repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…
2008 Chevrolet HHRProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 616 owner complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet HHR, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-171 the manufacturer reports only 72% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Chevrolet HHR has problems
616 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
297Steering11 crash/fire/injury
108Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
71Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
40Service brakes, hydraulic
38Air bags
25Latches/locks/linkages
22Power train
20Engine
15Suspension
12017 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 297 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 108 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 71 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 40 | 2 |
| Air bags | 38 | 15 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 25 | 1 |
| Power train | 22 | 0 |
| Engine | 20 | 4 |
| Suspension | 15 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 120 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Chevrolet HHR recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Doors: latch
Risk. THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 256 steering complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.
14under 30k miles188under 100k miles68100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
17 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $300 – $600
Fuel/propulsion system
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $891 – $1,077
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other HHR year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the HHR median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Chevrolet HHR safety ratings
2008 Chevrolet HHR 2-DR. Panel Truck w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Chevrolet HHR, and the recalls they led to.
- Fuel Line LeakNo recall
In owners' words
What HHR owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving steering motor just stops working causing hard steering and not steer properly. You try to pull off busy highway. stop put in park shut off car then restart steering works fine just out nowhere you loose steering. its intermitten.,
Needless to say, General Motors has dealt with their share of recalls lately and while much of the GM recall news has been devoted to the ignition failures which have forced new CEO Mary Barra to stand before the US Government, this new recall has nothing to do with the ignition cylinder failures.…
Power steering dashboard light came on. Difficult to steer vehicle. Losing power steering is dangerous. Will report the matter to the Chevrolet dealership. No other inspections were done. The dealership may inspect the vehicle. Trying to find recalls to fix this problem for free, but it looks like…
Own a 2008 HHR?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.