This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chevrolet HHR lighting problems
severe Owners of the 2006 Chevrolet HHR have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 HHR (this page) | 11 |
| 2008 HHR | 8 |
| 2009 HHR | 11 |
| 2010 HHR | 3 |
1fire
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Chevrolet HHR in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a widespread lighting cluster that spans tail lights, brake indicators, headlights, and the physical fixtures themselves. The tail light failure is the most recurrent complaint—it quits working intermittently or completely, often triggered by wet or rainy conditions, as early as 3,000 miles. Fuse 69 repeatedly blows. Dealerships have been unable to pin down the root cause despite multiple visits; one owner's dealer even replaced the Body Control Module without fixing it.
Headlights have a specific high-beam failure mode: switching to high beam causes them to shut off completely, leaving the driver in darkness—a safety hazard that one owner says happened at least 10 times in a few months.
Light hardware itself is failing: rear brake light sockets have melted at the lock-in area, headlight bulb areas are burning through the lens, and complete light housings melt, killing all rear lighting at once.
Brake-related electrical issues add to the trouble. The brake warning light illuminates continuously in cold weather (27°F reported) and also comes on erroneously when backing up slowly or applying the pedal. One owner's vehicle wouldn't shift out of park; an independent mechanic identified a failed brake switch.
The brake warning light problem appears tied to an unknown Chevrolet Technical Service Bulletin, but dealers have not reliably addressed it.
Same Chevrolet HHR lighting reports on nearby years: 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Tail Light Intermittent Failure
Tail lights stop working intermittently or completely, often in rain or wet conditions. Fuse 69 repeatedly fails. Dealerships unable to diagnose root cause despite multiple visits; Body Control Module replacement did not resolve issue.
When: As early as 3,000 miles; failures recur throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights not visible at night while driving; Brake lights and turn signals work properly; Interior lights also stopped working (one report); Failure occurs in rainy/wet weather conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership changed Body Control Module without success; Fuse 69 repeatedly replaced per dealer diagnosis; no permanent fix identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet representative contacted but unable to provide explanation; unknown TSB mentioned in one complaint
Brake Warning Light Illumination in Cold
Brake warning light illuminates continuously when ambient temperature drops (27°F reported). Owner noted multiple complaints about cold-weather-triggered brake light issues and referenced unknown TSB.
When: 153,000 miles; cold weather trigger
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illuminates continuously in cold weather; Occurs at 27°F ambient temperature
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unknown TSB exists for this issue per owner report
Headlight High-Beam Failure
When switching headlights to high beam, lights completely turn off, leaving driver unable to see the road. Occurred at least 10 times over several months in 2008.
When: Multiple occurrences from February 2008 onward
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn completely off when switching to high beam; No illumination available; driver cannot see road; Recurring failure (at least 10 incidents reported)
Light Fixture Melting
Rear brake light socket melted, destroying lock-in area; headlight and turn signal bulb areas burning through lens. Rear light housing melts, eliminating function of brake lights, tail lights, and rear blinkers simultaneously.
When: 141,131 miles (turn signal bulbs); later mileage not specified for socket melting
Symptoms owners cite: Right rear brake light socket melted at lock-in area; Headlight lens burning through at turn signal bulb; Rear light housing melting; Complete loss of brake, tail, and blinker lights when housing melts
Repairs/costs cited: Exterior lens burned with hole; damage costly and safety-critical
Brake Switch Malfunction
Brake warning light illuminates when backing up slowly or when applying brake pedal pressure. Related complaint involved failure to shift out of park, diagnosed as brake switch needing replacement.
When: 24,000 miles (brake light complaint); 125,000 miles (shift lock complaint)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light comes on while backing at low speed (5 mph); Brake light comes on when applying brake pedal pressure; Vehicle fails to shift out of park (related brake switch failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed brake switch replacement needed for shift-lock issue; no repairs completed in either case
Turn Signal Bulb and Lens Failure
Turn signal light bulbs burn out, and exterior lens develops burned hole. Appears part of broader light fixture deterioration pattern.
When: 141,131 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signal light bulbs out; Exterior lens burned with visible hole
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired per owner report
Persistent Tail Light Issues Undiagnosed
Tail lights not working properly; dealership unable to duplicate or diagnose problem despite four service visits. Vehicle still under warranty at time of complaint.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights not working properly; Intermittent nature prevents dealership diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to duplicate problem; no repairs made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle covered under warranty at time of complaint
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 72,900 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/HHR.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.