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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
95,209 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Chevrolet HHR engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Chevrolet HHR Owner Comments

problem #19

Jun 292021

HHR

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine cuts out, loses power ar random times. Especially when the air is humid. Constant smell of leaking gasoline.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #18

Sep 172018

HHR

  • 165,000 miles
The car completely shut down while driving, no noise no warning, could not steer, brake, roll windows down. This happened last year. Took to dealership. Said it was my alternator and charge me an extreme high charge to replace. Very scaredy when happened, for auto to cut off like that. Luckily I was driving about 30mpr an not on an interstate. Bought 2nd hand. Have not been happy with since. When bought did not receive key fan of, an the drivers door, will lock on its own, which left me baffled how to get into it with no other key holes on any other doors or especially the backend. I feel this is very troublesome for anyone, and a bad design feature. The airbag is questionable, and now the water pump has went out, and they say the manifold has to come off to get to and want to charge $750 at a car repair to fix, but will check first to see if that's for sure where leaking. Then one tire has the thing that tells if my airs okay in the tire on my dashboard. It stays on cause it fell off in the tire. The whole darn thing is a nightmare to me, that I'm stuck with. From the motor an expense it is to have worked on to the poor expensive design that got on the market. It's a nightmare.

- Borden, IN, USA

problem #17

Jan 212012

HHR

  • 40,000 miles
Single car accident/hit an animal / car spun out of control/hit several trees(car was a total loss) wife & daughter severely injured//not one air bag deployed(highway patrolman verified in his report

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #16

Feb 272018

HHR

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate. The check engine indicator illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle position sensor failed. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the warranty was expired and the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #15

Nov 242017

HHR

  • 130,000 miles
I bought a used 2008 Chevy HHR from lithia in eureka, ca 11/3/2017 and 11/24/2017 the car would not engage the drive function. Tried several times and no luck. Transmission seems blown, and the electrical was malfunctioning. No flasheers, radio with weird noises, strange sounds from engine after attempting to drive. We are now stuck 200 miles from home and lithia manager has not returned my phone call. I am a middle aged student, working minimum wahe. I gave the dealership all my momey for a broken car. I shouls have researched more that is apparent. I take responsibility for my mishaps. Yet, this is 3 weeks after giving away $5000 for a working vehicle. Please help if you can.

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 152013

HHR

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing belt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred three more times. The vehicle was towed to the same mechanic each time, given the same diagnosis, and given the same repairs. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact should take the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Taylors, SC, USA

problem #13

Apr 082015

HHR

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am unable to get GM or my local Chevy dealership to complete the two outstanding safety recalls in a timely manor. I've been extremely patient but they refuse to accommodate my simple needs. I've been working with Chevy of South anchorage (dealership) since 4/8/2015 attempting to schedule the work for the weekend or get a loaner car. They were unable to accommodate my needs (a car while mine is being repaired or a loaner car). I contacted Chevrolet customer assistance center on 12/1/2016 after repeatedly being ignored or lied to by the dealership. For the past three month I've been getting absolutely no help from Chevrolet in getting a appointment for the weekend or a loaner car. I feel very unsafe driving the car but have no alternative. This has continued to cause me serious emotional distress. I have 57 emails between myself and Chevrolet customer assistance center or the dealership attempting to get this resolved on top of the countless phone calls, voicemails, and numerous visits to the dealership.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #12

Jul 052016

HHR

  • 80,000 miles
Our car had engine troubles where it kept shifting back into neutral while we were trying to drive on the highway and then on side streets on the way home. While driving it to get repaired, there was a loud popping noise and the engine burst into flames. The flames consumed a large portion of the car.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #11

