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#BS-2006-CHEHHR-547C

2006 Chevrolet HHRProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,367 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
1,367
Crashes
74
Fires
11
Recalls
6
TSBs
759
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,367 complaints, 74 crashes, 11 fires, and 6 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.8x the class average.

Top reported problems

1

door handle broke

23 complaints • Severity 8.2/10

$X,XXX
2

power steering malfunctioning

19 complaints • Severity 9.1/10

$X,XXX
3

loud clunk rattle from front end

12 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

key gets stuck in the ignition

10 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
5

heat ac fan stopped blowing

9 complaints • Severity 8.9/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

448 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 69K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

189
0–30K
272
30–60K
271
60–90K
162
90–120K
124
120–150K
106
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (272 reports) • Median: 69K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (448 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering448 (33%)
Electrical185 (14%)
Engine62 (5%)
Airbags58 (4%)
Fuel System51 (4%)
Drivetrain47 (3%)
Structure:body:door47 (3%)
Brakes42 (3%)

2006 Chevrolet HHR: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, with 448 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 69,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 69K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, with 185 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, with 62 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR, with 58 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

7
05
17
06
45
07
78
08
81
09
135
10
136
11
121
12
99
13
382
14
73
15
71
16
37
17
24
18
17
19
20
20
4
21
3
22
7
23
5
24
5
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (6 recalls)

06V417000Nov 2006

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

08V046000Apr 2008

AIR BAGS

GM IS RECALLING 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, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENT.

08V444000Dec 2008

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

GM IS RECALLING 296,422 MY 2006-2008 CHEVROLET HHR VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." THE DOOR ON THE STORAGE BIN IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AS REQUIRED.

14E021000Apr 2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. 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.

14V047000Apr 2014

AIR BAGS

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. 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. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

+ 1 more recall in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Chevrolet HHR is the 2008 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2006 Chevrolet HHR vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)

This vehicle

1,367

Class avg

481

2.8x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,367 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

2006 Chevrolet HHR: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2006 Chevrolet HHR is related to the steering, with 448 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2006 Chevrolet HHR reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet HHR has 1,367 complaints, 74 crash reports, and 11 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.8x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet HHR have any recalls?
Yes, the 2006 Chevrolet HHR has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet HHR problems start?
Based on 1124 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 69,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2006 Chevrolet HHR data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,367 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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