2011 Chevrolet HHR
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Chevrolet HHR has 288 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving a freeway speeds when the engine suddenly went into limp home mode. i received the following dash indications - service esc, traction off, reduced engine power. upon further inspection we found a failed accelerator position sensor and we had the following trouble codes stored in th. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
288
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
FUEL SYSTEM
47 complaints- • I WAS DRIVING A FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DASH INDICATIONS - SERVICE ESC, TRACTION OFF, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WE FOUND A FAILED ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR AND WE HAD THE FOLLOWING TROUBLE CODES STORED IN TH
- • CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO START, WHEN IT DID , IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH, WENT TO STORE, CAME OUT , IT WOULD START. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ENGINE CRACK AND FROM THAT CRACKING IT BROKE OTHER STUFF. I OWE 3700. ON THE CAR AND TO FIX IT IS 3200.00 SADLY I DO T HAVE THE MONEY. NO CARE, NO WAY TO GET TO W
- • FUEL LINE LEAK DUE TO RUST HAD TO BE REPLACED.
“I WAS DRIVING A FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DASH INDICATIONS - SERVICE ESC, TRACTION OFF, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WE FOUND A FAILED ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR AND WE HAD THE FOLLOWING TROUBLE CODES STORED IN TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
40 complaints- • WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE WENT ERRATIC. LOST POWER STEERING GOING DOWN HWY. CAR DARTED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE DATA LINK CIRCUIT SHORTED CAUSING ELECTRIC SHORT TO POWER STEERIN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND TH
- • I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY RIGHT FRONT END SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. WHEN I CUT THE WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT, IT MAKES A LOUD THUMPING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO POP OFF. IT MAKES THE MOST NOISE IN A SLOW OR PARKING MOVEMENT. THEN I TAKE IT IN AND THEY PUMP UP THE TIRES WITH AIR, AND SAY T
“WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE WENT ERRATIC. LOST POWER STEERING GOING DOWN HWY. CAR DARTED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE DATA LINK CIRCUIT SHORTED CAUSING ELECTRIC SHORT TO POWER STEERIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
30 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH, SHE STEERED THE VEHICVLE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID CRASHING. THE CONTACT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, WHICH CAUSED
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE CELLULAR PHONE WAS CHARGING. THE DEALER RESET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 719625
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE OR WHY THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH, SHE STEERED THE VEHICVLE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID CRASHING. THE CONTACT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, WHICH CAUSED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
25 complaints- • UNKNOWN TYPE OF FUMES ENTERING DRIVERS COMPARTMENT, APPEARS TO BE AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAN TURNED ON. NEED TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AN INCH OR TWO WHEN FAN IS RUNNING. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASED AND THE ABS BEGAN TO ACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE
- • KEY BINDS IN IGNITION, ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION, SOMETIMES KEY BINDS AND UNABLE TO START CAR, DEALER STATES UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS ISSUE AND WILL NOT REPAIR. *TR
“UNKNOWN TYPE OF FUMES ENTERING DRIVERS COMPARTMENT, APPEARS TO BE AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAN TURNED ON. NEED TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AN INCH OR TWO WHEN FAN IS RUNNING. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
25 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS
- • WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE WENT ERRATIC. LOST POWER STEERING GOING DOWN HWY. CAR DARTED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE DATA LINK CIRCUIT SHORTED CAUSING ELECTRIC SHORT TO POWER STEERIN
- • I BOUGHT THE HHR WITH 12000 MILES ON IT, FROM A GM DEALER. I TOLD THEM THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS WITHIN TOLERANCES. STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS WEARING OUT, BUT NOT THE OTHERS.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS”
— 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 288 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: I WAS DRIVING A FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DASH INDICATIONS - SERVICE ESC, TRACTION OFF, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WE FOUND A FAILED ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR AND WE HAD THE FOLLOWING TROUBLE CODES STORED IN TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE WENT ERRATIC. LOST POWER STEERING GOING DOWN HWY. CAR DARTED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE DATA LINK CIRCUIT SHORTED CAUSING ELECTRIC SHORT TO POWER STEERIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH, SHE STEERED THE VEHICVLE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID CRASHING. THE CONTACT MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, WHICH CAUSED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: UNKNOWN TYPE OF FUMES ENTERING DRIVERS COMPARTMENT, APPEARS TO BE AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAN TURNED ON. NEED TO OPEN BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AN INCH OR TWO WHEN FAN IS RUNNING. *TR
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 2011 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
- 288
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 11
- Injury reports
- 16
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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