2009 Hummer H3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
74,550 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 69 complaints (44.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 21.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 5.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
Electrical System: 31; Engine: 9; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 6; Visibility/Wiper: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Structure:Body: 4; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 22; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10342209 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE WITHIN THE BODY MOUNT WHENEVER SHE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN OR STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIME TO REPLACE THE BODY MOUNT; HOWEVER, THE NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE KEY ALSO BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE DEALER MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE BATTERY RELAY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13000 …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588707 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)
I STARTED THE IGNITION, TURNED UP THE BLOWER FAN SPEED, AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH SMELLED OF BURNING PLASTIC AND ELECTRICAL WIRES. BLOWER FAN DID NOT FUNCTION, AND UPON FOLLOWING THE SMELL AND SMOKE, I TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A RED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DIRECTLY UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. THE CONNECTOR CONNECTS TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND HAD MELTED INTO THE RESISTOR UNIT FUSING BOTH PARTS TOGETHER IN ONE LARGE PIECE OF BURNT PLASTIC. THE ORANGE WIRE, (THE LARGEST GAUGE WIRE ON THE CONNECTOR), HAD MELTED BACK AWAY FROM THE CONNECTOR AS …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255298 · 2009-01-16 (January 16, 2009)
THE AREA IN WHICH I RESIDE HAS BEEN IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES FOR THREE DAYS, 28 BELOW ZERO IN THE MORNING THE DAYTIME HIGH 4 BELOW ZERO. THE VEHICLE HAS ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THIS MORNING 1/16/09 I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP IN TRAFFIC AT @ 25 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IN THREE CAR LENGTHS AND MY VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. NO INJURIES OCCURRED . THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED I FRONT OF ME. AT THIS TIME THE GM DEALER WANTS THE VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT AFTER IT HAS SAT OUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,819 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10396104 · 2011-04-16 (April 16, 2011)
WHEN BRAKING AT STOP SIGN, HEARD GROAN NOISE FROM THE BACK BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR SAME CONCERN, FIRST TIME ANSWER WAS "IT'S NORMAL, SECOND TIME, REFACE REAR DISCS, NO MORE NOISE. AFTER 3 MONTH , SAME PROBLEM, ANSWER WAS "NEED TO DRIVE MORE YOUR TRUCK.".RETURN AFTER FEW WEEKS , NOISE NOW IT'S WORSE, THEY AGAIN REFACE REAR DISCS, MY TRUCK HAVE 11000 MILES, NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO ACCIDENTS SO FAR, BUT AT EVERY STOP OR LIGHT MY TRUCK "TURNS HEADS" OF OTHERS DRIVERS BUT NOT FOR THE LOOK, IT"S THE NOISE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,852 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714803 · 2015-05-06 (May 6, 2015)
DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING IT WAS A WINTER COLD DAY I WAS GOING NORTHBOUND AND A VECHICLE GOING SOUTHBOUND PULLED OUT TO PASS A TRANSPORT TRUCK AND KEPT GOING I SLOWED DOWN WENT TO RIGHT A WEE BIT AND CAR HIT ME HEAD ON !! I WAS WOKEN BY ONSTAR AND FINALLY GOT OUT EXITING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR !! I RECEIVED LEFT KNEE ABRASIONS AND FEW CUTS AND CHECKED OVER BY EMS AND DID A FOLLOWUP LATER ON DAY OTHER DRIVER TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL WITH BAD INJURIES !! FROM BEING IN SHOCK I KINDA ACCEPTED ACCIDENT BUT STARTED DEALING WITH CONCUSSION AND PTSD …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928707 · 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3 ALPHA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABNORMALLY TURNED TO THE LEFT. MORE EFFORT WAS NEEDED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE VEHICLE VEERING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING FRACTURED AND BOTH LEAF SPRINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,463. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT
Owner-reported narrative. 47,463 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928707 at NHTSA ↗