2008 Chevrolet HHR Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Chevrolet HHR most often report two things: an intermittent loss of power steering assist while driving, and rusted fuel lines that leak near the driver's side rear wheel. Fuel-line complaints tend to appear on higher-mileage cars, while power-steering complaints show up across a wide mileage range. Scattered reports also cover ignition key and lock problems, air bag warning lights, and brake concerns, but these come up far less often in the sample.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel lines leaking near rear wheel

   Mentioned in 32 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell, often noticed after parking, with fuel dripping or puddling under the driver's side rear wheel area. Many say a mechanic found the metal fuel and vapor lines rusted through, sometimes where a protective wrap or heat shield had held moisture and road salt. Repairs reported include replacing the feed, purge, or evap lines, sometimes at considerable cost, and some owners describe fuel reaching the ground while the pump was pressurized. Mostly reported between roughly 85,000 and 185,000 miles, often on older vehicles in colder or road-salt regions.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel and vapor lines have been replaced and inspect the area in front of the driver's side rear tire for rust, damp wrap, or fuel odor after the car sits. A fuel smell in the garage or cabin is worth a prompt inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to start the car in my driveway, smelled gas from the rear driver's side tire. I then shut off my car and looked. I have a leak in the fuel line, after researching seems that this has happened before in this make and model. I do not want to move the car or pay for a repair that is a design flaw.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375910, filed 2020-11, 108,500 miles

   “The fuel line on my vehicle developed a leak at the left rear tire. I had to buy and install an aftermarket fuel line kit. I found that the metal fuel line has rusted through. When removing the old fuel line the purge line broke open at a rusty area. These two lines and a brake line run through a tubular knitted heat shield in this area. The heat shield had collected dirt and salt and was damp on a dry day when I was working on the line replacement. Poor design.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338691, filed 2020-07, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out while driving

   • 247 complaints (40%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (221 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2022

   Complaints describe the power steering warning appearing on the display followed by a sudden loss of assist, so the wheel becomes hard to turn. Many owners say shutting the car off and restarting restores assist, sometimes only until the car is moving again; others report repeat failures. Diagnoses mentioned include the power steering motor or module and, in some cases, the steering column, with repairs not always resolving it. Reported from about 39,000 to 140,000 miles, at varied speeds and often during turns.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for a power steering message and check whether assist drops out at low speed or in turns; ask whether the power steering motor or module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering went out while driving, service ESC code came on. Car has done this numerous times over the past year, I have replaced the steering column, the power steering motor, the car ran fine for weeks and today while driving down the road the service ESC code came on and I lost power steering”

   NHTSA complaint #11351910, filed 2020-08, 138,000 miles

   “I've had my car recalled for ignition switch, then another recall for the power steering module and now my power steering column is bad. All these parts are in the same area and I've heard many HHR owners are having the same problem with their steering column, is there going to be a recall on this as well? I haven't even had this car all that long! Anytime I drive on the highway it feels shaky and when turning left the the car jerks to the left. I've replaced everything in the suspension. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11338883, filed 2020-07, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition key hard to remove or stuck

   • 27 complaints (4%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners report the key being difficult or impossible to remove from the ignition, sometimes with the battery draining, and some describe needing work on the ignition lock cylinder. Several complaints mention a prior ignition recall and say the problem continued afterward, and one notes a dealer declined to cover related damage. Reported from about 64,000 to 200,000 miles, with no clear weather or driving pattern.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 14V0470002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether the ignition recall work was completed, and try turning the key off and removing it several times before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Two issues: key won't remove from ignition, searched google and got keys out. Second ; power locks ,car won't unlock, not even with keys. So far, this has cost me $150.00”

   NHTSA complaint #11413244, filed 2021-04, 150,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); but the vehicle experienced a failure. The contact stated that the key could not be removed from the ignition switch while the key was in the OFF position. In addition, the battery was being drained. The contact stated that the battery was previously replaced several months ago. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11706785, filed 2025-12, 64,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and module faults

   • 35 complaints (6%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe a service air bag message or warning light with no impact, followed by a dealer diagnosis that air bag modules needed replacement. Some owners say parts were no longer available or that the repair was not covered, leaving the warning unresolved. Reported between roughly 40,000 and 143,000 miles.

   Recall 08V046000Recall 14V047000

   What to check: Check that the air bag light comes on briefly and then goes out at start-up, and ask whether any air bag recall or module work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While driving at an unknown speed, an error message displayed across the message board. In addition, the air bag module failed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The manufacturer did not want to repair the vehicle for free. There were no recalls associated with this vehicle. The failure mileage was 143,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10925254, filed 2016-11, 143,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and failed to release. Additionally, the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the key was stuck and needed to be broken, and any damages would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11720216, filed 2026-02, 200,000 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door locks and latches acting up

   • 65 complaints (11%)
   • median 47,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Owners describe doors locking unexpectedly, power locks that will not unlock, and rear doors that do not close fully or that leave no warning that they are open. Repairs mentioned include replacing lock actuators and lock assemblies, and some report the problem returning. Reported from very low mileage (under 3,000 miles) up to about 15,000 miles in the sample, with additional lock complaints at higher mileage.

   Recall 08V444000

   What to check: Cycle every door lock with the fob and the interior button, and check that the door-ajar chime works when a door is left open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I currently own a 2008 chevy HHR that I purchased in august. My complaint is on the back passenger doors. In several occassions my kids have not closed the doors hard enough, and the doors have stayed open. The car has failed to inform me. We only noticed because we can hear the wind as I am driving faster. Also in testing the car, the door wasn't even on the hatch and the car still did not warn of the door being open and the car was in movement. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10249562, filed 2008-11, 2,800 miles

   “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”

   NHTSA complaint #10744823, filed 2015-07, 222,988 miles

Buying note. On a 2008 HHR, the two things worth checking first are the fuel and vapor lines above the driver's side rear wheel and whether the power steering assist is reliable on a test drive. Ask for repair records on both, and confirm 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.