Jun 012015

HHR

  • 133,000 miles
I could easily complain about the cooling system as this cost me about $1400 this month due to first the water pump going and then a chrome pipe/hose that goes across the engine also rusting through...but because I guess that wouldn't be considered a "dangerous" issue other than possibly being stranded, this engine related complaint is in regards to the exhaust. The car is a 2008 and twice the exhaust "flex" hose which is just beyond the exhaust manifold and in front of the catalytic converters has rusted and developed leaks. Because of the proximity of the part close to the engine, not only do the exhaust fumes rise up into the passenger cabin but it sounds like large diesel truck. The dealer will not replace only the flex hose and will only replace the entire pipe back from the manifold which includes 2 catalytic converters for around $2000. Not only is this dangerous for the driver/passenger inhaling the fumes but it's robbery to the consumer as the car isn't even worth that much.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #10

Nov 062015

HHR

  • 138,000 miles
While driving at 20 mph the oil pump went which through the whole engine off bent the vales which caused the chain to skip over the cams always kept the oil changed up keep was always good only 138.000 miles never buy Chevy again.

- Pgh, PA, USA

problem #9

Jul 282015

HHR 4-cyl

  • 222,988 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Hominy, OK, USA

problem #8

Oct 202014

HHR

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine stalled and the windshield wiper activated independently. The contact mentioned that whenever any of the electrical components were turned on the vehicle would automatically turn off. The vehicle was not taken to dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Delbarton, WV, USA

problem #7

Jan 132013

HHR 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated on its own and the engine stalled intermittently. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road and able to be restarted. The engine warning indicator illuminated. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000. Updated 10/22/14 updated 08/28/2017

- Kellogg , IA, USA

problem #6

May 122009

HHR 4-cyl

  • 15,663 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the doors inside the vehicle could not be opened. As a result, the contact was locked inside the vehicle. The automatic lock button had to be pressed numerous times in order to open the doors. The dealer repaired the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,663. The consumer stated the body and trim were defective, due to the door locks getting stuck half way and the doors would not unlock, the electrical system was also defective, as the radio and cd player were inoperative, and the engine would not start at times. Updated 09/17/14

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #5

Jun 102014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, there was a sudden loss on engine power as the electronic throttle control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was made aware. Of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 51,000...updated 08-28-14

- Camden, DE, USA

problem #4

Apr 172014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 142,000 miles
Around April my car started to have a hard time accelerating. A warning cane on the dash that read "loosing enginepower" or words to that effect. When I would brake my car would shake. When I would drive at about 35 my car steering wheel would start B to shake and was hard to control. I took it to my local Chevy dealership where I had the oil change, all four breaks replaced, the tech took a ride with me to hear and feel what my car had been doing. He said he didn't know what it was but ran a diagnostic on it and it said multiple things maybe wrong with, such as the fuel injector, the turbo had came up and a fuel regulator and the electrical system. I asked if it was safe to drive and they insured me it was. My car continued to make all these sounds and struggled to accelerate and the breaks were still slipping. On April 17th I was driving on my son's field trip and suddenly my car started to lose power. I pulled over to side of the interstate at the truck stop. I turned my car off and oil was every where. I had my car towed to the local dealership where I purchased the car. They said the timing chain had broke, causing major damage to my engine. I will have to replace my engine. Had my car been properly diagnosed, this could have been prevented. I am now out I found a vehicle due to this misdiagnosis. I have had this car for almost 2 years.

- Laquey, MO, USA

problem #3

Jun 032014

HHR

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle, crashing into an embankment. A police report was not filed and the driver sustained a shoulder injury. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 90,000.

- Delbarton , WV, USA

problem #2

May 112014

HHR

  • 111,098 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 20 mph, the contact drove over a pothole and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 111,098.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1

Mar 252013

HHR 4-cyl

  • 82,219 miles
Exhaust fumes coming into cabin when heater is turned on. Caused by faulty, cracked flex joint on downpipe, connected to exhaust manifold. Have to ride with windows cracked for fresh air. GM refused to repair. Stated outside 80,000 mile emissions warranty. Car has 82,419 miles.

- Mouthcard, KY, USA

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