2008 Chevrolet HHR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
616 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,402 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 495 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 294 of 616 complaints (47.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 300 | 48.7% |
| Braking behavior | 74 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 59 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 30 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 2.1% |
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 | 294 |
| Electrical System | 94 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 71 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 37 |
| Air Bags | 33 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
Steering: 294; Electrical System: 94; Fuel/Propulsion System: 71; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 37; Air Bags: 33; Engine: 20; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 19; Unknown Or Other: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 74 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 71 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 97 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 111 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 110 |
| 150,000 and above | 32 |
Under 25,000: 74; 25,000 to 49,999: 71; 50,000 to 74,999: 97; 75,000 to 99,999: 111; 100,000 to 149,999: 110; 150,000 and above: 32
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (111). 121 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 23 |
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 63 |
| 2014 | 179 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2008: 32; 2009: 25; 2010: 25; 2011: 23; 2012: 33; 2013: 63; 2014: 179; 2015: 52; 2016: 33; 2017: 27; 2018: 28; 2019: 18; 2020: 28; 2021: 27; 2022: 9; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 300 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 59 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 10237137 · 2008-08-01 (August 1, 2008)
2008 CHEVY HHR WITH A BURNING HAIR ODOR INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED RUNNING. SHE STATES THAT WHEN IT SHUT OFF HE HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEAKERS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10237137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250567 · 2008-12-03 (December 3, 2008)
JUST BOUGHT AN 2008 HHR 18000 MILES ON IT DROVE IT HOME THEN WENT TO GO OUT AND NOW THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. KEY JUST GOES IN AND OUT. THE 800 SERVICE PEOPLE NO HELP JUST SAID JIGGLE KEYS AND KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN... ANY ANSWERS OUT THERE??? THINK THEY NEED A RECALL AFTER READING SO MANY PROBLEMS THE HHR IGNITION SWITCH HAS... SOME EVEN SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO SHUTOFF AND THEY KEYS ARE STUCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,886 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220955 · 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR SS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE TO FUNCTION. THE BRAKES USE AN OPTIMIZED ASSIST AND THE BRAKES WOULD RESPOND SLOWLY. IT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO RESPOND SLOWLY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNABLE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT ARE NOT MAKING CONSUMERS AWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON JANUARY 24, 2008 FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER DID NOT RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221567 · 2008-03-18 (March 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENED. APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219325 · 2008-02-27 (February 27, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248416 · 2008-11-11 (November 11, 2008)
CHEVY HHR 2008 - COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT. COULDN'T UNLOCK DOORS OR WINDOW TO ESCAPE VEHICLE. CALLED 911 FAIRFIELD CT, FIRE DEPT RESPONDED TO OPEN VEHICLE. TRAPPED INSIDE FOR 15 MINUTES. PROBLEM WITH CAR'S FUSE BOX, CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER JUST 10 MINUTES EARLIER TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-95. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,247 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233770 · 2008-07-10 (July 10, 2008)
CAR STALLS WHILE TURNING, IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY CAN'T FIND DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A LOANER CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254142 · 2009-01-07 (January 7, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND STALLED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. HE HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED RIGHT BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268404 · 2009-05-11 (May 11, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT UNIT MELTED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS NEXT TO THE GAS TANK AND SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER VEHICLE EXPLODING. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521195 · 2013-06-22 (June 22, 2013)
THE IGNITION IS LOCKED IN THE ON POSITION. IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF S TO REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND THEN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 177,871 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242931 · 2008-09-19 (September 19, 2008)
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY HHR SS TURBO WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT HAS ONLY ABOUT 1400 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES. AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE OVERNIGHT OR WHILE AT WORK FOR 12 HOURS WHEN I FIRST GET INTO THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. THEY ARE VERY HARD AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WORK. I DONE MY RESEARCH AND CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T HAVE THE FIX AVAILABLE YET. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283505 · 2009-09-10 (September 10, 2009)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE STRUCK A SMALL PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCTURED THE TRANSFER CASE. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE SHIELD WAS MISSING, THE DEBRIS WAS ABLE TO PUNCTURE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSMISSION, GASKET, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,031- UPDATED 10/09/09 *CN UPDATED 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,031 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283505 at NHTSA ↗