Is the 2009 Chevrolet HHR a bad year?
508 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HHR years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet HHR are in line with other HHR years. Air bags and fuel system stand out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 6 HHR years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 104 (20%) | 37k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 84 (17%) | 81k–132k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 151 (30%) | 41k–84k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 127 (25%) | 49k–84k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 30 (6%) | 21k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 25 (5%) | 46k–103k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Stability control | 25 (5%) | 48k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 21 (4%) | 40k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (3%) | 27k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (3%) | 31k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (2%) | 37k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (2%) | 46k–137k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (2%) | 33k–98k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Latches and locks | 6 (1%) | 34k–75k miles · around this 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 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 508 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Went to leave from friend's house, vehicle would not start.called tow truck, but by the time ( 2 hrs ) I waited car started-up.cancelled tow truck.
Key stuck in ignition after parking. Could not turn car off and could not remove key from ignition.
Check engine light. Reduced engine power. ESC off. This occurred on vehicle startup and while the vehicle was in motion.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 55,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet HHR: 5
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…
In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
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: 340
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Chevrolet HHR. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
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
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Fuel Line Leak
Neighbouring years
2008 HHR: 615 complaints, keep it · 2010 HHR: 515 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 2009 Chevrolet HHR a bad year?
508 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other HHR years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet HHR?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (104), fuel system (84), electrical system (151), steering (127), brakes (30).
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet HHR have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14E021000), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-171), Steering (NHTSA 14V-153), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-047) 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.