YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet HHR Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 30 airbag complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR, 15% of that year's 203 total complaints, linked to 6 crashes and 6 injuries. A related recall (14V047000) covers the ignition switch, which can trigger airbag system faults.

Airbags complaints
30
15% of 203
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
44,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Side or frontal airbags fail to deploy during low-speed rear-end or multi-vehicle collisions, leaving occupants with bruising and neck or back strain.
  • Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently, sometimes tied to a cell phone charger plugged into the vehicle, and dealers cannot duplicate or correct the fault.
  • Airbags deploy unexpectedly during evasive steering maneuvers that lead to loss of control and a crash into a guard rail.
  • Owners report the airbag warning light stays on constantly for months with dealers unable to diagnose the cause despite repeated visits.
  • Owners notified of recall 14V047000 for the ignition switch and airbag/electrical system report delays because replacement parts were unavailable at dealers.

When 2011 Chevrolet HHR airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2011, latest Jan 10, 2024.

2011 Chevrolet HHR airbags complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2011Mar 2012Apr 2014Jul 2014Jun 2015Mar 2016Oct 2016Apr 2018
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2011 to Jan 2024; peak Jun 2014 (5).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR

  1. 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.

Airbags complaints by HHR model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200663 (6%)
  2. 200748 (7%)
  3. 200838 (6%)
  4. 2009104 (20%)
  5. 201049 (10%)
  6. 201130 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA lists 30 airbag-related complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR, which is 15% of the 203 total complaints filed for that model year.
Did airbag problems cause crashes or injuries in the 2011 HHR?
Yes. NHTSA data tied 6 crashes and 6 injuries to airbag-related complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR.
Is there a recall for airbag issues on the 2011 Chevrolet HHR?
Yes, recall 14V047000 covers the ignition switch and its effect on the airbag system. GM's remedy is to replace the ignition switch free of charge.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2011 HHR?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2011 Chevrolet HHR is 44,000 miles.
Is the 2011 HHR worse than the 2010 for airbag complaints?
The 2011 HHR had 30 airbag complaints (15% share) versus 49 complaints (10% share) for the 2010 model year, so 2011 has a higher share of its total complaints tied to airbags.

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.