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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Chevrolet HHR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

203 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

59,595 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 144 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 203 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2512.3%
Electrical and battery issues2411.8%
Steering behavior2311.3%
Engine operation104.9%
Fuel system concerns94.4%
Transmission and shifting73.4%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
43
Electrical System
37
Air Bags
29
Steering
25
Engine
24
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
23
Unknown Or Other
16
Service Brakes
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System43
Electrical System37
Air Bags29
Steering25
Engine24
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)23
Unknown Or Other16
Service Brakes12

Fuel/Propulsion System: 43; Electrical System: 37; Air Bags: 29; Steering: 25; Engine: 24; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 23; Unknown Or Other: 16; Service Brakes: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
19
25,000 to 49,999
38
50,000 to 74,999
35
75,000 to 99,999
21
100,000 to 149,999
27
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00019
25,000 to 49,99938
50,000 to 74,99935
75,000 to 99,99921
100,000 to 149,99927
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 4

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 59 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.

2011
4
2012
8
2013
7
2014
47
2015
39
2016
16
2017
12
2018
15
2019
3
2020
12
2021
16
2022
8
2023
11
2024
3
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20114
20128
20137
201447
201539
201616
201712
201815
20193
202012
202116
20228
202311
20243
20251
20261

2011: 4; 2012: 8; 2013: 7; 2014: 47; 2015: 39; 2016: 16; 2017: 12; 2018: 15; 2019: 3; 2020: 12; 2021: 16; 2022: 8; 2023: 11; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 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 10453475 · 2012-03-29 (March 29, 2012)

LAST JUNE, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 HHR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SAFER, MORE DEPENDABLE VEHICLE FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS TO LEARN TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TAKE OUR DOGS WITH US WHEN WE WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE AS A FAMILY. IN JANUARY, ON ONE OF THE DAYS WE ACTUALLY HAD SNOW ON THE GROUND, I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION, TRIED TO STOP, COULDN'T, AND SLID THROUGH. A CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MADE A LEFT TURN, NOT REALIZING I COULDN'T STOP, HIT ME ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE HHR, TURNING ME 90 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458806 · 2012-05-17 (May 17, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASED AND THE ABS BEGAN TO ACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10420712 · 2011-08-19 (August 19, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE CELLULAR PHONE WAS CHARGING. THE DEALER RESET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 71962548301 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ANY DEVICE CONNECTED IN THE VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,835 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED GM WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,835 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420712 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10533907 · 2013-08-06 (August 6, 2013)

WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE WENT ERRATIC. LOST POWER STEERING GOING DOWN HWY. CAR DARTED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE DATA LINK CIRCUIT SHORTED CAUSING ELECTRIC SHORT TO POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD BE $1125.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR AND CAUSING A CRASH. ALSO A POSSIBLE FIRE DUE TO THE ELECTRIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533907 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447385 · 2012-02-10 (February 10, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE REPORTED TO THE SALESPERSON, THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG WIT…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10615653 · 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING.. CAR SUDDENLY STALLED LOSING POWER STEERING ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ON GAUGES FLICKERING CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN. SECOND INCIDENT 7/19/14. SAME SCENARIO CAR SUDDENLY STALLED LOSING POWER STEERING ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ON GAUGES FLICKERING CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN. DEALERSHIP STATED INITIAL DUE TO RECALL. SECOND INCIDENT DEALER STATED NOT DUE TO RECALL BUT MORE OF A COMMON PROBLEM, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALL AND DETERMINE WHERE FAULTY WIRING. GETTING LOTS OF ERROR CODES WITH NO REAL CAUSE AS TO WHY CAR STALLS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 74,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615653 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618488 · 2014-08-03 (August 3, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING.. CAR SUDDENLY STALLED LOSING POWER STEERING ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ON GAGES FLICKERING CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN. UNABLE TO START. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11331290 · 2020-06-28 (June 28, 2020)

INTENSE GAS SMELL AND SLIGHT IGNITION DELAY. NO GAS SMELL UNTIL AFTER IT IS RUNNING.. I UNDERSTAND I SHOULD NOT EVEN DRIVE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF A FIRE DANGER. MANY MORE COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MIND. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK BECAUSE OF FIRZE. I QUESTION WHY THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL. WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE A YEAR TO WAIT FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 105,404 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331290 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11343449 · 2020-08-05 (August 5, 2020)

CORRODED FUEL LINES AT BACK OF VEHICLE CAUSING FUEL LEAK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11343449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10547595 · 2013-10-11 (October 11, 2013)

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING. I LIVE JUST 5 MINUTES FROM THE OFFICE. I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING ABOUT 5MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ESC ACTIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH, THEN A YELLOW TRIANGLE WARNING STARTED FLASHING. THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE CAR DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND THE WARNINGS WENT AWAY. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND AGAIN, THE SAME WARNINGS. HELP! THE ROADS WERE NOT WET, I WAS NEVER ABOVE 8MPH WHEN THESE TWO INCIDENTS …

Owner-reported narrative. 41,302 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10609183 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)

VEHICLE WILL JERK REALLY HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC, VERY SCARY TO DRIVE. DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. JERKS THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609183 at NHTSA ↗