YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet HHR Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#2 most-complained of 2 HHR years

The 2011 Chevrolet HHR shows 203 NHTSA complaints, ranked 2 of 2 model years covered, with a complaint index of 0. Top problem areas are Fuel System (47 complaints, 23%) and Electrical System (42 complaints, 21%), tied to two recalls covering ignition switch and airbag issues.

Complaints
203
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
13 / 3
Injuries / deaths
16 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
22 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2011 Chevrolet HHR problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System47 (23%)
  2. Electrical System42 (21%)
  3. Brakes37 (18%)
  4. Airbags30 (15%)
  5. Engine30 (15%)
  6. Structure & Body29 (14%)
  7. Steering25 (12%)
  8. Other16 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (5%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain10 (5%)

What owners report

  • Ignition switch reportedly turns off unexpectedly while driving, cutting power steering and brakes and leading to loss of control.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in multiple reported crashes, including one at 50,000 miles median failure point for that category.
  • Vehicle reportedly stalled repeatedly, in one case more than five times, resulting in two separate crashes.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to stop the vehicle at low speeds, including one incident where the pedal did not respond at all.
  • A heated seat warmer reportedly caught fire while the vehicle was powered off, at 36,000 miles.
  • Seat belts reportedly failed alongside a steering wheel that jerked and locked, contributing to a crash into a light pole.
2011 Chevrolet HHR complaints: complaints filed per quarter352011 Q32013 Q32015 Q22017 Q12018 Q42021 Q12023 Q12025 Q2
280 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q2 (35).

2011 Chevrolet HHR recalls

2 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.

2011 Chevrolet HHR fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
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.

2011 compared with other HHR years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict100515325
2011No verdict0203224.5

All Chevrolet HHR years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Chevrolet HHR reliable?
NHTSA lists 203 complaints for the 2011 HHR with a complaint index of 0, ranking it 2nd out of 2 model years with data. Fuel System and Electrical System issues make up the largest share of reported problems.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet HHR?
Fuel System complaints account for 23% (47 complaints), Electrical System 21% (42 complaints), and Brakes 18% (37 complaints), per NHTSA data.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet HHR have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls: one for the ignition switch (Electrical System, campaign 14V171000) and one for the airbag system (campaign 14V047000). Neither is classified as a do-not-drive recall.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Chevrolet HHR?
EPA rates the 2011 HHR at 24.5 mpg combined (22 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,650.

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.