2006 Chevrolet HHR Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,367 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Chevrolet HHR sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings.
Avoid
Where 2006 sits among all HHR years
What owners report
“Power steering goes out while driving if i pull over and turn car off then back on power steering will come back on but only for a couple minuted”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
“Air bag light has come on while driving most of the time now and lights and electrical has gone haywire lights flashing and door locks opening on their own.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
“Interior door handle has broken on both the driver side door and front passenger door. This happened on 2 separate occasions while trying to open the door to get out while parked. The drivers side entire door had to be replaced by the dealership. The passenger door has not been fixed yet.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
“My air bag service light comes on and my power steering dont work while this air bag service light is on. My heat dont work either while my air bag service light is on. I can drive it for awhile and when my air bag light goes off my power steering starts to work and my heat does too.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
“While i was driving down the road i got a message saying "engine power reduced" and then "engine disabled" and my car shut off. I tried starting it a few times and it wouldn't even turn over. After a few minutes it started back up.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
“Driver side inside door handle bfoke off, need to open window and reach outside to open door.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 HHR
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,107 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,000 and 107,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on…
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be…
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the…
GM IS RECALLING 296,422 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE DOOR ON THE STORAGE BIN IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE…
Fix: A REDESIGNED LATCH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A…
GM IS RECALLING 181,516 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF RAIL AIR BAGS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.' IN TESTS, ONE OF…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ENERGY-ABSORBING PLASTIC PIECE TO THE HEADLINER TRIM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A…
CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT…
Fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED…
Technical service bulletins
758 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet HHR reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet HHR drew 1,367 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR are steering (464 complaints), electrical (246), and body & structure (121).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,000 and 107,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet HHR have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Chevrolet HHR. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.