There are 6 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet HHRin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I turned on my rear window defrost in about 55 degree weather and 45 minutes later my rear window shattered
CAR WAS PARKED AND NO ONE WAS INSIDE WHEN THE BACK GLASS JUST POPPED AND SHATTERED.
IT WAS SNOWING AND I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM IT UP. I CLEANED OFF THE WINDOWS WITH MY SNOW BRUSH. WHENEVER I GOT INTO THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE WIPERS, THEY MOVED FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN STOPPED. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED THE WIPERS. THEY WERE MOVING FREELY. NOTHING I DID WOULD MAKE THE WIPERS WORK. I WENT ONLINE AND CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS WITH CHEVY HHR WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FOUND THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. ON ONE WEBSITE, CHEVY HHR.NET, THERE EVEN IS A DISCUSSION BOARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT'S THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION AND FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ THIS HAPPENS BETWEEN 60,00 AND 85,000 MILES ON THE HHR AND CHEVY COBALT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR IS @$300.00 AND I'M WONDERING WHY GM WOULD MAKE A VEHICLE THAT HAS A PART THAT FAILS SO EASILY. *TR
A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT LEFT FENDER AND HEADLAMP. NO PART OF THE POLE WAS VISIBLE, DUE TO THE WIDTH OF THE A-PILLAR AND DOOR FRAME AND THE ANGLE OF THE A PILLAR (NEARLY VERTICAL). ONLY THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS DURING THE IMPACT ALERTED THE DRIVER TO WHAT WAS OCCURRING, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING DIRECTLY TOWARD THE POLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS; THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM SINGLE SWEEP MODE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT, HIS VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED. THE WIPER BLADES ALSO DID NOT POSITION CORRECTLY WHEN THE CONTROL SELECTOR MODE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE TOP SURFACE EDGE OF THE ENTIRE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED NUMEROUS AIR BUBBLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
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