HUMMER H3 · model year

2009 HUMMER H3

94 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009HUMMERH3 carries 94 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 6 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 H3 is electrical system with 30 filings, followed by engine (9) and unknown or other (7). 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 2 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 2009 H3. 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.

94
Complaints
2
Crashes
6
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

94 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
ENGINE9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
AIR BAGS6
VISIBILITY/WIPER5
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)4
STRUCTURE:BODY4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD2
POWER TRAIN2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD2
SUSPENSION2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1

Recalls (2)

10V17900030/04/2010

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 HUMMER H3 VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTEGRAL CLIP-TABS ON THE LOUVER ON THE HOOD MAY FRACTURE, CAUSING THE HOOD LOUVER RATTLE AGAINST THE HOOD AND BECOME LOOSE. IF THIS INDICATOR IS UNNOTICED, ADDITIONAL CLIPS

15V42100001/07/2015

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Hummer H3 vehicles manufactured February 5, 2005, to May 24, 2010, and 2009-2010 Hummer H3T vehicles manufactured May 21, 2008, to May 24, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the connector module that controls the blower motor speed for

Recent Complaints

20251118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Was doing a frame inspection on my hummer h3. Turns out the rear left frame rail is completely rusted through. And there are parts hanging on by a thread. I have found many complaints online about rust in this exact spot( rear left frame). I believe this issue should be dealt with immediately. Someone could be killed. The car is not that old and no other car of this age and mileage has this amount of rust penetration through the frame. GM needs to be held accountable. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

20250826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2009 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately start, and the security warning light illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle was started. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become more frequent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20250106ENGINE

The contact owns a 2009 Hummer H3. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact waited for a while before the vehicle started. The contact stated that the vehicle was slow to start. The contact stated that while her husband was at the store, he waited for 15 minutes before the vehicle started. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery and starter, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

20230616STRUCTURE:BODY

I was having the truck inspected per state yearly requirements and when the shop lifted the truck, the bed bent backward. The frame was rusted out on both sides.

20221206AIR BAGS

Traveling at approximately 35mph on inner city road in my 2009 Hummer H3T, both driver and passenger side curtain airbags deployed without any warning, no collision or accident, system went into crash mode and fired seat belt tensioners. Pictures taken of the exterior conditions and terrain/road conditions. Luckily just driver was in vehicle no other passengers. Vehicle taken to GMC dealer and inspected by service tech and insurance company. Multiple other Hummer H3(T) owners have experienced similar incidents. Lack of parts OEM or after market make repairs unlikely will be contacting GM.

Mileage: 121,706

20210111ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RECENTLY MY 2009 HUMMER H3, HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH, WILL BEEP, (TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, SERVICE 4WD, CHANGE OIL, SERVICE TPM), ALL THE WHILE ALL THINGS ELECTRICAL STOPS WORKING SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, BLOWER FAN, HEATED SEAT, TURN SIGNALS, AND ALL THIS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED. IT STARTED DOING THIS AS THE WEATHER GOT COLDER BUT THIS H3 IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY USE IT TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. IT IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD AND WITH THESE ISSUES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRADE IT IN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START IN ORDER TO FIX IT. AFTER FINALLY DRIVING FOR 30 MIN OR SO SOMETIMES IT WILL FINALLY QUIT MESSING UP AND ACT NORMAL.

Mileage: 198,666

20200901AIR BAGS

AIR BAG MODULE NOT RESPONDING AND IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT IT COULD DEPLOY AT A RANDOM TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT. ALSO HAIRLINE CRACKING IN THE RADIATOR DUE TO THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE RADIATOR TANK RUBBING ON THE VEHICLES FRAME.

Mileage: 147,000

20200901UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR BAG MODULE NOT RESPONDING AND IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT IT COULD DEPLOY AT A RANDOM TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT. ALSO HAIRLINE CRACKING IN THE RADIATOR DUE TO THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE RADIATOR TANK RUBBING ON THE VEHICLES FRAME.

