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…
2010 Chevrolet HHRProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 516 owner complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet HHR, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-153 the manufacturer reports only 60% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Chevrolet HHR has problems
516 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
232Steering8 crash/fire/injury
120Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
49Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
46Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
44Structure2 crash/fire/injury
32Electronic stability control (ESC)
25Service brakes
21Power train
14Engine
7416 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 232 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 120 | 3 |
| Air bags | 49 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 46 | 1 |
| Structure | 44 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 32 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 3 |
| Power train | 21 | 2 |
| Engine | 14 | 3 |
| 16 other systems | 74 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2010 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
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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?
63kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 195 steering complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles167under 100k miles28100k 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
9 owners mentioned a cost$325median
Middle half: $268 – $1,275
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
2010 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
2010 Chevrolet HHR safety ratings
2010 Chevrolet HHR 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What HHR owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving my car the power steering stopped working and I was unable to turn my steering wheel, the car wouldn't turn, almost ended up in a ditch.
Although this vehicle is a 2010 HHR, it has less than 23000 miles on it, has been garaged kept and maintained impeccably. The warning light blinks at random and then the power steering fails. It does not matter the speed of the vehicle and happens at random. Once turned off and restarted, the power…
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle temporarily returned to…
Own a 2010 HHR?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.