Most common 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems
Share of the 1,006 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet HHR complaints by model year
Best HHR years: 2011, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006. Compare all years →
2006 Chevrolet HHR recalls (5)
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Air bags
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.
Remedy: 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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Air bags › Frontal
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 covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: 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 in GM's letter to…
What 2006 Chevrolet HHR owners say
Steering all 458 →
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds and while idling. The contact stated that the failure occurred at least once every hour. The contact learned that the electronic power steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,973.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked with the key locked inside. The locksmith assisted the contact with entering the vehicle. The contact stated that it was difficult to pull out of the parking space due to a loss of power steering functionality. The vehicle was driven to a local mechanic but was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
Electrical system all 222 →
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and would not properly accelerate. Additionally, the front passenger's side door would not open while using the interior door latch. The contact stated while using the cigarette lighter, the vehicle shut off, and smoke filled the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000.
while driving the car after a few miles, the door locks start going up and down, the power steering light comes on and is hard to steer, the check engine light comes on, the speedometer stops working and the tach malfunctions. the car surges while moving foward. if you shut the car off it will reset itself. once you start the car again it starts to malfunction again. one gararge owner did some tests but didn't fix the problem
Body & structure all 119 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While stopped at a stop sign, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the bumper became slightly detached from the vehicle. The contact looked at the area of the vehicle where the bumper needed to be re-attached and noticed that the metal inner bumper was severely rusted. When touching the inner bumper, it immediately disintegrated. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
A lady ran a red light on springridge rd just south of jackson ms. Wife was driving across springridge rd. The lady failed to yield and struck wife in drivers side totaling three cars in the process wife was severely injured (11 days in hospital) no airbag was deployed during accident. Still working on full recovery. Updated 10/16/2017 the consumer requested a status update and recall information.
2006 Chevrolet HHR engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Chevrolet HHR a good car?
Based on 1,006 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 HHR rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the HHR at the same age. It is one of the HHR years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
The steering — 458 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the electrical system (222) and body & structure (119).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet HHR have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, the most recent from April 10, 2014 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet HHR?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006. See the full Chevrolet HHR years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.