Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Chevrolet HHR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I was driving south on a 4 lane rte with a center lane for turning. I was driving the posted speed limit and then I don't know what happened. One minute I was driving, the next I was crashing into a telephone pole. The car went left of the center lane and the two northbound lanes and into the telephone pole. It happened so fast. There were no witnesses that came forward. I don't recall hearing any horns blaring or brakes squealing. I had no sense of warning that I was going to crash. ( I have been in or seen crashes before and there is usually a sense of " oh no this is about to happen"). My airbags did not deploy. My head spiderwebbed the windshield. I had tiny cuts in my scalp and slivers of glass in my hair. My left shoulder hit something (maybe the steering wheel)? My left thigh had a bruise from the steering wheel. The bruise was 12" x 4 or 5 " throughout the length of the bruise.. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while exiting a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact crashed into another vehicle and then a pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was transported from the scene for medical treatment of minor cuts and bruises and the vehicle was towed to a salvage facility. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) however, the contact was not able to have the vehicle repaired because the parts had not become available prior to the crash. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 06/10/14 ma
Tl contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while decreasing speed to approximately 40 MPH in a construction zone, another vehicle rear ended his vehicle. The driver side seat collapsed backward after the impact and none of the air bags deployed. His vehicle also ricocheted into a heavy truck as a result of the crash. There were no injuries. The contact had not spoken with the dealer or the manufacturer to-date. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 11,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and making a left turn the engine stalled without warning causing the contact to lose control and crashed into a pole. The contact suffered injuries to the face, knee, wrist, neck, and back. The vehicle was towed for further inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign recall number 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) was received after the crash. The failure and current mileage was 90,100. Updated 05/19/14
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the brakes was depressed and the pedal went to the floorboard abnormally. The failure caused the driver to crash into another vehicle from the rear. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy and the driver was injured. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and deemed as destroyed. The police stated that the air bags should have deployed and the insurance company planned to inspect the vehicle. The failure and the current mileage was 106,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 65, the contact was cut off by another vehicle which caused the contact to lose control and crash into an embankment. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. The contact attempted to have the vehicle repaired under NHTSA campaign number 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) but was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,798.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contactwas traveling approximately 60 MPH and fell asleep behind the wheel. He abruptly attempted to regain control of the vehicle, and the vehicle flipped over. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries and received medical attention. The vehicle was to be further inspected by an insurance adjuster and an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. Additionally, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently and the rear hatch door would erroneously opened and would not remain securely closed. The cause of the failures were not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted or notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 220,000.
This car was in an accident where the driver swerved to miss animals in road, crossed a ditch, a frontage road and hit trees to come to a stop and the airbags never deployed. The driver's head hit the windshield right above the steering wheel giving him a huge black eye, large bump and we are watching him for signs of concussion. His head didn't go through windshield but made a big round spiderweb of it. Shouldn't the airbags have been deployed?
Related recalls
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.
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…
Airbag complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, 6% of the model year's 1,006 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet HHR airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014); NHTSA recall 08V-046 (air bags, Jan 30, 2008); NHTSA recall 06V-417 (frontal, Oct 31, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet HHR airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 1 fire and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.