2010 Chevrolet HHR
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Chevrolet HHR has 682 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: when driving the power steering stops functioning and the steering becomes difficult to turn. when the car is turned off and restarted the power steering is operative for a short time and then fails again.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
682
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
8.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
233 complaints- • WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING IS OPERATIVE FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN FAILS AGAIN.
- • I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET WHEN MY CAR STARTING BEEPING(WARNING CHIME) AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO PULL MY CAR OVER TO THE NEXT SIDE STREET AND FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO. I FOUND I COULD TURN MY CAR OFF AND WAIT 30 SEC AND THE STEERING WOULD COME BACK, BUT WITHIN 3
- • POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT 42,000 PURCHASED VEHICLE AT 38,500 MILES. VEHICLE IS ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
“WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING IS OPERATIVE FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN FAILS AGAIN.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
121 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME
- • THE 2010 CHEVY HHR KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHILE THE SUV WAS RUNNING. WE WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AT ALL. IT WAS VERY SCARY FOR US. THE SUV WAS TURNED ON AT 6:00 A.M. WE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE IT RUNNING UNTIL 8:30 A.M. WHEN THE DEALER SHIP OPENED. I HAD STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHI
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ABNORMALLY AS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JUMP WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SPORADIC FAILURE FOUR TIMES WHERE THE BODY CONTROL MODU
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
53 complaints- • THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, CAN NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE, HAVE TO DISCONNECT FUEL PUMP POWER AND THEN DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE BATTERY. MFG KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH OUT CHARGING LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE NOTICED FUEL HAD LEAKED ON THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF
- • THIS CAR HAS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM ENOUGH TO HAVE THEM PLACE A BULLETIN OUT ON HOW TO FIX IT....THE FUEL LINE RUSTS THEN LEAKS....THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAD TO REPLACE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AT MY COST...GM SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE NOT I....I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM I HAD A LEAK IN THE FU
“THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, CAN NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE, HAVE TO DISCONNECT FUEL PUMP POWER AND THEN DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE BATTERY. MFG KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH OUT CHARGING LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
49 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE SIDE AND FRONT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP BUT DUE T
- • POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT 42,000 PURCHASED VEHICLE AT 38,500 MILES. VEHICLE IS ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE FOR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE SIDE AND FRONT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP BUT DUE T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
45 complaints- • I DRIVE A 2010 CHEVY HHR. I NOTICED NOT TO LONG AFTER I PURCHASED IT NEW THE DOOR(DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER) WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR EVEN INSIDE WHEN I WOULD CRAWL INSIDE AND TRY TO GET IT OPEN. IT WOULD ONLY DO IT ON OCCASION. NOW IT HAS CEASED TO HAPPEN AT ALL IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ON MAY 25
- • MY 2010 HHR : THE DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF AND HAVE TO PUT DOWN THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE USED TO OPEN THE DOOR. DISSATISFIED THAT IT IS COMPOSED OF A SOFT PLASTIC MATERIAL. THE COST TO REPLACE THE HANDLE REQUIRES AN NEW D
- • WATER STARTED COMING IN VEHICLE FROM HOOD RELEASE LEVER ON DRIVER SIDE KICK PANEL WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, REPAIRED. HOWEVER DURING THE NEXT SEVERE RAIN STORM APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTH LATER IT AGAIN FAILED AND LEAKED AGAIN. DEALER STATED IT WAS REPAIRED THE SECOND TIME, H
“I DRIVE A 2010 CHEVY HHR. I NOTICED NOT TO LONG AFTER I PURCHASED IT NEW THE DOOR(DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER) WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR EVEN INSIDE WHEN I WOULD CRAWL INSIDE AND TRY TO GET IT OPEN. IT WOULD ONLY DO IT ON OCCASION. NOW IT HAS CEASED TO HAPPEN AT ALL IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ON MAY 25”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 682 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING IS OPERATIVE FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN FAILS AGAIN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, CAN NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE, HAVE TO DISCONNECT FUEL PUMP POWER AND THEN DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE BATTERY. MFG KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH OUT CHARGING LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE SIDE AND FRONT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP BUT DUE T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet HHR — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 682
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 24
- Injury reports
- 16
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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