There are 9 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO FROST AND FROST OF GADSDEN, ALABAMA WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEVAN LOWES OF GADSDEN, ALABAMA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE DRIVE CLUTCH WERE FAULTY THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 08/22/17*LJ *CN
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT STICK WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,567.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED IN PARKED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS LOCKED WITHOUT COMMAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,900.
WHILE DRIVING ON DRY EVEN PAVEMENT THE ESC LIGHT/SYSTEM KICKED IN ON MY 2011 HHR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE AND BRAKES. LUCKILY, NO OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS WERE NEAR ME OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL THE IGNITION THIS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND ON AGAIN. I HAD IT CHECKED AND NO ERROR CODES WERE STORED ON THE ECM/BCM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME AND I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND SWITCHING THE SHIFTER TO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A SMALL INCLINE AND INTO THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
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
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 OCCURRED. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE SHIFTER COULD ALSO BE ENGAGED WITHOUT THE CONTACT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
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