Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet HHR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving at a speed of 45 miles per hour , all of a sudden in the dic a ESC active started flashing and my car start losing speed and it felt like the traction kicked in. I immediately looked down to make sure it had not jumped out of gear. It was in the correct gear. The ESC active went away after about 45 seconds, and about a mile down the road it did the same thing again and I had to put on mu emergency flashers and pull off the road. By the time I got it to the side of the road , the steering wheel started to lock up and it act like it did not want to stop when I applied the brakes. By this time the speed had dropped to about 15 miles per hour. The road conditions when this happen was dry , and the tires and the brakes on my car was in good working condition. Once it was towed to my house I drove it around my neighborhood about 5 times and nothing happened. …
I was driving down the interstate at about 70 MPH, when I began to get the messages service ESC ESC off, traction control of, engine reduced power and not to mention all my lights lit up like a christmas tree. Also when all of this started to happen my vehicle jerks reduced speed drastically and was shaking vigorously I hurry up and exited the interstate and turned off my vehicle I waited a few minutes and the vehicle started right up 3 miles or so down the road the exact same thing happened only this time I was turning unto a busy intersection and I was left stranded in the middle of the street because the car would not budge I had to end up getting it towed. This is something that it's very dangerous and if I would have had my kids with me I wouldn't be as calm as I am now. I am livid and outraged as to why this has not been recalled. …
Was traveling at night on interstate 70 between kansas city and st louis when the check engine light can on along with the traction control light at the same time the on dash message center said engine power reduced, traction control off, and ESC off. At the same time the car lost speed and before I could get off the road I was almost rear ended by a truck, at the time it was raining. Since then it has happened numerous times with no warning. After stopping the car with the engine off for a very short time it will start and run fine with the traction control light off. But the check engine light remaining on. The code for the check engine light is p2135 which is a code for the throttle pedal position sensor, this has been replaced and the problem remains to happening. I think this could be very dangerous and could cause accidents resulting in injuries. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The contact was experiencing multiple failures with the vehicle. The vehicle was previously repaired per a recall for the ignition switch; however, the repair was insufficient. At times, even with the key in the off position, the vehicle would not shut off. The battery would have to be disconnected to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that the key did not remain in the ignition and he felt unsafe driving the vehicle. In addition, the driver side door handle was not working properly and was replaced twice by the dealer. The contact stated that the ESC (electronic stability control) indicator illuminated shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Each time the ESC indicator illuminated, the vehicle drastically reduced in speed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. While driving various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. Also, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would jerk. Furthermore, the electronic stability control (ESC) system and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and turned the engine off. The vehicle was restarted, but the failures recurred. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ESC system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the service traction and service ESC warning lights flashed randomly. The vehicle suddenly reduced speed and hesitated as if it would stall. The accelerator pedal did not respond each time the failure recurred and the vehicle jerked violently and reduced speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer more than once and they were not able to replicate and diagnose the failure. The dealer test drove the vehicle and found no failures. Upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the computer reset and the warning lights dimmed, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
It happens when the car is idling at a stop light or wherever it also happens when I'm driving. It gets a surge of power and starts running ruff. The car shakes all the lights on the dash come on, service ESC, service traction, ESC off, eng power reduced. At this point there is no power. I find a safe place to pull over and shut the engine off, wait a few minutes and restart the engine then it's fine again except the engine symbol stays on. The Chevy dealer hooked it to the computer and said it's misfiring on all four cyclinders, but they said they don't know what the problem is.
Tl* Takata recall - the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated for longer than two days without warning. The skid control warning light remained illuminated for several months, including the brake light. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was shaking and vibrating randomly in the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected and diagnosed. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
I tried to used remote start from my fob. It worked the first time but nothing after that..stationary these were the events that followed: all at the same time lost power steering (power steering assist) landed me in the hospital with torn chest muscle while car was moving on a interstate no A/C (compressor does not come on) stationary service airbag light came on while car was moving on the interstate service tire monitors stationery no temp reading stationary
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle shook violently, stalled, and the electronic stability control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic stability brake software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,918. Ma 10/14
Traction Control complaints in other HHR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2011 Chevrolet HHR?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2011 Chevrolet HHR, 12% of the model year's 203 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Chevrolet HHR traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2011 Chevrolet HHR, though it has 2 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 2011 Chevrolet HHR traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to stability & traction control 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.