2007 Chevrolet HHR Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR most often describe a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, which comes with a warning message and usually returns after the car is restarted but tends to recur. Second most common are electrical complaints, especially the key refusing to come out of the ignition and intermittent instrument panel failures, plus rusted fuel lines near the rear-left wheel that produce a gasoline smell or a visible leak. Many reports come in between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out while driving

   • 410 complaints (56%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (363 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $788 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe the power steering warning light or message appearing on the dash and the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes at highway speed, sometimes at low speed while parking or reversing. Many report that shutting the car off and restarting restores assist, at least for a while, and that the episodes become more frequent over time. Dealers and independent shops commonly diagnosed a faulty steering column or electric power steering motor and quoted replacement, and several owners said the dealer acknowledged the problem but the repair was at their own cost. Reported from as low as a few thousand miles up to about 170,000 miles, with many complaints clustering between roughly 45,000 and 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive the car at both low and highway speed and watch for the power steering message; if a steering column or motor has been replaced, ask for the invoice. Ask whether the car has ever had the assist drop out intermittently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Add random speeds 30-80 MPH the electric power steering pump with shut off, resulting in no power steering with no warning other than the little chime beep after it shuts off. The pump was replaced at my expense and I want reimbursed by dealership. At times I was doing over 70 miles an hour going around curves and turns and it would shut off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11367021, filed 2020-10, 90,000 miles

   “I was driving down the street and the power steering stopped working. I was in a construction zone and there was no shoulder. I had to drive a few miles with no power steering in order to safely pull over. I shut the car of and back on and it started working again. This has happened 3 times now. I could have crashed and hurt someone. I see there were recalls on the same part but for different years.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661345, filed 2014-11, 113,131 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel lines leaking near the rear-left wheel

   • 48 complaints (7%)
   • median 131,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $720 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners describe a gasoline smell around the rear of the car, often strongest after filling the tank or after the car sits, followed in some cases by a visible fuel puddle on the ground in front of the rear driver-side tire. Shops typically found the metal supply and return lines rusted through, and repairs ranged from a patch section to replacing the lines. Some owners noted the lines run beneath a protective wrap that traps moisture. Reported mostly between roughly 130,000 and 260,000 miles, on older, higher-mileage cars.

   What to check: Look under the rear driver-side area for rust, damp spots or a fuel smell after filling up; have a shop inspect the fuel lines above and behind the heat shield before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Metal fuel lines in rear left of vehicle leaked profusely due to rusting out. Car stalled and had to tow home. Had to replace line with rubber fuel hose. Noticed strong smell of gas but I assumed it was because I was near a gas station. It happened near pershing and rockwell in chicago and I had just leaft my house which was 2 blocks away.”

   NHTSA complaint #11337980, filed 2020-07, 130,000 miles

   “I notice that the tank has been leaking fuel. This occurs when I fill up the tank and/or the fuel swishes or moves around. This happens on the rear left tire. It seems to get on the exhaust or heat up and smell excessive fuel. I noticed this when I would park for at least 20 mins on a full tank. I am a fuel tank engineer and see this as a poor design possibly”

   NHTSA complaint #11397052, filed 2021-02, 138,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Key sticks in ignition / no-crank, no-start

   • 63 complaints (9%)
   • median 71,500 mi at 7.2 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners report the ignition key would not release or come out, the shifter would not engage, and the car would not crank, sometimes with a security light or after battery replacement. Several complaints describe this following ignition switch or lock cylinder work done under recall, with repeat no-start episodes afterward. In some cases the dealer replaced the ignition assembly; others describe trouble getting the vehicle diagnosed. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 65,000 miles, though also described at low mileage after recall work.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 14V0470002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm both ignition recalls were completed and ask for documentation. Test that the key turns freely and releases in every shifter position, and that the car restarts repeatedly when warm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 chevy HHR with mileage of 63,223. No problems until 11/05/14 recall 14063 ignition switch and 14113 lock cylinder were replaced. 20 days later after fighting with GM and the dealership for 3 weeks it was towed back to dealership because vehicle would not start and key would not come out of ignition. Tested charging system and found battery to fail. Replaced battery, vehicle started and key released until the next time I went to start it about 2 weeks later. Vehicle wouldn't start and key would not come out of ignition again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885514, filed 2016-07, 63,223 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key fails to release from the ignition unless a button under the steering wheel is touched. The contact also hears a strange noise underneath the front driver's side of the vehicle. The noise is heard each morning, when driving over bumps, and after the vehicle has been parked for days. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10255367, filed 2009-01, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Interior door handle breaks, door hard to open

   • 56 complaints (8%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $441 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2022

   Owners report the inside front door handle becoming stiff, clicking, or breaking so the door will not open from inside, leaving occupants to roll down the window and use the outside handle. Complaints describe the fix as replacing the whole interior door panel, and some say the part had to be ordered. A related recall covers the instrument panel storage bin door latch, which is a different part. Reported between roughly 11,000 and 100,000 miles, often noted as a recurring design complaint.

   Recall 08V444000

   What to check: Open and close each door from the inside using the interior handle, checking for a click, stiffness, or slack before it lets go.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering goes out while driving. This is a recall item on the 2008 model year, needs to be a recall on 07-08 years also. Inside door handles brake, making it impossible to get out of the call without rolling down the windows. Both are broken on my car. Been to many chevy HHR forums and this is a common problem. If you lose power you can not get out of the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10626840, filed 2014-08, 15,100 miles

   “The interior door handle on the front passenger door has been making a click noise and difficult to open. Today a passenger tried to get out and the handle refused to open. Door was able to open from outside. A door that does not properly open could pose a safety hazard should someone be trapped in the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10441197, filed 2011-12, 99,970 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pulsation and shaking under braking

   • 43 complaints (6%)
   • median 21,939 mi at 2.5 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2018

   Owners describe the front of the car shaking or the pedal pulsating when braking at moderate speeds, sometimes returning after pads and rotors were replaced. Some complaints mention a delayed or weak pedal response and one describes a collision; another describes the steering wheel wobbling along with the pulsation. Shops commonly replaced pads, rotors, and in one case rear pads and tie rods. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, with several reports under 50,000 miles.

   What to check: Brake firmly from about 40 mph on a clear road and feel for pedal pulsation or steering shake; ask when the rotors and pads were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was exiting parkway when loss of braking and steering occurred causing vehicle to collide with guardrail nearly head on. Air bags did not deploy. Major damage to front of vehicle as well as rear of vehicle as it swung around and struck the guardrail a second time with the rear of the vehicle before coming to rest across the roadway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595058, filed 2014-05, 119,522 miles

   “Applied brakes at various speeds and the brakes pulsated and steering wobbles. Replaced the brake pads and turned the rotors and about a month later that same thing happens. This has been going on since 2011 and is still the same problem today even after putting on new rotors and brake pads..I only have about 38,000 miles on the car now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10664068, filed 2014-12, 3,235 miles

Buying note. This model year is old enough that condition matters more than reputation, but the steering assist dropout and rusted rear fuel lines are the two items worth confirming before purchase. Have a shop check the power steering operation and the fuel lines, and verify that the ignition recalls were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.