Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
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).
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side door handles fractured. The failure happened without warning. The contact was unable to exit the vehicle. The battery also failed and prevented the driver and passenger side windows from being used. The vehicle was diagnosed and the door handles were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.
I own a 2006 Chevy HHR lt. Thanksgiving day I went to move my car out of the driveway and when I tried to get out of the car the interior door handle on the driver door came off in my hand. I have done my research and found this is a common problem with this vehicle. I even walked up to another HHR I saw on a parking lot and it had the same problem. My safely concern is that I cannot open the door without rolling down my window and reaching outside the car to the exterior handle. If I was in an accident and had a electrical failure I could not exit the car because I could not roll down the window. Everything I have found in my research is that Chevrolet is not recgonizing this as a real problem and from what I have seen/read they have been unwilling to correct the problem when it occurs or help the vehicle owners in any way. …
2006 Chevrolet HHR. Consumer states several problems with vehicle the consumer stated his sons vehicle had a severe shimmy in the steering wheel and became progressively worse when the brake was applied. The pads and rotors were replaced twice and the third time the rotors were machined, but the problem continued. There was also a strange noise coming from the front suspension, but the dealer was unable to pinpoint the problem. At 42,000 miles the air condition made a loud screeching noise for 2 minutes, then stopped working. At 68,000 miles, a metal skid plate had fallen from underneath the vehicle. Soon after, the exhaust was very loud. The vehicle was taken to the repair shop and the consumer was informed the catalytic converter had cracked. …
The interior door handles on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR fell off. The only way to fix it is to replace the entire door panel just for the cheap plastic handle for approximately $500.00. If I was in an accident and the car would not start again, I could not get out of the car through the driver's side because I would not be able to roll down the window to open the door from the outside. Or if the car were on fire, I simply would not be able to escape. This needs to be a recall item as this is a huge safety factor. A bigger safety factor that the latch on the pop up middle console on the Chevy HHR that was recalled back in 2008 (I think). There are blogs all over the internet of people like me who are experiencing the same problem. I am a single working girl who simply cannot afford a $500 interior door panel replacement for a cheap plastic handle because this is not reasonable. …
I have had several issues with my HHR since purchased in September 2005. First incident was the lock on the hatch broke after only owning the car for a few months. Next was with the brakes. At first I noticed a noise when I applied my brakes it sounded like something was loose. This nose would come and go. After a few months I started to notice a slight vibration in my steering wheel when braking a few days later that vibration turned to violent shaking and resistance when braking. I took it to the dealer who informed me the rotors were warped and needed to be repaired. This was roughly around 13000 mi. The dealer did repair the rotors under warranty and didn't give me the "it's normal wear & tear" mumbo. Next is the check engine light keeps coming on. It will stay on for a few days and then go off. This has happened 3 times already and the dealer has replaced the sensor each time. …
2006 Chevrolet HHR interior door handle failures. In my instance the plastic handle that is used to open the door on the drivers side broke off. This is a widely complained about issue on the web. If you google "HHR drivers side interior door handle broken" you get 1000's of people discussing this issue. The cost to repair is very high and people are not doing it. Chevy does not sell just the plastic part, they require you to purchase an entire assembly, the cost runs nearly $600 with labor for a plastic part. The issue is that dealerships do not stock this part, they need to order it and it takes time, this is a safety issue as the only way to exit the car is to open the door from the outside, so that requires rolling a window down and opening it from the outside. If you needed to exit the vehicle in a hurry, such as after an accident, you would not be able to do so. …
I need your help, 1st,computer broke,then 2nd gear shift, then 3rd sunroof, then 4th back door won't open-son can't get out, then 5th power steering, tried to replace power steering with a used one that we could afford,, now car is locked and won't crank, did what mechanic said to reprogram and it still doesn't work, GM replaced 1st computer, I paid for gears , tried to get GM to fix electric steering, said they would buy parts but not labor >1000, right before we tried to replace the power steering the crank started hanging, 06 Chevrolet HHR-no car, help, its so broke, hurt myself trying to drive it, and have been trying to get fixed for over 2 months, its a bomb, now I have no car to drive. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while attempting to exit the vehicle, from the drivers side, the interior door handle fractured. The contact was unable to access the exterior door handle and fifteen minutes later, he was assisted in exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure where he was advised that the entire door would need replacing in order to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the door handle remained fractured. In addition, the keys would sporadically become stuck in the ignition and the contact would have to engage the emergency release button in order to disengage the keys. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was advised that the ignition lock cylinder and remote would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 21,000 and the current mileage was 27,920. …
Related recalls
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 .
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 70 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, 7% of the model year's 1,006 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet HHR door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-444 (latch, Sep 3, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet HHR door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 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.