There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and failed to release. Additionally, the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the key was stuck and needed to be broken, and any damages would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); but the vehicle experienced a failure. The contact stated that the key could not be removed from the ignition switch while the key was in the "OFF" position. In addition, the battery was being drained. The contact stated that the battery was previously replaced several months ago. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
THE POER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE KEEPS COMEING ON
TWO ISSUES: KEY WON'T REMOVE FROM IGNITION, SEARCHED GOOGLE AND GOT KEYS OUT. SECOND ; POWER LOCKS ,CAR WON'T UNLOCK, NOT EVEN WITH KEYS. SO FAR, THIS HAS COST ME $150.00
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE BUTTON CANNOT TURN IT OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THERE IS A SERVICE PROMPT ON THE INFORMATION SCROLL LCD SCREEN. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LIGHTS UP BUT THE CRUISE DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SET BUTTON IS PRESSED AT ANY SPEED, IE, 30MPH, 50MPH, 55MPH ETC. THE RESEARCH I READ RECOMMENDS TO CONTACT YOU TO HELP GET THIS VEHICLE INCLUDED IN AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUES IN OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR REPAIR. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS RECALLED IN OTHER GM VEHICLES I REQUEST THIS VEHICLE BE COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL AND ABLE TO BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND PRESTON HOOD CHEVROLET (212 HOLLYWOOD BLVD NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548, (850) 610-7278) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EACH TIME, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE MOVING DOWN ROAD
THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, NO NOISE NO WARNING, COULD NOT STEER, BRAKE, ROLL WINDOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. SAID IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR AND CHARGE ME AN EXTREME HIGH CHARGE TO REPLACE. VERY SCAREDY WHEN HAPPENED, FOR AUTO TO CUT OFF LIKE THAT. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPR AN NOT ON AN INTERSTATE. BOUGHT 2ND HAND. HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH SINCE. WHEN BOUGHT DID NOT RECEIVE KEY FAN OF, AN THE DRIVERS DOOR, WILL LOCK ON ITS OWN, WHICH LEFT ME BAFFLED HOW TO GET INTO IT WITH NO OTHER KEY HOLES ON ANY OTHER DOORS OR ESPECIALLY THE BACKEND. I FEEL THIS IS VERY TROUBLESOME FOR ANYONE, AND A BAD DESIGN FEATURE. THE AIRBAG IS QUESTIONABLE, AND NOW THE WATER PUMP HAS WENT OUT, AND THEY SAY THE MANIFOLD HAS TO COME OFF TO GET TO AND WANT TO CHARGE 750.00 AT A CAR REPAIR TO FIX, BUT WILL CHECK FIRST TO SEE IF THAT'S FOR SURE WHERE LEAKING. THEN ONE TIRE HAS THE THING THAT TELLS IF MY AIRS OKAY IN THE TIRE ON MY DASHBOARD. IT STAYS ON CAUSE IT FELL OFF IN THE TIRE. THE WHOLE DARN THING IS A NIGHTMARE TO ME, THAT I'M STUCK WITH. FROM THE MOTOR AN EXPENSE IT IS TO HAVE WORKED ON TO THE POOR EXPENSIVE DESIGN THAT GOT ON THE MARKET. IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
I BOUGHT A USED 2008 CHEVY HHR FROM LITHIA IN EUREKA, CA 11/3/2017 AND 11/24/2017 THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE DRIVE FUNCTION. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND NO LUCK. TRANSMISSION SEEMS BLOWN, AND THE ELECTRICAL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. NO FLASHEERS, RADIO WITH WEIRD NOISES, STRANGE SOUNDS FROM ENGINE AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. WE ARE NOW STUCK 200 MILES FROM HOME AND LITHIA MANAGER HAS NOT RETURNED MY PHONE CALL. I AM A MIDDLE AGED STUDENT, WORKING MINIMUM WAHE. I GAVE THE DEALERSHIP ALL MY MOMEY FOR A BROKEN CAR. I SHOULS HAVE RESEARCHED MORE THAT IS APPARENT. I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY MISHAPS. YET, THIS IS 3 WEEKS AFTER GIVING AWAY $5000 FOR A WORKING VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE CITY STREETS THE DOORS SUDDENLY UNLOCK THE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND BACK ON AND THE CAR JERKS AND THEN THE CAR DOES THE SAME THING AND LOCKS THE DOORS AGAIN AND THEN UNLOCKS THE DOORS AGAIN WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AGAIN AND BACK ON AGAIN JUST AS QUICKLY. IT DOES THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK OR TO RUN TO THE STORE OR WHERE EVER. