Is the 2006 Chevrolet HHR a bad year?
1,006 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HHR years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR are in line with other HHR years. Steering, electrical system and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 HHR owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 458 (46%) | 54k–113k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 222 (22%) | 34k–117k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 119 (12%) | 42k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 82 (8%) | 39k–95k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 66 (7%) | 30k–104k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 63 (6%) | 28k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 60 (6%) | 13k–79k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 51 (5%) | 92k–154k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 70 (7%) | 37k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 34 (3%) | 33k–69k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 14 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,006 complaints: 47 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Auto dimmer does not work on rearview mirror. Unable to remove key from chevy HHR 2006 model. It is a shift lever issue.
I put my car in park and when I went to take the key out of the ignition it would not come out. I realized that the key would not come out because the gear shifter piece was pushed all the way in, it was broke.
Key in the ignition is sometimes getting stuck, one has to position the automatic gear selector out of park and back into park to get the key to release properly.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR: 6
The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags. If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The door on the storage bin in the top center of the instrument panel failed to remain closed as required. This standard specifies performance requirements to provide head impact protection for occupants.
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. 201, 'occupant protection in interior impact.' in tests… This standard specifies performance requirements to provide head impact protection for occupants.
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction. If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 236
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Neighbouring years
2007 HHR: 726 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet HHR year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · All HHR years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2006 Chevrolet HHR a bad year?
1,006 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HHR years. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (458), electrical system (222), body structure (119), transmission and drivetrain (82), engine (66).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet HHR have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14E021000), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-171), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-047), Latches and locks (NHTSA 08V-444) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.