GM to recall 180,000+ Chevy HHRs

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors said it will recall 181,516 Chevrolet HHR wagons Wednesday after finding that some of the vehicles don't meet government standards for protecting occupants from head injury in a crash.

Chevy HHRs not equipped with optional roof rail-mounted airbags and sold between 2006 and 2008 failed GM's side-impact tests, said GM. Roof rail-mounted airbags are designed to reduce the risk of head injury in the event of a side-impact collision.

In a letter to dealers, the automaker said dealers would need to install a piece of energy-absorbing plastic to the headliner trim.

The recall will begin in late March, GM (GM, Fortune 500) said, when the parts become available. The company will send out notification letters to customers.

In 2007, about 99,000 Chevy Cobalt sedans were recalled for a similar problem. The Cobalt and HHR share their underlying engineering. The retro-styled Chevy HHR wagon is a competitor to Chrysler's PT Cruiser.

Owners of affected Chevy HHR models can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or go to chevrolet.com. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can be contacted at 1-888-327-4236 or safercar.gov.