264 of the 4,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet HHR are about the body and structure — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
264
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
The door few open because the door latch broke off
NHTSA complaint #11678011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was driving and I went to roll the sunroof down and it ejected itself and came off the whole glass and frame and broke in many pieces on the bridge if there would of been a car or person walking it would of hit them and caused a major accident its going to cosy over$2000.00 to get it replaced whicj I cant afford to do I feel like the manufacturer should replace the part it wasnt my fault
NHTSA complaint #11608559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the underbody and rear wheel well were rusted and corroded adjacent to the exhaust pipe. The contact noticed that fuel was leaking. Eventually, the contact detected an abnormal odor of fuel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the nickel installation shield on the fuel lines had several holes. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #11448025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED. STAYS UNLATCHED WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. WHILE NOT LATCHING IT DOES NOT SEAL AGAINST RAIN OR FUMES. DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE IN MOTION OR WHILE STATIONARY THUS ALLOWING PASSENGERS OR CONTENTS TO FALL OUT OF CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11363005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNEXPECTED UNLATCHED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE THE DRIVEWAY. THE DOOR CLOSED AND LATCHED NORMALLY WHILE STATIONARY. WHILE BACKING UP THEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OUT INTO THE STREET, THE DRIVER DOOR SUDDENLY TO SWING OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND CLOSED THE DOOR AGAIN, THE DOOR SHUT AND LATCHED BUT WOULDN'T STAY LATCHED. THE DOOR LATCH AND DOOR STRIKE DON'T LOOK DAMAGED, THE DOOR JUST WON'T STAY LATCHED.
NHTSA complaint #11354300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SUPERGLUED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.
NHTSA complaint #11327743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CHEVROLET HHR 2009, DOORS MECHANISM. DOOR LATCHES STOP WORKING AND CAN OPEN AT A TURN OR WHILE DRIVING. OR LATCH CAN LOCK YOU IN UNABLE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT AND OR EMERGENCY. I WAS DRIVING HOME AND BACK DOOR FLEW WIDE OPEN I HAD NOT OPENED IT AT ALL BUT WHEN DOORS LOCK AND OPEN THEY ALL DO SO THE BACK LATCH OPENED NEVER CLOSING UNAWARE OF THIS THE DOOR FLEW OPEN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11229155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY STEERING FEELS THREATENING WITH LOUD SOUND UNDER DASH WHEN TURNING, AND CAR STEERING IS TOO LOOSE AT TIMES AND ALSO JUMPS ALITTLE WHILE TURNING.. IM LOOKING INTO WHAT AND HOW I CAN GET IT FIXED, IM TOLD IT IS PROBABLY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND I UNDERSTAND MANY GM VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. ALSO, MY 2 PASSENGER DOORS WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN, BUT DOOR HANDLES ALSO DON'T ENGAGE ALL WAY UP WHEN TRY TO PULL THEM, MECHANIC TOLD ME , ITS THE ACTUATORS IN HANDLES BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ALSO HAVE COMPLAINED ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. SO I HAVE NO ACCESS TO BACK DOORS, I CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR. I AM A SENIOR ON FIXED INCOME. IS THERE ANY HELP FOR ME TO FIX MY CAR?
NHTSA complaint #11207390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DOOR HANDLE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT FAILS. THE PLASTIC CRACKS AND YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. MINE BROKE. WHAT IF SOMEONE GOT CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD AND YOU LOSE POWER TO YOU WINDOW. YOU DIE. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND GM ADDRESS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SSR. THEY REPLACE THE SSR HANDLES WITH METAL. THERE ARE 40,000 MEMBERS ON THE HHR FORUM AND A LOT MORE CARS ON ROAD. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IT'S SCARY THAT ONE PULL ON YOU DOOR HANDLE AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT UNLESS YOU OPEN THE WINDOW OR CRAWL OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #11195967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACKED. ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IS TO OPEN WINDOW AND USE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. IF THE WINDOW FAILS YOU NEED TO EXIT THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #11194298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
