2009 Chevrolet HHR Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR most often describe rusted steel fuel lines leaking gasoline near the driver's side rear wheel well, a symptom reported from roughly 30,000 to over 200,000 miles. Loss of electric power steering assist — sometimes with the wheel becoming hard to turn or shaking — is the other frequent theme, along with airbag warning lights and, less often, ignition key and electrical problems. Many of these complaints relate to conditions covered by past recalls, and owners frequently note that their vehicle was not included in a campaign.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel line leaking near rear driver's side

   Mentioned in 36 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell, then a wet spot or puddle on the ground in front of the driver's side rear wheel. On inspection the steel fuel lines are found rusted through, often at a plastic retainer clip or where a heat shield covers them near the exhaust. Complaints describe the leak continuing while parked and while running, and owners report replacing a section of line or the whole line assembly at their own expense; several say a dealer told them the VIN was not covered by a recall. Spread across the sample from about 11,000 to over 225,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 60,000 and 160,000 miles; often noticed after parking or refueling.

   What to check: Look underneath at the fuel lines in front of the driver's side rear wheel, especially where clips and the heat shield hold them, for rust, dampness or a gasoline smell. Ask whether the lines have been replaced and keep a repair estimate in mind.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tried to have an alignment done and was told I have a substantial fuel leak. I'm dumping fuel from two points, one of which is over the heat shield for the exhaust system. It's a steel gas line, if there's one thing we know about steel, it rusts, especially when mixed with salt-I live in michigan. You'd think a fuel delivery system would be better designed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338117, filed 2020-07, 160,000 miles

   “I noticed a strong odor of fuel coming from under my car (a 2009 HHR lt2). After being driven I noticed fuel leaking out from under the car in front of the left rear wheel well. My husband got under there and notice that the two fuel lines are rusted through by the plastic clamp. I notified the dealership where I bought the car and I am taking it in today to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11412773, filed 2021-04, 72,974 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out

   • 120 complaints (24%)
   • median 58,140 mi at 4.6 yrs old (106 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $775 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners describe the power steering warning appearing and the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, at speed, at low speed, or shortly after starting the car. Some report it returns after switching the ignition off and restarting, only to recur later; others describe the wheel shaking and being hard to move after about ten minutes of driving. Complaints mention dealers replacing the power steering assist motor and module, and some say the repair under the earlier campaign was described as a one-time free fix. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 185,000 miles, with several reports under 60,000 miles; often intermittent and sometimes recurring after a prior steering repair.

   Recall 14V153000

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recall (14V153000) repair was performed and whether the assist motor has been replaced since. During a test drive, watch for the power steering warning light and any heaviness or shake in the wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a power steering failure message on the dash at the same time that I lost power steering while going home from dropping off my child at daycare. I drove home without the power steering, when I shut off the car and restarted it I had power steering again. This power steering failure has happened multiple times on the highway, residential neighborhoods and in parking lots; in total about 10-15 incidents in the last month.”

   NHTSA complaint #10481532, filed 2012-10, 70,123 miles

   “My car's power steering has dangerously disappeared while I was driving on the highway. The power steering came on on the dashboard and I had to stir the car with so much force to get off the highway. I had my 10-year-old son with me on his way to school. No one knows why this happened and I can't drive it with a 10-year-old boy who I have to get to school and myself and my wife to work. Mechanic after mechanic no one can tell why the power steering wont work. Please help!”

   NHTSA complaint #11403627, filed 2021-03, 189,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition key stuck or hard to turn

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the key refusing to come out of the ignition while the engine is running, or the key no longer turning to start the car, with one report of failed tumblers found by a mechanic. Some also describe intermittent no-crank or stalling with a security light, and one reports fire starting from the interior roof light. Reported from about 40,000 to 150,000 miles; described as recurring in some cases.

   Recall 14V1710002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the key turns freely and can be removed in every position, and ask whether the ignition recall (14V171000) repair was done. A service bulletin describes dealer diagnosis for intermittent no-crank with a security light, so ask about that history too.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition with the vehicle still running. I had to disconnect the battery and have it repaired. It cost $600.00 to repair this and this continues to be a problem on other HHR's. I am now having the same kind of symptoms that my car was having before the ignition was replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10413374, filed 2011-07, 40,000 miles

   “Started smelling smoke and the whole vehicle shut down with the being stuck on ignition. Couldn't open the doors and smoke was billowing out and fire start coming out of lower middle console. Luckily was able to open door and exit vehicle. Fire then erupted and quickly traveled straight down the center console to the rear of the car. Within minutes the car was totally engulfed in flames and was completely burned to nothing. Suffered several burns and smoke inhalation and the car and every thing in it was destroyed”

   NHTSA complaint #11406550, filed 2021-04, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light or service airbag message

   • 78 complaints (15%)
   • median 54,642 mi at 4.9 yrs old (66 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2025

   Complaints describe the airbag or service airbag message appearing on the instrument panel, in some cases only on hot days after the car sits in the sun and clearing once it cools, and in others appearing intermittently while driving. Some owners report a passenger-side airbag warning light that flashes on and off, and a few mention a dealer charging for diagnosis before any repair. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles; several note hot weather or sun exposure as a trigger.

   Recall 14V047000

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on with the key and goes out after starting. Ask whether the airbag recall (14V047000) was completed and whether any airbag sensor or clock spring work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Chevrolet 2009 HHR airbag light comes on when the car has been sitting in the sun for a few hours on a hot day. Once the car cool off the light goes off, or if it is before the sun come up there is no problem. I reported this to my Chevrolet dealer and they pretended like this issue was foreign to them, but as I search the internet I see this issue reported by more owners than I can count. There is an issue going on and this need to be corrected in a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10649383, filed 2014-10, 90,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Service Air Bag message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she needed to pay out of pocket for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be serviced. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11509856, filed 2023-03, 145,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the fuel lines near the rear driver's side wheel and on the power steering assist, and confirm which of the open recalls for this year have actually been completed. Mileage alone is not a reliable guide here, since fuel line leaks are reported on both low- and high-mileage cars.

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.