When I first joined this board, I read the posts about running boards a must to protect the rear fenders then ran out to see if my fenders were damaged. My HHR came with a plastic panels attached to the rear fender. I haven't seen it on all others. I already have a nick in this plastic piece but, at least it will never rust.

Is this a mid-year add-on or something they only put on HHRs without factory running boards.

 

You are correct, that's on HHR's w/o running boards,

 

Mike is correct...they are on HHR's w/o running boards...unless you have them installed later and have them left on like I did. I figure there's nothing wrong with a little extra protection...and if they were to get damaged by something, I can just pull them off.