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. NO CODES ARE SHOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THREE DIFFERENT GARAGES AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE LAST DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND EVERY TIME THEY GOT INTO THE CAR TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN FOR THEM IT WOULD COST ME RIGHT AROUND $130.00 EACH TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. I ASKED THEM IF IT COULD BE THE IGNITION AND THEY SAID NO. I DID HAVE THE RECALL DONE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT AFTER READING MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS IT MAKES ME THINK THAT MAYBE IT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. HELP *TR
MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME. I REPLACED THE BRAKE POSITIONING SENSOR. IT IS UNDER MY IMPRESSION THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I THINK THE FIX IS RUNNING A GROUND CABLE TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I ALSO CANNOT USE MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT YOUR CONVENIENCE AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS RESET. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK TO THE ON POSITION IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
INTERMITTENT CANCELING OF TURN SIGNAL, DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. YOUTUBE SHOWS GM DID NOT USE STRONG ENOUGH SPRING IN SWITCH. I AM HARD OF HEARING, CANNOT HEAR THE CLICK CLICK CLICK OF FLASHER. DRIVERS BEHIND ME CONFUSED AS TO MY INTENTIONS. INJURY POSSIBLE BY DRIVERS EXPECTING ME TO TURN. THEY WANT A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE!!! *TR
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. I PULLED OVER AND MYSELF AND THE PASSENGER GOT OUT. THE NEXT SECOND OR TWO, FIRE STARTED ERUPTING FROM THE DASH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED IMMEDIATELY. ABOUT 15 MINUTES PASSED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HHR'S THAT HAD REMOTE START AND AUTOMATIC. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS THE BLAME. *TR
2008 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND IGNITION ISSUES. *SMD
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS WERE DAMAGED DURING THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED AT MATTHEWS-HARGREAVES CHEVROLET IN ROYAL OAK MI. I RECENTLY HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY 2/28/15. ON SUNDAY 3/1/15 THE KEY FOBS (REMOTE START LOCK UNLOCK PANIC) NO LONGER WORK LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SOMETHING WENT WRONG AT THE DEALERSHIP. THREE FACTS THE RADIO DIDN'T SEEM TO BE RESET SO I BELIEVE THE BATTERY WAS LEFT CONNECTED WHILE THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE KEY FOBS NO LONGER WORK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. THE DEALER WASHED THE CAR AND DIDN'T RETURN THE MIRRORS TO THE CORRECT POSITION(BREAK AWAY FOLD MIRRORS) SERVICE QUALITY IS NOT BEING MANAGED AT THIS DEALERSHIP.. I THINK IS SIMPLY THE RESULT OF POOR SERVICE MANAGEMENT AT MATTHEWS-HARGREAVES CHEVROLET IN ROYAL OAK MI BUT THE RESULT IS I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A DAMAGED ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE. I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO RISK MYSELF TO THE QUALITY OF REPAIR SERVICE PROVIDED. THE GM COMPLAINT LINE ISN'T HELPING BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE FOBS THAT WERE LOST UNTIL I FOUND THEM TODAY WHEN THEIR RECALL CAUSED ME TO LOOSE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH NOTHING HANGING ON THE KEY OF COURSE THE FOBS GOT LOST. GM COMPLAINT NUMBER 71-1444284438 BECAUSE I FOUND THE KEY FOBS TODAY 3/1/15 BUT THEY DON'T WORK BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED BY THE POOR QUALITY OF SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
MY REPAIRS TO MY RECALL WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY BACK WHEN I HAD LIVED IN NEW YORK AT AN ALBANY, NEW YORK NAMED DEPAULA CHEVROLET AND TWO OF THE RECALLS I HAD CALLED DEPAULA CHEVROLET ABOUT AND I HAD TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS DOING THAT PROBLEM AND THEY HAD REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ABOUT I NOW PRESENTLY RESIDE IN ATHENS, GA AS OF TODAY AND SO FORWARD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHENEVER ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE TURNED ON THE VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF OR TURNED ON, THE POWER LOCKS FOR ALL THE DOORS WOULD ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026