There are 13 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Engine cuts out , loses power ar random times. Especially when the air is humid. Constant smell of leaking gasoline.
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE OIL PUMP WENT WHICH THROUGH THE WHOLE ENGINE OFF BENT THE VALES WHICH CAUSED THE CHAIN TO SKIP OVER THE CAMS ALWAYS KEPT THE OIL CHANGED UP KEEP WAS ALWAYS GOOD ONLY 138.000 MILES NEVER BUY CHEVY AGAIN.
I COULD EASILY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COOLING SYSTEM AS THIS COST ME ABOUT $1400 THIS MONTH DUE TO FIRST THE WATER PUMP GOING AND THEN A CHROME PIPE/HOSE THAT GOES ACROSS THE ENGINE ALSO RUSTING THROUGH...BUT BECAUSE I GUESS THAT WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A "DANGEROUS" ISSUE OTHER THAN POSSIBLY BEING STRANDED, THIS ENGINE RELATED COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE EXHAUST. THE CAR IS A 2008 AND TWICE THE EXHAUST "FLEX" HOSE WHICH IS JUST BEYOND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IN FRONT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAS RUSTED AND DEVELOPED LEAKS. BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE PART CLOSE TO THE ENGINE, NOT ONLY DO THE EXHAUST FUMES RISE UP INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE LARGE DIESEL TRUCK. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE ONLY THE FLEX HOSE AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE PIPE BACK FROM THE MANIFOLD WHICH INCLUDES 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR AROUND $2000. NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER/PASSENGER INHALING THE FUMES BUT IT'S ROBBERY TO THE CONSUMER AS THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH.
I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP ON 11/15/14 BECAUSE OF A LOUD EXHAUST SOUND. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE FLEX PIPE WAS LEAKING AND THE FLEX PIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (2) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $900. IF THE CAR IS IN IDOL, THE EXHAUST SEEPS INTO THE CAR AND COULD CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND DEATH, IF THE WINDOWS ARE NOT CRACKED TO ALLOW FOR VENTILATION. UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE FALLING APART PIECE BY PIECE AS IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED, OR SHOULD I SAY THE ENTIRE CAR, B/C IT HAS HAD SO MANY RECALLS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,098.
EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO CABIN WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON. CAUSED BY FAULTY, CRACKED FLEX JOINT ON DOWNPIPE, CONNECTED TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAVE TO RIDE WITH WINDOWS CRACKED FOR FRESH AIR. GM REFUSED TO REPAIR. STATED OUTSIDE 80,000 MILE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. CAR HAS 82,419 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME MECHANIC EACH TIME, GIVEN THE SAME DIAGNOSIS, AND GIVEN THE SAME REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
I PURCHASED A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR IN MAY OF 2009. THE VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED 4 TIMES IN A YEAR. THE RADIATOR AND CYLINDER HEADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I CAN NOT BE GUARANTEED THAT IS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BY THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE ADMITTED IT IS AN UNSEEN SITUATION, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
2008 CHEVY HHR WITH A BURNING HAIR ODOR INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED RUNNING. SHE STATES THAT WHEN IT SHUT OFF HE HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEAKERS. *JB
CAR STALLS WHILE TURNING, IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY CAN'T FIND DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A LOANER CAR. *TR
MY BRAND NEW CHEVY HHR WILL ALLOW ROCKS AND ROAD DEBRIS TO RUIN THE RADIATOR AND THE A/C CONDENSER THEN THEY WILL NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR WILL KEEP HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I CANT KEEP BUYING 600 DOLLAR RADIATORS EVERY 3 MONTHS. *TR
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