This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Chevrolet HHR lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 HHR | 11 |
| 2008 HHR | 8 |
| 2009 HHR (this page) | 11 |
| 2010 HHR | 3 |
| 2011 HHR | 3 |
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Chevrolet HHR we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 11.
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
2009 HHR owners describe persistent lighting issues that span multiple systems. The most frequent complaint involves premature headlight bulb burnout; owners replace bulbs every 10,000–15,000 miles on both driver and passenger sides repeatedly throughout ownership. Beyond burnout, some report headlights fail to illuminate altogether and require physical impact to the housing to activate them—a workaround that then becomes necessary for operation.
Turn signals fail to illuminate or are slow to cancel after turns. One owner's turn signals were deemed operating normally by a dealer despite being inoperable, though repairs were attempted and failures recurred. Brake lights stay illuminated constantly or fail to work. One case involved multiple left-side lights (headlight, brake light, and turn signal) failing simultaneously. Interior lights also stayed on with no manual switch to turn them off; the dealer and manufacturer declined repair, stating cost was prohibitive.
Headlights also dim at startup in some cases. Accessing any headlight for service requires removal of the entire front bumper assembly—a design constraint that compounds repair cost and inconvenience. One owner mentioned a May 2014 recall that addressed brake light and cruise control failures together.
Same Chevrolet HHR lighting reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight intermittency and failure to illuminate
Low-beam headlights fail to come on or become inoperable. Some owners report needing to physically strike the headlight housing to activate them. Failures can be recurring and affect one or both sides. One case involved an open turn signal switch causing low-beam failure.
When: Various mileages from early ownership through 172,087 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights will not turn on despite switch manipulation; Lights come on after physical impact to housing; Lights go out while driving at low speeds; Intermittent operation on one or both sides
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement (recurring); wiring harness and bulb replacement; turn signal switch replacement; full front bumper assembly removal required to access headlights
Premature headlight bulb burnout
Headlight bulbs fail at unusually short intervals, approximately every 10,000–15,000 miles for both driver and passenger sides. Multiple replacement cycles required within vehicle ownership.
When: Beginning early in vehicle ownership; documented at 10,000–15,000 mile intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulbs burn out rapidly; Both driver and passenger bulbs require replacement at short intervals; Concern about simultaneous failure causing loss of lighting
Repairs/costs cited: Repeated bulb replacements every 10,000–15,000 miles
Turn signal malfunction and slow cancellation
Turn signal lights are inoperable or fail to illuminate when engaged. In another case, turn signals did not cancel promptly after completing a turn. Dealer initially advised vehicle was operating normally despite owner complaint.
When: 25,000 miles reported for initial failure; recurrence at 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signal lights will not illuminate; Turn signals do not cancel in timely manner after turn completion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer indicated vehicle operating normally initially; repairs attempted but failure recurred
Brake light illumination and circuit issues
Brake lights remain illuminated when not engaged or fail to illuminate. In one case, lights on the left side of vehicle (headlight, brake light, turn signal) all failed simultaneously. Another case involved brake lights remaining on coupled with cruise control failure.
When: At 50 mph during normal driving; failure mileage unknown in multi-light failure case
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights remain illuminated continuously; Multiple left-side lights (headlight, brake light, turn signal) fail together; Brake lights fail to function
Repairs/costs cited: Owner sought reimbursement for repair attempts; repairs attempted but failure recurred after 14 days
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: May 2014 recall mentioned for same malfunctions
Interior light stuck on with no manual control
Interior lights remain illuminated at all times with no manual switch available to turn them off. Dealer and manufacturer stated repair would be too costly.
When: 22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Interior lights stay on continuously; No manual switch to control lights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer and manufacturer advised repair too costly to perform
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised repair would be too costly
Headlight dimming at startup
Headlights dim when vehicle first starts up. Also reported alongside instrument panel light flickering.
When: Noted recently by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim at startup; Instrument panel lights flicker constantly during driving and in park
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 2009 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 2009 Chevrolet HHR?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 25,000 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 78,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2009/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.