Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
Fuel line leaking right in front of rear driver side tire. Puddles up. Steady leak. And strong odor of gasoline in and outside of the car. Gets me woozy at times. It also gets on my tires and affects steering if I was parked on pavement for a while it puddles back to my rear tire. And makes me worry about a fire. Right in the back seat where a car seat would be. Because I was driving through my yard a while back and my family was burning some limbs and stuff. All at once I get flagged down where it has caught fire to my car. Luckily I put it out before it did any permanent damage. But it is not safe for sure.
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.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside, the odor of fuel was present inside the home. Upon inspection, it was discovered that fuel had leaked from the rear passenger's side of the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel line had failed to cause fuel leakage. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 112,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the odor of fuel was present outside of the vehicle. Upon inspection, fuel was discovered leaking from the corroded and rusted fuel lines located near the rear driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated after parking the vehicle, he noticed a fuel leak on the rear driver's side. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,850.
My 2020 HHR (which I utilize while in Florida) developed a fuel leak on the driver side just in front of the rear tire. This fuel leak is right alongside the exhaust system which created a very unsafe scenario that could have easily resulted in an explosion and / or fire while driving this vehicle. I did some research and it appears that vehicles like mine are all experiencing a similar problem. I took my car to the Chevy dealer and it cost me $940 to fix this problem. With so many owners of similar vehicles having the exact same problem I believe this should have been covered under a General Motors recall and those who had to pay to get this fixed should be reimbursed. I have attached a copy of the receipt for the work done by the Chevy dealer for your informtion. I did notice that an investigation has been underway to determine if GM should recall vehicles for this problem. …
The fuel lines are corroded and leaking from several areas. The cost to replace all the fuel lines is $1000.00 . I cant sell it, trade it in, or drive it in this condition as even a minor fender bender could ignite the fuel and cause the car to explode with me inside. Cliffords car care center is a AAA recommended service center has inspected and confirmed the defective fuel lines. Parts are in high demand as thousands of HHR and Cobalt owners are having the same problem with corroded, leaking fuel lines. I have to wait 3 to 10 days to receive the parts. I have owned many cars and my last car I owned for 21 yrs and none have ever had a problem with leaking and corroded fuel lines. This is a known defect as hundreds of thousands of HHR and Cobalt owners have already reported this issue and an investigation is currently underway. …
I smelled a strong odor of gas behind the right rear wheel of my 2010 Chevy HHR. Two different mechanics verified that the fuel lines had rusted through and need to replace. The first mechanic said that the car was unsafe to drive, and that he was not qualified to replace the lines. I had the vehicle towed to a Chevy dealership would confirmed that the lines rusted through. Google search states the cost to replace the fuel lines including labor will be around $1,034. The dealership is charging me $1,754! During my Google search, I saw that many other owners of Chevy HHRs have had the same issues. I wish for Chevy to reimburse me the expense to replace the fuel lines.
The Fuel Lines needed to be replaced because gasoline was leaking from the lines. Zaabs Full Service Auto Repair of Bloomington, IL 61701 at 711 E. Lincoln Street replaced the Fuel Lines. We noticed a bad fuel/gasoline smell and finally saw it leaking. No warnings other than the smell. We took the vehicle 2010 Chevrolet HHR LT into Zaabs for diagnosis and replacement. We leave on a busy street and a fire or explosion could have easily happened due to people tossing cigarettes. Problem appeared in January 2023. ZAABS REPAIR INVOICE #5922 DATED 03/06/2023 = PAID IN FULL $337.81. ZAABS PHONE [phone].
Noticed gasoline dripping under the vehicle just behind the driver side rear door. Upon investigation discovered steel fuel line has corroded between a plastic support bracket and fiber heat shield. This seems to be due to a design that allows moisture and road debris (salt) to accumulate, leading to corrosion. This could lead to total loss of power to the vehicle, and poses a risk of fire while in operation or while parked.
Fuel System complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2010 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2010 Chevrolet HHR, 10% of the model year's 515 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet HHR fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.