CHEVROLET HHR · model year

2011 CHEVROLET HHR

287 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011CHEVROLETHHR carries 287 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 3 fires, 30 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 HHR is fuel/propulsion system with 42 filings, followed by electrical system (37) and air bags (29). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2011 HHR, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

287
Complaints
20
Crashes
3
Fires
30
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

287 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
AIR BAGS29
STEERING25
ENGINE24
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
STRUCTURE:BODY12
SERVICE BRAKES12
POWER TRAIN9
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR9
SUSPENSION6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5

Recalls (3)

14E02100030/04/2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year

14V17100010/04/2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio

14V04700010/02/2014

AIR BAGS

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency

Recent Complaints

20250623LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while approaching the locked vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear driver's side door had failed to latch securely and was open. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 42,495.

Mileage: 42,495

20241219FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Last week, I noticed fuel leaking out from the bottom of my vehicle on the rear passenger side in my driveway after returning home. I had my vehicle towed into a local shop to get looked at. The shop informed me that my entire fuel line assembly needed to be replaced. They stated that the metal assembly has rusted and corroded over time. At the time of this writing, my vehicle is still in the shop awaiting to get fixed. It is available to be inspected upon request. There are no warning signs on my computer system prior to this. This leaking fuel could have put myself and my family at risk for harm due to the fire risk.

20240824FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel lines corroded just like millions of other HHR's. Gas is leaking. What does it take to have a recall on this? Does someone really have to be killed?

20240110AIR BAGS

There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and forth, while the bell inide the car when stared keeps chiming.

20240110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and forth, while the bell inide the car when stared keeps chiming.

20240110STEERING

There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and forth, while the bell inide the car when stared keeps chiming.

20231023FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel line/gas leaking from faulty tube carrying ignitable flammable fluid...no warning just smell and sighting at stop..went to savoy IL dealer immediately and had replaced @ 1k cost approx. 2+ yrs ago...cel

20230821FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

fuel line leak

20230817FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel Line is leaking on back left rear. Other models have recall but i have a 2011 with the same exact problem

20230708FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel line/s started leaking just infront of the left rear wheel about 06/27/2023. Ignition switch started sticking about 06/22/2023.

20230708ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fuel line/s started leaking just infront of the left rear wheel about 06/27/2023. Ignition switch started sticking about 06/22/2023.

20230617FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I left vehicle running on my concrete driveway while I ran in the house to get my father for an errand. When I came outside and went to get into the vehicle I noticed a fire in the front of the rear wheel on the driver's side kind of dripping flames from the vehicle on to the concrete. Luckily I reacted quickly enough to release the parking brake. [Car is a manual transmisson]. The car drifted forward [driveway has small downhill pitch]and I turned the motor off. Then I [luckily] ran over to a hose and brought it to the vehicle to extinguish the fire.

20230501FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel line is leaking in front of the rear driver's side tire. The lines are heavily corroded. It has not been officially inspected.

20230305EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The gauge cluster is not working.

20230305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The gauge cluster is not working.

20230223FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel line leaking on driver side rear

20230208FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel line is rusted and leaking. This is apparently in numerous models and prior years as well. This metal piece on the fuel line is leaking. Fuel leaks out no matter how short of time you drive. I’m concerned with a fire and live on a fixed disability income and it’s food or the vehicle which I need to get to the doctor.

20230116FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While refueling the vehicle several weeks ago I noted a strong smell of gasoline. I did not see any visible fuel leak at the gas station. Drove the vehicle home approximately 10 miles, 20 minutes travel time. Gasoline smell persisted. On exit from the vehicle the smell became strong and I observed a liquid dripping/pooling under the vehicle on the driveway. Drips were occurring from the driver side rear of the vehicle slightly in front of the left rear wheel approximately 6 inches interior from the edge of the vehicle. After 15 minutes the drips subsided. Vehicle has not been used or moved since this incident.

20230106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact's son owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, he smelled the odor of gasoline inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that he had noticed the smell a few weeks earlier but disregarded the odor. The contact stated that while he was driving, he noticed a trail of fluid on the roadway behind the vehicle. The contact also noticed a puddle of gasoline underneath the vehicle once the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that the leak was nearby the driver's side rear tire and exhaust pipe. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated, however he noticed that the fuel consumption was rising. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

20221020EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlamps became dim, the bulbs then blew out and headlamps became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,784.

Mileage: 139,784

Compare 2011CHEVROLETHHR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR have?
The 2011 CHEVROLET HHR has 287 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 3 fires, 30 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR?
The 2011 CHEVROLET HHR received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR?
Yes, the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR?
The most-complained component for the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 42 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2011 CHEVROLET HHR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 CHEVROLET HHR has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.