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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Hummer H3: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1521.7%
Braking behavior45.8%
Steering behavior34.3%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System31
Engine9
Unknown Or Other7
Air Bags6
Visibility/Wiper5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)4
Structure:Body4
Air Bags:Side/Window2

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,99911
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above2

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20103
20111
20121
20133
20143
201522
20169
20174
20187
20194
20204
20211
20221
20231
20253
20261

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 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 10342599 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD WITH THE AIR BAG AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE SEATBELTS THEN BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT ON THE PASSENGERS AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342599 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10354078 · 2010-09-07 (September 7, 2010)

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354078 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 10452179 · 2012-03-19 (March 19, 2012)

AT APPROXIMATELY 49,000 MILE MARK, VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE IE. GROAN, CLICKING, USUALLY BETWEEN 10-20MPH, WOULD DISAPPEAR,THEN RETURNED BETWEEN 30-40MPH AND DISAPPEAR AGAIN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES TO DEALER. FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT BRAKES/ROTORS, COST $120. NOISE STILL THERE. SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT SHOCKS (COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT PART NOT IN STOCK HAVE TO RTN A THIRD TIME). THIRD TIME, THEY REPLACED FRONT SHOCKS(COVERED BY WARRANTY), NOISE STILL THERE. F…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452179 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10493226 · 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE WHOLE DASH EMITTED SMOKE. THE RESISTOR WIRE UNDER THE GLOVE BOX CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IT SPREAD RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE ALSO SPREAD TO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED NEAR THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CONSUMER STATED A DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT, THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR WOULD COME ON AND THEN SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. SOMETIME…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493226 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496881 · 2013-02-08 (February 8, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND TEST DRIVEN BY AN ENGINEER OF THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A ROLLOVER SITUATION AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496881 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V179000 · Structure:Body:Hood

Reported: 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 HUMMER H3 VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTEGRAL CLIP-TABS ON THE LOUVER ON THE HOOD MAY FRACTURE, CAUSING THE HOOD LOUVER RATTLE AGAINST THE HOOD AND BECOME LOOSE. IF THIS INDICATOR IS UNNOTICED, ADDITIONAL CLIPS COULD FRACTURE AND THE HOOD LOUVER COULD DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT COULD STRIKE A FOLLOWING VEHICLE AND CAUSE INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY AN ADHESIVE TO THE HOOD LOUVER TO SECURE IT TO THE HOOD. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HUMMER AT 800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V421000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor

Reported: 2015-07-01 (July 1, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Hummer H3 vehicles manufactured February 5, 2005, to May 24, 2010, and 2009-2010 Hummer H3T vehicles manufactured May 21, 2008, to May 24, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the connector module that controls the blower motor speed for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system may overheat.

Consequence: If the blower motor connector module overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace part of the blower motor connector and harness, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Hummer customer service at 1-800-732-5493. GM's number for this recall is 15042.

NHTSA campaign record ↗