2009 Chevrolet HHR vs 2009 Honda Element
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 Chevrolet HHR | 2009 Honda Element |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 508 | 29 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,002 | 49 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 20–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet HHR | Honda Element |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 151 | 1 |
| Steering | 127 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 104 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 69 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 25 | 1 |
| Structure | 21 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 5 |
| Engine | 18 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 45 | 7 |
| Airbag warning light | 42 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 22 | 0 |
| Stalling | 20 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 12 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 6 | 0 |
2009 Chevrolet HHR
2009 Honda Element
Compare all Chevrolet HHR vs Honda Element years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.