There are 17 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving and I went to roll the sunroof down and it ejected itself and came off the whole glass and frame and broke in many pieces on the bridge if there would of been a car or person walking it would of hit them and caused a major accident its going to cosy over$2000.00 to get it replaced whicj I cant afford to do I feel like the manufacturer should replace the part it wasnt my fault
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE LOCATION ON THE ROOF WHERE THE WATER WAS ENTERING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AS A RESULT, WATER SURROUNDED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AROUND THE AIR BAGS AND ON THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER SEATS AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE WATER SHORTENED OUT THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
DOOR LATCH - DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR - FAILED TO ENGAGE - DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY, THE MASTER KEY OPENER WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN OTHER TIMES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 10/29/15*LJ UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STORAGE BIN DOOR WAS BLOCKING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V444000 (LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGES). THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.
PULLED IN TO DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO EXIT VEHICLE. THE PLASTIC DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THIS BASICALLY LEFT ME STUCK IN THE VEHICLE UNLESS I CRAWLED OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE OR UNLESS I WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE ELECTRIC WINDOW, PIVOT IN THE SEAT, AND REACH THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. OBVIOUSLY IN AN ACCIDENT, OR VEHICLE FIRE, THE EXTRA TIME NEEDED TO EXIT, IF THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF, IS UNACCEPTABLE. A VERY BASIC INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. AN INCONVENIENCE FOR A YOUNGER DRIVER BUT THIS COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE FOR AN OLDER, LESS PHYSICAL DRIVER. *TR
MY 2009 CHEVY HHR REPEATEDLY HAS WATER IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I AM NOT SURE WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM, HOWEVER, AFTER I RESEARCHED ON LINE, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. BESIDES THE FLOOR BEING WET THIS CAUSES A HORRIBLE SMELL, MOST LIKELY MOLD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS FROM MY FINDINGS, IT IS A FLAW IN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING. *TR
CHEVY HHR ALL MODELS, ALL YEARS: WHEN EXITING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC!! AFTER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MODELS AND ALL YEARS OF THE CHEVY HHR SINCE ALL INTERIOR HANDLES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE ONCE THE HANDLE HAS SNAPPED THE ONLY MEANS TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO UNROLL THE WINDOW AND OPEN WITH THE OUSIDE HANDLE OR TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE - NOT IDEAL, ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS IN AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY. I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD REPLACE ALL HANDLES WITH A STURDY, NON-BREAKABLE METAL HANDLE. THIS WOULD IMPROVE SAFETY OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.
MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY HOME FROM COLLEGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR SEALY, TX FROM AUSTIN TO HOUSTON HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A GUST OF AIR. HE PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND THAT'S WHEN HE REALIZED THE GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF HAD SOMEHOW DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE VEHICLE AND WENT AIRBORNE. IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE INFORM ME. HOPEFULLY THE FLYING GLASS DID NOT INJURE ANYONE ELSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE PARTIALLY BROKE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE WINDOW GLASS WAS RELEASED DOWNWARDLY TO OPEN THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR ARRIVAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,700. UPDATED 9/23/13 *CN
I WENT TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO GET OUT OF MY PARKED CAR. DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAVE TO ROLE DONE MY WINDOW (POWER WINDOW) AND OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR TROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. DEALER SAID THAT WHOLE NEW DOOR PANEL IS REQUIRED AT A COST OF $450.00 BECAUSE THE HANDLE AND TRIGGER IS PART OF THE PANEL. THE DEALER WENT ON TO SAY THAT 100S OF THESE PANELS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AND ENGINEERED DEFECT AND GM DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I HAD TO GET OUT MY CAR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THE DRIVERS DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED UNLESS THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AND OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. I WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE DRIVER SEAT IF UNABLE TO GET WINDOW OPENED.. GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ENGINEERED DEFECT. . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TR
2009 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMING OFF *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HER HAND, WHEN SHE PULLED THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE COST TO REPLACE THE HANDLE, WAS $ 334.85. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
THE DOOR SENSORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE SENSORS TO NOT INDICATE THAT THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY CLOSED. THE DOOR MUST BE OPEN BY AT LEAST THREE INCHES BEFORE THE SENSOR WILL INDICATE "DOOR AJAR." SO, IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED LIGHTLY BUT NOT ALL THE WAY YOU COULD END UP DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE YOUR DOOR COME SWINGING OPEN WITH NO WARNING. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY A CHEVY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR PLACEMENT IN THE CREASE OF THE DOOR. IF THE SENSOR WAS PLACED IN THE LOCK THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. HOWEVER, THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR DOES NOT ALLOW FOR IT TO BE MOVED. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME PROBLEM THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *TR
WHEN OPENING THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW, THE DOOR OPENED WHEN THE WINDOW GETS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN. *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