There are 9 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
vehicle ecm keeps reporting an error code p2138 that refers to a correlation issue between sensors on the throttle/pedal system, causing the vehicle to enter into reduced power and eventually disables engine. Problem persists even after replacing pedal component. Apparently water enters the compartment where the part is located and corrodes wiring between the ecm and the pedal system. GM is apparently aware but so far has done nothing. Problem is especially hazardous because engine power is reduced during acceleration and happens without warning. Vehicle could be in high density traffic and then suddenly experiences lack of power or total disability, and driver must try to navigate to the side of the road--not always possible or safe to do.
VEHICLE IN MENTION, CHEVY HHR 2008, SUDDEN ACCELERATION GOING DOWN FREEWAY REACHING 80 MPH. RPM'S WENT UP TO 6 AND STAYED FOR OVER 7 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO NO WHERE FOR ME TO TURN. I SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN BY ENGAGING NEUTRAL AND CONTINUE BREAKING. THE BREAKS WERE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN OFF WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. I DID NOT HAVE MANY OPTIONS ON A TWO LANE NORTHBOUND FREEWAY 101 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. I COULD TURN TO THE RIGHT AND GO DOWN AN EMBANKMENT OR TURN LEFT AND HIT MEDIAN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE OR KEEP GOING FORWARD AND RAM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING IN PARK WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVED UP AND RPM'S AT 6 STILL. I DID TURN CAR OFF AND STARTED AGAIN AND CAR WAS STILL REVVED UP, VERY LOUD ENGINE NOISE. TRIED REVERSE AND CAR ENGAGED IN REVERSE FAST. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AGAIN AND CALLED TOW TRUCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. 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 101,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ UPDATED 09/21/2017*JS
WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY GOT HALFWAY ACROSS AND RELIED THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN LOOKED AT DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING LOK NORMAL MADE IT ACROSS HIGHWAY SAFELY AND PULLED OVER ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR PROCEEDED HOME TO FIND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK WITH INTERIOR BUTTONS OR REMOTE THE REMOTE WILL TURN ON THE ALARM YOU CAN MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS BUT YOU CAN'T LOCK THE HATCH UPDATE 9/15/15*CW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS ON ENGINE POWER AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE. OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000...UPDATED 08-28-14 *BF
WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE TIMES, I WOULD HEAR A CHIME, THE POWER STEERING LIGHTS UP ON DASH, THEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WOULD RESULT. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING MORE FREQUENT AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO PINE BELT APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS TOLD IF THAT DID NOT WORK THAT I WOULD NEED A COLUMN REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A $1400 REPAIR THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE & I USE IT FOR BOTH BUSINESS AND PERSONAL USES. AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DANGEROUS THIS SITUATION IS, I WENT ON AN HOUR & A HALF DRIVE YESTERDAY (4/22/14) AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 18 TIMES. AT ONE POINT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AND ALMOST RAN INTO A CURB. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR BOTH MYSELF & TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS PICKING UP SPEED. IT JERKS CONSTANTLY AND WHEN IDLING IT SHUTTERS. I HAVE LOOKED AT MESSAGE BOARDS AND SEEN OTHERS WITH SAME COMPLAINTS. THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I'M TRYING TO MERGE. *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