VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Chevrolet HHR2006–2011
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Chevrolet HHR
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Chevrolet HHR Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 681 complaints
27 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
5 recalls · 469 complaints
18 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
5 recalls · 397 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 25, 2026.
Chevrolet HHR — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 140 | 21 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2010 | 4 | 345 | 15 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2009 | 5 | 319 | 27 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2008 | 5 | 397 | 13 | 2 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2007 | 5 | 469 | 18 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 4 | 681 | 27 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Chevrolet HHR Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the HHR compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year HHR to buy?+
The 2009 Chevrolet HHR scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 5 recalls and 319 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which HHR years have the most problems?+
The 2006, 2007, 2008 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2006 HHR leads with 4 recalls and 681 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common HHR problems?+
The most frequently reported Chevrolet HHR issues involve: STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, AIR BAGS. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.