SHOCKS (COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT PART NOT IN STOCK HAVE TO RTN A THIRD TIME). THIRD TIME, THEY REPLACED FRONT SHOCKS(COVERED BY WARRANTY), NOISE STILL THERE. FORTH TIME, STATED IT WAS THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND TWO HEAT SHIELD (ALSO COVERED BY WARRANTY). NOISE IS STILL THERE BUT VERY FAINT IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY. DEALER SAYS THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ELSE AND AGREE NOISE IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE. WILL WAIT ANOTHER FEW MONTHS UNTIL VEHICLE IS DUE TO BE RTN AT END OF LEASE TERM. THANK GOODNESS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10452179
Incident
Mar 9, 2012
Mileage
49,000 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 .