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 2007 Chevrolet HHR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My husband was injured in an accident on 9-29-2015. What happened was my husband was stopped on the interstate and a truck slammed into my husband. He said his car turned off as soon as the first impact, airbags did not deploy. There was a second impact from the same truck, which was on my husbands passenger side. The car is completely totaled. My husband was lucky to walk away from this accident. The HHR was recalled for the ignition switch last year and we had the new part installed 2/2015 when the dealership received the parts. We have two issues electrical, why did his car turn off when it was hit from the rear? Did the impact knock the ignition switch out of place? Also why didn't the airbags deploy? Now I know if the car is off the airbags are off but why did the car go from on to completely off unless it was a faulty new part that we received in our car.
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. While driving at 45 MPH, the engine stalled and caused the contact to crash into the rear end of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back and both legs, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received two notifications for NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V047000 (electrical system) and 14V171000 (electrical system). The contact believed both of these recalls were related to the failure that caused the crash. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
There was an accident and the car flipped. The air bags did not deploy. My diaphragm was crushed. Mt back was broken. I am still unable to breathe correctly. I will try to locate records of the crash, but am sending this information now to have the accident recorded in the database.
The front door handle broke on the passenger side of my car in 2013 we had taken the car to the dealership to inquire about this, since this is a safety issue not being able to get out of your car if something dangerous was to happen. At that time the dealership told my husband I that there was nothing they could do about it. Then again in 2014 the driver side door had broken also. So now I have two broken doors on my car that you can only get out of, if someone lets me out of the car or I roll the window down. I feel this is a major safety issue. If I were to get into a serious accident were I was unable to roll my window down and did not have someone riding in the back seat (say car caught on fire) then this could lead to major problems if not death. Also when my husband had an accident neither airbag deployed. …
In June of 2014 my cars ignition turned off as a result I almost impacted with another vehicle. Also after this my temp guage no longer worked. Took it to bill holt Chevrolet where they replaced my ignition switch after I got it back my drivers door will not lock or unlock consistently not even with the key, my service airbag and power steering lights keep coming on, and now radio and instrument panel lights go off. I have to stop turn the car off and restart they might come back on and they might not. I am reluctant to take the car back to bill holt Chevrolet as they kept the car for 3 and a half months to repair the ignition. Also I can get no satisfaction out of them when I picked up the car the last time my temp gauage still wasnt working they said it had nothing to do with the recall. I am reluctant to drive for any distance as the power steering fails often. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH the power steering malfunctioned while making a turn causing the vehicle to crash into a wall. When the crash occurred the vehicle was destroyed and the contact was wearing his seat belt but the air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the neck, back, and chest. The contact was not taken to the hospital. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the steering and reported the failure. The manufacturer sent a investigator to inspect the vehicle. The report from the investigator did not include any information regarding the power steering. The contact noticed numerous complaints regarding the steering system for his year, make, and model vehicle. The failure mileage was 21,658. Updated 08/11/11 updated 08/12/11.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system), the ignition key failed to go into the off position and the check engine warning light illuminated. After the ignition key was moved to the off position, the ignition key failed to disengage from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the following day, the vehicle failed to start as the service air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while attempting a right turn, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact crashed into a retaining wall and another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact securely. Additionally, the vehicle stalled and the doors could not be unlocked. The contact became trapped in the vehicle. A police report was filed of the incident. The contact sustained injuries to the knee, chest and arm. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,990. Kmj
While traveling on an interstate hwy, at approx, 65 to 70 MPH I felt the car pull hard to the right, after going into a spin , it became hard to apply brakes and to try to correct or control the spin , there were vehicles including a semi all around my car. As I slid off the traveled portion of the hwy. My car impacted the wall head on. I was slammed into the dash . A moment later I calmed down and thought to myself why didn't the airbags deploy? I hit the wall at least at 35 MPH, then I saw the car was not running, I saw the key had moved to off, I started the car and drove home.
I was recently in a front end collission with a Chevy HHR lt 2007 where my air bags deployed. Due to the airbags being deployed my seatbelts locked to prevent me from hitting the steering wheel and window. However my passanger seatbelt ( no one was in the passanger seat)locked and due to the pressure of the lock/combustion chamber the plastic cover of the seat belt became projectile in the car and hitting my right arm causing abrasions and burn marks. I now have a perminate scar due to the force of impact from the seatbelt cover.
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 .
Airbag complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR, 7% of the model year's 726 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet HHR airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014); NHTSA recall 08V-046 (air bags, Jan 30, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet HHR airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 17 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.