What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?

Steering has the most complaints at 231, followed by the electrical system at 119. Air bags and the fuel system come next.

Does the 2010 Chevrolet HHR have recalls?

Yes. The by-year data shows recalls for this model year. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

How reliable is the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?

Owners filed 515 complaints with NHTSA. Those are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check.

What is the gas mileage of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2010 Chevrolet HHR safe?

See the safety section on this page for the crash ratings. Owners also reported air bag complaints.

2010 Chevrolet HHR Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 515 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Chevrolet HHR^[1]. Steering leads the list with 231 complaints^[2].

515owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

23–26MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name most, biggest first.

Steering. 231 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the power steering quitting while they drive, with a warning message and a wheel that gets hard to turn. In the stories we read, shutting the car off and restarting it brings help back for a short while.
Electrical System. 119 complaints^[5]. Owners describe a key that will not come out of the ignition and an engine that keeps running. Some say they had to pull a fuse or disconnect the battery to shut the car down. Others mention warning lights and gauges acting up.
Air Bags. 49 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, the air bag warning light comes on and off, and some owners trace it to a loose or worn connector under the seat. A few describe air bags that did not open in a crash.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 46 complaints^[7]. Owners describe fuel lines that rust and leak, a gas smell, and repair bills they paid themselves.
Structure. 44 complaints^[8].
Electronic Stability Control. 32 complaints^[9].
Brakes. 28 complaints^[10].
Engine. 23 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2010 HHR is necessarily included.

Electrical System › Ignition (14V171), April 2014. About 2,191,014 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, reduced braking, the car rolling away.^[12]
Steering › Electric Power Assist System (14V153), March 2014. About 1,373,177 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, steering problems.^[13]
Air Bags (14V047), February 2014. About 2,190,934 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
HHR FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[15]	21 / 29 / 24	$2,800
HHR FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	22 / 32 / 26	$2,600
HHR FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	19 / 29 / 23	$2,900
HHR FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700
HHR FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700
HHR FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700
HHR Panel FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700
HHR Panel FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	22 / 32 / 26	$2,600
HHR Panel FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700
HHR Panel FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	22 / 30 / 25	$2,700

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 2 DR FWD^[24], 4 DR FWD^[25].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
HHR LS/LT 4DR WAGON^[26]	176 in	69 in	65 in	104 in	3,155 lb
HHR SS 4DR WAGON^[27]	176 in	69 in	65 in	104 in	3,280 lb

How 2010 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each HHR model year. The 2010 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2006	1,006	5
2007	726	4
2008	616	4
2009	508	4
2010	515	3
2011	203	2

NHTSA's counts for the HHR show 515 complaints and 3 recalls for 2010^[3]. Among the 6 model years listed, 2 have fewer complaints than 2010 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2011 (203) and the most are for 2006 (1,006)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2010 HHR?

The 2010 HHR has a clear pattern in owner reports. Steering and electrical complaints make up the biggest groups^[2]^[5]. These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and they are not adjusted for how many cars were sold^[1]. If you are shopping for one, ask whether the steering and ignition have ever been repaired. Also check the page sections above for recalls and fuel economy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?: Steering has the most complaints at 231^[2], followed by the electrical system at 119^[5]. Air bags and the fuel system come next^[6]^[7].
Does the 2010 Chevrolet HHR have recalls?: Yes. The by-year data shows recalls for this model year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
How reliable is the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?: Owners filed 515 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Those are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check.
What is the gas mileage of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2010 Chevrolet HHR safe?: See the safety section on this page for the crash ratings. Owners also reported air bag complaints^[6].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Chevrolet HHR

2006 1,006 complaints, 5 recalls
2007 726 complaints, 4 recalls
2008 616 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 508 complaints, 4 recalls
2010 this page
2011 203 complaints, 2 recalls

Compare all model years of the Chevrolet HHR

Other Chevrolet models from 2010

2010 Chevrolet Camaro 295 complaints, 2 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 583 complaints, 5 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Colorado 29 complaints, 2 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Equinox 784 complaints, 3 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1,365 complaints, 3 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Traverse 669 complaints, 5 recalls

All Chevrolet models

Similar cars from 2010: suvs

2010 Toyota 4Runner 147 complaints, 12 recalls
2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser 66 complaints, 10 recalls
2010 Toyota Land Cruiser 3 complaints, 6 recalls
2010 Acura MDX 45 complaints, 1 recall
2010 Acura RDX 22 complaints, 2 recalls
2010 Buick Enclave 275 complaints, 6 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 515 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Chevrolet HHR (19 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 13 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
231 complaints name the steering component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet HHR model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
119 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
49 complaints name the air bags component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,500). NHTSA vehicle records
46 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 101,000). NHTSA vehicle records
44 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,328). NHTSA vehicle records
32 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,024). NHTSA vehicle records
28 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the engine component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 14V171, filed April 10, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V153, filed March 31, 2014: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V047, filed February 10, 2014: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR Panel FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR Panel FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR Panel FWD, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for HHR Panel FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, HHR LS/LT 4DR WAGON: length 176 in, width 69 in, height 65 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,155 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, HHR SS 4DR WAGON: length 176 in, width 69 in, height 65 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 3,280 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2010 Chevrolet HHR: problems, recalls and fuel economy