Mileage: 147,000

20200512ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PERIODICALLY 2-3 TIMES A YEAR FOR PAST 6 YEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH CAR WILL DIE, WHEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAR WILL NOT RESTART, MAY RESTART AFTER 10 MINUTES OR AFTER TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP,TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SEVERAL TIMES TO HIGH END INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOPS, NO ERROR CODE EVER FOUND. READ ON HUMMER FORUMS ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND FAULT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

Mileage: 91,350

20200512ENGINE

PERIODICALLY 2-3 TIMES A YEAR FOR PAST 6 YEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH CAR WILL DIE, WHEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAR WILL NOT RESTART, MAY RESTART AFTER 10 MINUTES OR AFTER TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP,TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SEVERAL TIMES TO HIGH END INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOPS, NO ERROR CODE EVER FOUND. READ ON HUMMER FORUMS ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND FAULT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

Mileage: 91,350

20200512FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PERIODICALLY 2-3 TIMES A YEAR FOR PAST 6 YEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH CAR WILL DIE, WHEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAR WILL NOT RESTART, MAY RESTART AFTER 10 MINUTES OR AFTER TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP,TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SEVERAL TIMES TO HIGH END INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOPS, NO ERROR CODE EVER FOUND. READ ON HUMMER FORUMS ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND FAULT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

Mileage: 91,350

20200307AIR BAGS

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING ME CRASH. THEY DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND NO AIRBAG LIGHT OR WARNING WAS GIVEN. NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY WOULD DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH OR SOME TYPE OF VEHICLE DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. NOW WHAT TO DO? NO RECALL? IVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN THE 2009 HUMMER H3.

Mileage: 141,000

20200113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND THE ELECTRICAL SENSORS WERE ALL AFFECTED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FLOW BUICK GMC - GREENSBORO1205 BRIDFORD PKWY, GREENSBORO, NC 27407) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS .THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE VEHICLES INTERNAL DRAINING HOSE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20190418STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V179000 (STRUCTURE) BY RALPH SELLERS CHEVROLET (15015 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70819, (225) 238-1264), BUT THE REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE DEALER APPLIED AN ADHESIVE TO THE HOOD LOUVER TO SECURE IT TO THE HOOD, WHICH FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND A PLASTIC PIECE FRACTURED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD LOUVER PLASTIC CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20190305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VISITED HILEY BUICK GMC (3535 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, (817) 349-6235), BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20190305ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VISITED HILEY BUICK GMC (3535 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, (817) 349-6235), BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20190208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TRUCK WILL LOCK THE IGNITION OUT FOR 10 MINUTES. YOU ARE UNABLE TO START THE TRUCK. NOW HAVING THAT HAPPEN IN AN UNDESIRABLE PARKING AREA OR OUT IN THE WINTER OLD, IS NOT SAFE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT RANDOM TIMES FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS OR SO.

Mileage: 72,000

20190120STRUCTURE:BODY

HOOD LEAKS WHEN IT'S RAINING. WATER DRIPS FROM THE HOOD.

20190120UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HOOD LEAKS WHEN IT'S RAINING. WATER DRIPS FROM THE HOOD.

20181101ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER @ CITY CADILLAC MORE THAN A 12 TIMES & THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THE 1ST (#15042) OR 2ND RECALL (#14582). THE TRUCK HAS VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL, STEERING, LEAKING & MOTOR MOUNT ISSUES JUST TO SAY THE LEAST PLUS I AM A DISABLED US MARINE VETERAN WHO WAS SHOT IN DESERT STORM AND I REALLY NEED MY VEHICLE TO GET AROUND ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE HANDICAP LICENSE PLATES FOR MY SPECIAL NEEDS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP???????

Mileage: 18,168

Compare 2009HUMMERH3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 HUMMER H3 have?
The 2009 HUMMER H3 has 94 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 6 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 HUMMER H3?
Yes, the 2009 HUMMER H3 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 HUMMER H3?
The most-complained component for the 2009 HUMMER H3 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 30 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2009 HUMMER H3 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. 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.