YearToAvoid

2007 Chevrolet HHR Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2007 Chevrolet HHR ranks 4th out of 6 model years with a complaint index of 40 and a Good verdict relative to other HHR years. NHTSA lists 726 complaints, 4 recalls, and Steering as the top problem area with 424 complaints, a 58% share, and a median failure mileage of 77,600.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
40/100
#4 of 6 HHR years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
726
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
42
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
28
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy
Injuries / deaths
28 / 0

Top 2007 Chevy HHR problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering424 (58%)
  2. Electrical System114 (16%)
  3. Structure & Body64 (9%)
  4. Brakes59 (8%)
  5. Fuel System51 (7%)
  6. Airbags48 (7%)
  7. Engine44 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain40 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (5%)
  10. Other19 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering can suddenly malfunction or feel loose at highway speed, causing the vehicle to veer left and sometimes strike a guardrail or wall.
  • Power steering has reportedly cut out mid-turn at moderate speeds, leading to loss of control and crashes.
  • Electrical wiring behind the dashboard has caught fire even while the vehicle sat parked and unused.
  • Front passenger door latches have fractured, trapping occupants inside the vehicle.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy during front-end and wall-impact collisions despite visible crash damage.
  • Tires have blown out on the highway, sending the vehicle into guardrails, with owners describing internal tire separation.
2007 Chevrolet HHR complaints: complaints filed per quarter942007 Q12009 Q32011 Q42014 Q12016 Q22018 Q32020 Q42024 Q3
726 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q2 (94).

2007 Chevrolet HHR recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V171000Apr 10, 2014Electrical System2,191,014 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    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 removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

    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 the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

    Remedy: 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 will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

  2. NHTSA 14V047000Feb 10, 2014Airbags2,190,934 vehicles

    Air bags

    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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

    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.

    Remedy: 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 safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

  3. NHTSA 08V444000Sep 3, 2008Structure & Body296,422 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    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 instrument panel failed to remain closed as required.

    Risk: This standard specifies performance requirements to provide head impact protection for occupants.

    Remedy: 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 href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

See all 4 recalls for the 2007 Chevrolet HHR →

2007 Chevrolet HHR fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2007 compared with other HHR years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200620072008200920102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid801,006523
2007Good40726423
2008Caution60616424
2009Avoid100508424

All Chevrolet HHR years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Chevrolet HHR reliable?
Among the six HHR model years with data, 2007 has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 4th worst, earning a Good verdict relative to other HHR years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2007 Chevrolet HHR?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 424 of 726 complaints (58%), with a median failure mileage of 77,600 and 15 reported crashes.
Does the 2007 Chevrolet HHR have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2007 HHR covering electrical system ignition switches, airbags, and a door latch/structure issue; none are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2007 HHR compare to other HHR years?
The 2007 HHR (complaint index 40) is safer on paper than 2006 (80, Avoid) and 2009 (100, Avoid), but not as strong as 2010 and 2011, which both carry Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR?
EPA rates the 2007 HHR at 23 mpg combined (20 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.