MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet HHR years to avoid

No Chevrolet HHR model year in 2010–2011 falls into the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011, and even those sit close to this model’s own median.

Ownership label · Chevrolet HHR Full report
C
Grade 2010–2011
2010 vs model median 1.4×
Model median3× median
Steering 143
Electrical 89
Body & Interior 33
Weakest

2010 · 2011

Best

2010 · 2011

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.36× 371 C
2011
0.64× 147 B

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 C 371 reports · median 52,000 mi

  1. Steering 143

    When driving the power steering stops functioning and the steering becomes difficult to turn. When the car is turned off and restarted the power steering is operative for a short time and then fails again. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 89

    The contact owns a 2010 chevrolet hhr. While driving at low speeds, the lights suddenly illuminate on the instrument panel. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 33

    The ignition interlock cylinder in our 2010 chevrolet hhr failed and the key became stuck. We were unable to remove the key or turn it to the "off" position. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

14 crash · 16 injuries

2011 B 147 reports · median 45,000 mi

  1. Electrical 24

    The contact owns a 2011 chevrolet hhr. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) and stated that the repair was not taken care of in a reasonable amount… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 22

    The contact owns a 2011 chevrolet hhr. The contact stated that while driving 45 to 50 MPH, she steered the vehicvle to the left in an attempt to avoid crashing. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 19

    Driver armrest sags; most uncomfortable!! When armrest is put down to the horizontal position, it sags (leans forward). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

15 crash · 2 fire · 18 injuries

The best year for the HHR

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2011 is the best-scoring HHR model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 76.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2011 0.64× 147 B
2010 1.36× 371 C

Recalls

4 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
14V171000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 2010, 2011 2,191,014
14V047000 AIR BAGS 2010, 2011 2,190,934
14V153000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2010 1,373,177
14E021000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH 2010, 2011 14,529

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2010 were reported at a median of 52,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet HHR years should you avoid?
No Chevrolet HHR model year in 2010–2011 scores in the flagged band. The weakest are 2010 and 2011.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet HHR?
2011 is the best-scoring Chevrolet HHR model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 76.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet HHR have?
4 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet HHR model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 HHR
Complaints in window
371
Severity-weighted
505
Model median (weighted)
370
vs model median
1.36×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
4
Open investigations
0
Score 55.9 C