2006 Chevrolet HHR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,006 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
70,822 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 843 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 448 of 1,006 complaints (44.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 507 | 50.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 121 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 94 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 63 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 448 |
| Electrical System | 185 |
| Air Bags | 58 |
| Power Train | 47 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 47 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 44 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 41 |
| Structure:Body | 41 |
Steering: 448; Electrical System: 185; Air Bags: 58; Power Train: 47; Structure:Body:Door: 47; Fuel/Propulsion System: 44; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 41; Structure:Body: 41
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 105 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 147 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 196 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 150 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 171 |
| 150,000 and above | 74 |
Under 25,000: 105; 25,000 to 49,999: 147; 50,000 to 74,999: 196; 75,000 to 99,999: 150; 100,000 to 149,999: 171; 150,000 and above: 74
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (196). 163 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2010 | 105 |
| 2011 | 96 |
| 2012 | 93 |
| 2013 | 82 |
| 2014 | 265 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2005: 6; 2006: 16; 2007: 34; 2008: 51; 2009: 51; 2010: 105; 2011: 96; 2012: 93; 2013: 82; 2014: 265; 2015: 55; 2016: 52; 2017: 34; 2018: 17; 2019: 16; 2020: 16; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 507 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 121 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10148021 · 2006-01-18 (January 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MESSAGE BOARD FLASHED POWER STEERING, WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 02/28/06
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168354 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)
ONE DAY THE RADIO WOULD NOT CHANGE STATIONS, I USED THE CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RADIO TURNED UP ALL THE WAY AND WOULD NOT TURN DOWN UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER THEY TESTED AND ORDERED A NEW RADIO. NOT INSTALLED YET. A FEW DAYS LATER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GOT REAL DIM AND WOULD NOT GET BRIGHTER UNLESS I TURNED THE AUTO LIGHTS OFF. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ABOUT A WEEK LATER,WENT OUT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THEY JUMPED IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143027 · 2005-11-17 (November 17, 2005)
BODY MODULE FAILED DURING IGNITION OFF CONDITION. AIR BAGS REMAINED POWERED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. AIR BAGS COULD DEPLOY DURING IGNITION OFF POSITION CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD TO FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS LOADING OR UNLOADING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200259 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING SHORT CIRCUITED IN THE STEERING HARNESS AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141398 · 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)
DT:THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE TAIL LIGHTS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ONE COULD NOT SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WORKED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 26 DAYS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVROLET HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM, AND THEY STILL COULD NOT TELL HIM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND IT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAD STOPPED W…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,166 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178165 · 2007-01-09 (January 9, 2007)
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON OUR CHEVY HHR LOCKED UP WHEN ATTEMPTING A NORMAL STOP, AND STAYED IN THE LOCKED POSITION EVEN AFTER FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. IF NOT FOR A TURNING LANE BEING OPEN A COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT I NEED TO POST THIS AND SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214932 · 2008-01-15 (January 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER. HE NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS AND AAA TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR IF ONE WERE TO DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. IT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COLLECT WATER AND MOISTURE. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTU…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218249 · 2008-02-17 (February 17, 2008)
THE CAR HAS STALLED AS A RESULT OF THE KEY MOVING FROM THE RUN TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION WHEN DRIVING OVER A LARGE BUMP. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED FROM THE BUMP, BUT THE IGNITION IS LOOSE ENOUGH THAT THE KEY MOVED AND THE CAR STALLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170661 · 2006-10-12 (October 12, 2006)
AT 5,00 MILES THE SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALER TRIED REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF ON GOING PROBLEM, THEY SENT A REP WHO SAID THE NOISE WAS A USUAL NOISE. SERVICE MANAGER REQUESTED A SECOND OPINION FROM MANUFACTURE. CAR NOW HAS 14,500 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. AS OF THIS DATE WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANOTHER REP TO LOOK AT IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192630 · 2007-06-07 (June 7, 2007)
MY SHIFTING LEVER WENT OUT IN MY CAR, THE REASON WHY I THINK ITS A DEFECT.IS BECAUSE ONE OF MY NEIHBORS BOUGHT THE SAME EXACT CAR I HAVE AND HERS WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AGO. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE BULITENS PEOPLE HAVE WROTE ABOUT THERES GOING OUT. 2006 CHEVY HHR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243529 · 2008-09-26 (September 26, 2008)
ON OR ABOUT 30AUG08 AL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2006 CHEVY HHR LEAKED CAUSING THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK 7 TIMES. TO CORRECT OTHER ISSUES. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. IT TOOK 30 DAYS TO GET THE PART, AND GENERAL MOTORS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK OVER 300 PICTURES OF THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475519 · 2012-09-16 (September 16, 2012)
AFTER TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER (APPROX 130 MILES ROUNDTRIP) AS I EXITED THE FWY THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMAL EXCEPT FOR I WAS ON EMPTY AT THIS POINT. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. UPON ACCELERATION AT APPROX. 10-15MPH THE CAR MADE A HARD JERKING MOTION AS THOUGH IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS HOWEVER MY 06 HHR IS AN AUTOMATIC. AT THIS POINT I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOW ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME AND DID NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475519 at NHTSA ↗