U.S. public vehicle records

2007 Chevrolet HHR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

726 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

74,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 597 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 420 of 726 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	428	59.0%
Braking behavior	62	8.5%
Electrical and battery issues	53	7.3%
Engine operation	43	5.9%
Fuel system concerns	17	2.3%
Transmission and shifting	12	1.7%

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.

Steering

420

Electrical System

105

Air Bags

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Structure:Body

Suspension

Steering: 420; Electrical System: 105; Air Bags: 45; Fuel/Propulsion System: 43; Power Train: 32; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 27; Structure:Body: 20; Suspension: 19

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

150

75,000 to 99,999

121

100,000 to 149,999

132

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 65; 25,000 to 49,999: 87; 50,000 to 74,999: 150; 75,000 to 99,999: 121; 100,000 to 149,999: 132; 150,000 and above: 42

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (150). 129 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.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

198

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2007: 8; 2008: 35; 2009: 23; 2010: 47; 2011: 53; 2012: 59; 2013: 72; 2014: 198; 2015: 64; 2016: 40; 2017: 38; 2018: 26; 2019: 13; 2020: 17; 2021: 12; 2022: 6; 2023: 4; 2024: 4; 2025: 6; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 428 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 53 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 10196891 · 2007-07-19 (July 19, 2007)

WE WERE DRIVING WEST ON I-40 IN AZ. A 2 TON TRUCK WITH A LONG FLAT TRAILER BLEW IT'S FRONT DRIVERS TIRE. THE TIRE CAME INTO OUR LANE MY HUSBAND SWERVED TO MISS IT THEN THE TRUCK CAME INTO OUR LANE FORCING US OFF THE ROAD MY HUSBAND COULDN'T GAIN CONTROL OF THE CHEVY HHR AGAIN. IT SENT US INTO A ROLLOVER WE ROLLED 2-3 TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR ALL COLLAPSED AROUND MY HUSBAND THE ROOF FORCED HIS NECK DOWN. THE ROOF ENDED UP DOWN TO THE STEERING WHEEL. MY HUSBAND SUFFERED A CRACK IN HIS 3RD C-SPINE & A BROKEN THUMB & LACERATED FING…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196891 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10214349 · 2008-01-09 (January 9, 2008)

I AM HAVING TIRE PROBLEMS, PREMATURE WEAR ON FRONT, AND KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT STEERING, TOOK IT TO I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY REPLACED THE STEERING ASSY, BUT DID NOTHING WITH TIRES, NOW I NEED TIRES AND HAVE GONE TO 5 DIFFERENT TIRE STORES, AND ALL OF THEM STATE THAT THE TIRES I HAVE ON MY 2007 CHEVROLET HHR 2.2 DOHC, ARE NOT THE PROPER ONES FOR THE VEHICLE RATING. AND NO ONE CARRIES THEM. AND IF THEY DID THEY WOULD BE 175.00 PER TIRE, TIRES IN MENTION ARE P215/50 R17 90T, I WOULD EXPECT FULL TIRE REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE TO MYSEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214349 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10184507 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)

BRAKE FUILD LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. CALLED ONSTAR TO RUN A DIANOSIC , THEY SAID THAT IT HAD AN ABS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,726 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10211692 · 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)

2007 CHEVROLET HHR WITH TERRIBLE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. HE ALSO STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A RENTAL CAR WHICH WAS A CHEVY HHR. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10211692 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10241207 · 2008-09-06 (September 6, 2008)

THE CHEVY HHR SHOULD BE RECALLED I WILL RIGHT TO MY CONGRESSMAN, NEW PAPER MY SENATOR AND EVERYONE ELSE UNTIL YOU RECALL THE CHEVY HHR FOR CUTTING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING, I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING AND MY CAR SHUT OFF WHEN PASSING OVER A BUMP, OR DRIVING IN FRONT OF A TRUCK AND IT JUST SHUTTING OFF, IT HAS SHUT OFF APPROX 28 TIMES AND STILL GOING STRONG AND NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING NOT EVEN GM AND OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM CORRODED PLUGS, FAULTY REMOTE CONTROLS KEY FOB BATTERY LOW, GEAR SHIFT HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10263564 · 2009-03-29 (March 29, 2009)

WHILE WORKING ON MY CAR AND CLEANING I DISCOVERED I AM DRIVING A BOMB. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT DIRECTLY OVER THE GAS TANK A REAR END COLLISION WOULD SET OFF AN IMMEDIATE FIRE OR EXLPLOSION FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, SPARK, OR BATTERY EXPLOSION, SHOULD THE GAS TANK OR ANY CONNECTIONS TO BE BROKEN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10232018 · 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE UPWARD POSITION. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,100.

Owner-reported narrative. 32,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232018 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10237095 · 2008-08-05 (August 5, 2008)

THE CHEVY HHR PLUGS ARE CORRODED AND THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR STALLS WHEN HITTING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR NOT WHILE DRIVE AT A HIGH SPEED. NO WARNING LIGHT. STALLS 17 TIMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10443769 · 2012-01-13 (January 13, 2012)

CHECK ENGINE CODE P1174 INJECTOR FAILURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10200510 · 2007-08-22 (August 22, 2007)

CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 70 MPH WENT UP A MEDIUM HILL THE SPEED WENT DOWN TO 65 MPH, TRANSMISSION DOWMSHIFTS ,CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES FLAT OUT TO 75 MPH BEFORE IT RELEASES. UNSETTLING WHEN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAYS ALL HOURS ACT THE SAME WAY AND IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200510 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10214758 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)

PURCHASED 2007 HHR NEW IN OCTOBER 2006. WITH ONLY 249 MILES ON THE CAR, I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED A LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END. THE COULD NOT VERIFY THE NOISE. SINCE THEN THEY REPLACED TWO SHIFT ASSEMBLIES, ONE STEERING COLUMN AND IN NOVEMBER 2007 THEY REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUT. THE BANGING NOISE WAS STILL THERE. NOW THEY THINK IT MAY BE THE CHASSIS TWEAKING ,BUT STILL CANNOT FIND OR FIX THE THE RATTLING NOISE. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE CAR SURGES WHEN STARTING IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 249 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214758 at NHTSA ↗