There are 6 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
II PURCHASED A BEUTIFUL 2009 HHR FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP, IN MAY OF 2020, AN IN JULY F 2020, IT WOULD BARELY SPEED UP, THE GEARS, WOULDN'T SHIFT ON ME AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT I HAD NOT ONLY BEEN OPERATING A "DEFECTED" VEHICE BUT THE CAR DEALER FAIED TO MENTION HE WAS SELLING ME A "RECALLED" CAR, (A NEIGHBOR INFORMED ME) I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY SON'S HOUSE,BECAUSE I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR KEPT ROLLING BACKWARDSI AND IT ONLY GOES IN REVERSE NOW. LONGER GO
LESS THEN 24 HOURS OFF THE LOT I WAS DRIVING HOME OFF HWY26 EXITING TO MY TOWN OF WATERTOWN,WI. I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE RAMP AND MY SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE DRIVER VISOR CAUSING MY TO FLINCH AND RELEASE THE BREAK FOR A SLIT SECOND. I TRIED TO REAPPLY THE BREAK AND HAD NO BREAKS I WAS STILL AT 40MPH. IT WAS SNOWING THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN SO I HIT A MEADEN SNAPPING MY A ARM. I ALSO SNIPPED MY ABS CABLE, BLEW OUT DRIVER BALL JOINTS, BENT THE TIE ROD, DISLOCATED MY AXEL BENT MY RIM AND RUINED MY NEW TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I BROKE MY KNUCK AND BLEW OUT MY BALL JOINTS. IT LOCKED UP MY DRIVER SEAT BELT AND EVEN WITH NO ONE WEARING THE PASSENGER ONE IT LOCKED THAT UP TOO. AFTER IT HAPPENED GOING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND A FEW MORE CASES LIKE MINE ONE CAUSED A WOMAN TO SPEND A MONTH AND A HALF IN HOSPITAL FROM HITTING A POLE. *TR
2009 HHR. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH IS CAR, I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO TELL YOU ALL THE COMPLAINTS. THIS IS THE LATEST HAPPENING; WIFE CALLS ME FROM TOWN, CANT GET OUT OF THE CAR, DOOR WONT OPEN. FINALLY HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE CONSOLE AND EXIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. QUIET A FEAT FOR A 260 LB 72 YEAR OLD LADY. NOW I READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR HHR GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2007. ONE PERSON SAID THE DEALER CHARGED $450.00, BECAUSE THE WHOLE DOOR PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM IS CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES ON THE HHR. WHEN SOME GETS BURNED ALIVE BECAUSE THEY CANT GET OUT OF THE CAR GM CANNOT SAY THE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURES OF THE DOOR LATCHES BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DOORS FAILING TO OPEN. THIS IS JUST THE LATEST PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH THIS CAR.,BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE MY WIFE IS TRAPPED IN THIS CAR AGAIN AND SUSTAINS INJURY. *TR
IN LESS THEN 49000 MILES STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TIME NOW IN 8000 MILES FRONT END IS SHAKING AGAIN HHR WAS BEEN FIXED MORE TIME THEN USED CAR WAS PART OF BUSINESS I LOST MONEY WITH HHR NOT RUNNING TOOK HHR TO DEALER SHARPNACK AFTER A SHORT TIME TO TRADE IN AFTER THEY FIXED IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME 6000 AFTER I GAVE THEM 12000 IT WAS LESS THEN 3 MONTHS THE LOCKING OF STEERING WHEEL HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES THE FIRST TIME WAS FIXED TWO DAYS LATER DID IT AGAIN I CALLED GM THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE AND HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN AND THEY WOULD MAKE IT ARE THEY DID NOTHING THE DEALER DID NOTHING NOW BANK WANTS HHR BACK OR 14000 AND THE HHR IS INSPRINGFIELD MIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-65 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND SIXTEEN DAYS LATER, THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,598.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A CLUNKING NOISE AND SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS, HUBS, RIMS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE YET THE FAILURE RECURRED LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026