Most common 2008 Chevrolet HHR problems
Share of the 616 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 →
2008 Chevrolet HHR recalls (4)
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 .
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Chevrolet HHR:
Fuel Line Leak
On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM).
What 2008 Chevrolet HHR owners say
Steering all 297 →
Power steering went out completely causing me to swerve on the highway to side of road. The steering locked up and it was raining and I would of crashed had anyone else been on the highway. I was going about 55 mph at the time. I then proceeded to CAREFULLY at about 30 mph force my car to drive another half mile to nearest exit ramp. The entire time I was driving in the middle of the lanes and a huge liability as far as safety is concerned. Thankfully I made it with no harm to myself vehicle or anyone else. I pulled over to side of road and slept in car till the rain stopped. Prior to this I backed into a fence when the steering failed backing into a carport resulting in body damage to front end under left headlight. Months before I had asked the Chevy dealership to diagnose issue and they found nothing wrong as in the beginning the car would still steer at its own leisure. …
Needless to say, General Motors has dealt with their share of recalls lately and while much of the GM recall news has been devoted to the ignition failures which have forced new CEO Mary Barra to stand before the US Government, this new recall has nothing to do with the ignition cylinder failures. Although the ignition problems can cause a steering issue and some of the vehicles included in the ignition recall are also included in this new recall, this recall pertains specifically to the power steering system. It seems that in the 1.3 million affected vehicles, one or more components of the electric power steering assist system could fail and when that happens, the car will not have the same level of power assist. …
Electrical system all 108 →
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); but the vehicle experienced a failure. The contact stated that the key could not be removed from the ignition switch while the key was in the "OFF" position. In addition, the battery was being drained. The contact stated that the battery was previously replaced several months ago. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition switch and failed to release. Additionally, the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the key was stuck and needed to be broken, and any damages would be at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 85 →
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the contact was informed that the vehicle was leaking gasoline. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that fuel was leaking from the driver's side rear wheel well area, near the muffler. While at the residence, the contact observed that fuel was still leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a rusted fuel line located near the driver's side rear wheel well, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed by a dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 68,900. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the contact became aware of a fuel leak nearby the rear driver's side wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel line had completely rusted due to being wrapped in heat-reliant tape. The contact was informed that the fuel lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was informed that there was a recall related to the rust failure of the fuel line of another make and model vehicle however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 199,000.
2008 Chevrolet HHR engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Chevrolet HHR a good car?
Based on 616 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 HHR rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the HHR at the same age. 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 2008 Chevrolet HHR?
The steering — 297 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the electrical system (108) and fuel & propulsion system (85).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet HHR have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2008 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 2008 Chevrolet HHR problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 29% 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.