2010 Chevrolet HHR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
515 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 413 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 230 of 515 complaints (44.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 239 | 46.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 61 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 39 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 1.9% |
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 | 230 |
| Electrical System | 111 |
| Air Bags | 49 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 46 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Structure:Body | 21 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 21 |
Steering: 230; Electrical System: 111; Air Bags: 49; Fuel/Propulsion System: 46; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 32; Service Brakes: 25; Structure:Body: 21; Structure:Body:Door: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 94 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 139 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 75 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 94; 50,000 to 74,999: 139; 75,000 to 99,999: 75; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 21
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (139). 102 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 59 |
| 2013 | 93 |
| 2014 | 122 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2010: 7; 2011: 25; 2012: 59; 2013: 93; 2014: 122; 2015: 43; 2016: 41; 2017: 28; 2018: 18; 2019: 14; 2020: 18; 2021: 11; 2022: 15; 2023: 17; 2024: 4
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 239 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 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 10396827 · 2011-04-19 (April 19, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ABNORMALLY AS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JUMP WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SPORADIC FAILURE FOUR TIMES WHERE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, LUBRICATED THE HIGH SPEED LAND MODULAR CONNECTORS AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THE FOURTH VISIT TO THE DEALER, PER THE MANUFACTURER, THE DEALER WAS ADVISED NOT TO PERFORM ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER W…
Owner-reported narrative. 277 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418966 · 2011-08-10 (August 10, 2011)
WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING IS OPERATIVE FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN FAILS AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,293 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10396594 · 2011-04-17 (April 17, 2011)
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE TO SHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION INTO DRIVE ON A FEW OCCASIONS. HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, RESTART AND THEN PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN FIRMLY AND HOLD. SHIFT MECHANISM OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THAT EVENT. *TR NOT SURE IF THIS IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE? I WOULD SUSPECT ELECTRICAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,536 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407016 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE KEY TO BECOME STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER CONFIRM THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AS 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363504 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
THREE WEEKS AGO MY 2007 CHEVY HHR BEGAN NOT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. IT TAKES AT LEAST 10 MINUTES EACH TIME I GET IN MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. NOW THE ONLY WAY I GET IT OUT OF PARK IS TO TURN TO KEY FORWARD AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH IN THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY GO INTO GEAR. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE WHY ISN'T THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR A RECALL TO FIX THIS? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10363504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457836 · 2012-05-08 (May 8, 2012)
I RETURNED FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND MY KEY COULDN'T SWITCH OFF THE IGNITION OR BE WITHDRAWN. THE CAR WAS RUNNING WHILE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND TRIED OUT THE PLUNGER RELEASE THAT WORKED FOR OTHERS. I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUNGER TO RELEASE THE LOCK IS WORKING PROPERLY, SO IT MUST BE THE IGNITION LOCK ITSELF THAT IS DEFECTIVE. I FOUND THE FUSE BLOCK AND LOCATED THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND PULLED IT TO STALL THE ENGINE. THE IGNITION IS STILL ON, BUT SINCE IT'S 9PM, I'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW BEFORE I CAN GET IT CHECKED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 39,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496245 · 2013-02-03 (February 3, 2013)
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH THEN I THOUGHT MY ENGINE STALLED BECAUSE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. IT TURNS OUT THE ENGINE WAS ON, AND POWER STEERING APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY. I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THEN ON, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY (I THINK FOR ONLY A TEMPORARY PERIOD). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411559 · 2011-07-08 (July 8, 2011)
THE IGNITION INTERLOCK CYLINDER IN OUR 2010 CHEVROLET HHR FAILED AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK. WE WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OR TURN IT TO THE "OFF" POSITION. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND BATTERY TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS ALSO DISABLED THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE. GM STATED THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED "ADVISORIES" BUT NO RECALL SO THE CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411559 at NHTSA ↗