Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet HHR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the underbody and rear wheel well were rusted and corroded adjacent to the exhaust pipe. The contact noticed that fuel was leaking. Eventually, the contact detected an abnormal odor of fuel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the nickel installation shield on the fuel lines had several holes. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. When the brake pedal was depressed, there was an abnormal vibration at the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the front driver and passenger side lower control arms rubber bushing were worn and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that the front driver side door handle fractured. The vehicle was repaired, but the failures recurred twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
The door handle is made of plastic and it fails. The plastic cracks and you can't open the door from the inside. Mine broke. What if someone got caught in a flash flood and you lose power to you window. You die. I think this is a safety issue and GM address the same problem with the ssr. They replace the ssr handles with metal. There are 40,000 members on the HHR forum and a lot more cars on road. Please address this issue. It's scary that one pull on you door handle and you can't get out unless you open the window or crawl out the other side.
Both inside front door handles broke off before the car was 2 years old. I am disabled and with the other problems I am reporting that are related to this car, this is a serious safety issue that would trap me in the car if there were ever an accident. With the windows not being able to be rolled down from the driver's side control panel it is impossible to open the two front doors if you don't have small enough fingers to reach inside the door and unlatch the mechanism. Everyone I have spoken who has an HHR are also having the same problems.
I was going 25 MPH when I crashed causing over 5,000 dollars worth of auto and property damage in addition to the medical bills which I have not received in full yet. The car malfunctioned while I was driving and I was not able to control it. I received the recall information in the mail, but the car had not been repaired. Also, the airbags did not deploy when the crash happened. I suffered a concussion due to the accident. I was the only person injured.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the driver side door handle fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000. Updated 8/21/15 the consumer stated upon grabbing the handle to exit vehicle it snapped off. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. Updated 12/1/2015
Tl contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the front driver's side interior door handle fractured. In addition, both rear door handles fractured. The driver and rear seat passengers could only exit the vehicle by releasing the window and accessing the exterior door handle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
In the last 6 months I have had both front door handles one on the drivers side and one on the passenger side break off. It looks based on my research this is a problem in all HHR vehicles. This is not save not having handles on the inside of the door. I live in michigan and with winter approaching I need to have handles on the inside
The interior door handles beak off - there have been tons of complaints online about this safety issue. You cannot exit the car from the door the handle has snapped off without either going to a different door or rolling down window and using the outside handle. 2 handles have broke now in the last year.
Back passenger side door will not latch closed. Stays unlatched while stationary or in motion. While not latching it does not seal against rain or fumes. Door can open while in motion or while stationary thus allowing passengers or contents to fall out of car.
Body complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the body & structure of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR, 9% of the model year's 515 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet HHR body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2010 Chevrolet HHR, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet HHR body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure 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.