ON AUGUST 2 2018 I WAS DRIVING. I HAD MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. WE CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND MADE A RIGHT TURN. AS I WAS TURNING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN AND MY DAUGHTER AND HER CELL PHONE WENT FLYING OUT. SHE GOT SCRAPES AND BRUISES BUT NOTHING MAJOR. HER CELL PHONE SCREEN SMASHED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER THINKING SHE JUST DIDN'T SHUT THE DOOR ALL THE WAY AND TRIED TO SHUT IT. IT WOULDN'T LATCH. I WENT TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION AND TRIED GETTING THE DOOR TO SHUT, AS I WAS STANDING THERE SLAMMING THE DOOR IN THE POURING RAIN, I NOTICED A LADY TRYING TO SHUT HER DOOR. HERS WOULDN'T SHUT EITHER (SHE DRIVES A CHEVY, NOT THE SAME MAKE) I WENT OVER TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. I CALLED AUTO ZONE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE PART FOR THE CAR BECAUSE I CAN NOT DRIVE AROUND WITH A REAR DOOR THAT WILL NOT SHUT. THE LADY I SPOKE TO TOLD ME THAT IT IS A DEALER PART AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DEALER BUT IN THE MEANTIME I CAN GET A STRIKER REPAIR KIT ONLINE. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE ALSO HAS A CHEVY AND HER DOORS WON'T STAY SHUT. I CALLED CHEVY AND HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SOMEONE ON WHAT TO DO. THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN SEE. IT HAS TO BE AN INTERNAL ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11118495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR LT WHICH WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE. IT IS 'ALWAYS GARAGED'. IT HAS 36,1XX ORIGINAL MILES. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WE BEGAN TO NOTICE 'CHUNKS' OF RUST GATHERING UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AN INSPECTION MADE BY SELF REVEALED EXTENSIVE RUST-OUT TO THE "REAR REINFORCEMENT BAR" (PART #10 IN THE ENCLOSED DIAGRAM). I CONTACTED "GM" VIA THEIR 'SOCIAL MEDIA CUSTOMER CARE CENTER', THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, AND WAS DIRECTED TO A LOCAL BUICK/GMC DEALERSHIP FOR AN EVALUATION, WITHIN HOURS I HEARD A NEGATIVE RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS BY SELF HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION AS TO THE "WHY" OF THIS RUSTED PART. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED TO A HIGH DEGREE. THE EXAMINER TOLD ME HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY OTHER RUST ISSUES ON OR UNDER THIS VEHICLE. KEEP IN MIND THAT I AM NOT AN 'AUTOMOTIVE' ENGINEER; BUT- TO MY 'UNTRAINED EYE' PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PART IS DEEPLY HIDDEN WITHIN THE REAR BUMPER COVER; AND THE DESIGN OF THE REAR BUMPER COVER IS SUCH THAT IT FOSTERS THE COLLECTION OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD ON IT'S HORIZONTAL SURFACES. THIS DEBRIS THEN IS IN SITU WITH THE METAL PARTS OF THE ACTUAL 'REAR BUMPER'. GIVEN TIME THE DEBRIS RETAINS MOISTURE WHICH 'APPARENTLY' THEN COVERS THE METAL PARTS. ...AND ONE GETS THE RESULTS SHOWN IN THE PHOTOS. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE VISIBLE UNLESS A PERIODIC, CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE HIDDEN PARTS WERE TO BE MADE BY THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. A "POSSIBLE" MEASURE TO BE TAKEN WOULD BE FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO EDUCATE/INFORM OWNER/OPERATORS AS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR A PROBLEM. ANOTHER "POSSIBLE" SOLUTION, WERE THIS A VEHICLE STILL IN PRODUCTION (AND NOT YET ANOTHER GM 'ORPHAN' CAR) WOULD BE, OF COURSE, TO CORRECT THE APPARENT, ORIGINAL 'DESIGN DEFICIENCY'.
NHTSA complaint #11114299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT/HIT AN ANIMAL / CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL/HIT SEVERAL TREES(CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS) WIFE & DAUGHTER SEVERELY INJURED//NOT ONE AIR BAG DEPLOYED(HIGHWAY PATROLMAN VERIFIED IN HIS REPORT
NHTSA complaint #11096942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I GOT INTO MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEM, WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR I COULD NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO LET THE WINDOW DOWN TO GET OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11092131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,210.
NHTSA complaint #11043830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BREAK OFF. IT LOOKS BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS IS A PROBLEM IN ALL HHR VEHICLES. THIS IS NOT SAVE NOT HAVING HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND WITH WINTER APPROACHING I NEED TO HAVE HANDLES ON THE INSIDE
NHTSA complaint #11022177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE LOCATION ON THE ROOF WHERE THE WATER WAS ENTERING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AS A RESULT, WATER SURROUNDED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AROUND THE AIR BAGS AND ON THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER SEATS AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE WATER SHORTENED OUT THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #11021697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGES AND POWER STEERING AS WELL AS WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS TO THE D.L.C. CONNECTOR. IT MAY HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ANYWHERE.
NHTSA complaint #11021004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DETACHED FROM THE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #11000081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BEAK OFF - THERE HAVE BEEN TONS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. YOU CANNOT EXIT THE CAR FROM THE DOOR THE HANDLE HAS SNAPPED OFF WITHOUT EITHER GOING TO A DIFFERENT DOOR OR ROLLING DOWN WINDOW AND USING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. 2 HANDLES HAVE BROKE NOW IN THE LAST YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10981046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.