Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving at various speeds between 30-65 MPH, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to steer and the vehicle lost electrical power. The contact stated that she would veer to the side of the road or park the vehicle whenever the failure occurred. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that upon attempting to restart the vehicle and inserting the key in the ignition switch, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that she continually turned the key in the ignition switch until the vehicle restarted. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly and the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while exiting the driveway of a restaurant, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. There were unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a second independent mechanic who informed the contact that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and the electrical system was burned. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
While driving the vehicle approximately 45mph, the power steering light came on the dash. While driving straight was not an issue, attempting to pull off the road was difficult. I checked owners manual which told me to take it to a dealer. This in itself was bothersome. I opened the hood and called my mechanic, who told me to check fuses. I replaced the fuse and the vehicle was fine for about 4 weeks, but once again driving 30-35 mph, the light came on the dashboard. I have saved both replaced fuses, I'm wondering after reading other reports whether the fuses are even blown? Either way, this is not a safe situation to be driving any speed without power steering. Mine is a 2007 Chevrolet HHR with approximately 163 k miles
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.
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. …
2007 Chevy HHR with mileage of 63,223. No problems until 11/05/14 recall 14063 ignition switch and 14113 lock cylinder were replaced. 20 days later after fighting with GM and the dealership for 3 weeks it was towed back to dealership because vehicle would not start and key would not come out of ignition. Tested charging system and found battery to fail. Replaced battery, vehicle started and key released until the next time I went to start it about 2 weeks later. Vehicle wouldn't start and key would not come out of ignition again. 01/30/15 different dealership came to my house to pick up the vehicle and took it in for recall special coverage 14632 floor shifter replaced. Before I could get the vehicle back the dealership called and informed me the new battery had frozen and would not accept a charge. I replaced that battery with another new battery. …
It doesnt matter what speed I am driving or how long I have been driving, my power steering will randomly go out. Sometimes I can make it an entire trip without it going and sometimes I cant even get out of my parking space before it goes. The only way to get it to to work is to shut off the car and turn it back on. Ive taken it to a mechanic and he said that the power steering motor was dead. I cannot afford this part and I dont understand why some of the newer hhrs are being recalled and the 2007 is not when there are plenty of complaints and issues of the same nature. My car is near about impossible to drive and I live near a high volume population and I am afraid that my lack of being able to safely drive my car could result in an accident.
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 had the vehicle repaired according to NHTSA campaign number:14V171000 (electrical system), but the vehicle began having more electrical issues after the repair. The headlights randomly failed, the lights on the instrument panel would blink, and the radio would turn on and off automatically. The contact stated that the steering worked properly after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but they were unable to determine the cause of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 37,000.
I was driving my 07 Chevrolet HHR @ 45 MPH when the dash display blinked then displayed engine power reduced, followed by a substantial reduction of speed. I couldn't accelerate beyond 30 MPH, so I pulled off of the road to avoid being hit by the 18 wheeler traveling behind me. I turned the engine off and back on. The check engine light came on and stayed on. I drove 15 miles back home @ a speed of 30 MPH. The vehicle refuses to accelerate beyond 30 MPH
Related recalls
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…
Electrical complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2007 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the electrical system of the 2007 Chevrolet HHR, 15% of the model year's 726 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet HHR electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-171 (ignition, Apr 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet HHR electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to electrical system 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.