322 of the
669 complaints filed about the Toyota C-Hr
are about the transmission —
48% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
322
Complaints
48%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The transmission failure I a known issue for this year make and model. It has been recalled in Canada and is being honored there with extended warranty’s. It is not honored here in the US even though they know it is an issue. This vehicle has been inspected by both an independent shop and a Toyota dealership and both recommend replacement. The cost is 12,000-14,000. Toyota corporate denied any good faith assistance. This a safety hazard for all concerned.
NHTSA complaint #11758383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2018 Toyota. My transmission has died prematurely. The car has less than 140k miles and has been meticulously maintained. The only component that has not been serviced is the transmission because no one wanted to “take the liability” according to 5 different local shops. This clearly tells me that this issue has been known. Toyota in Canada has already acknowledged the issue and issued a recall. Any mechanic will tell you that no component lasts “forever” so having a forever seal transmission was destined to fail, especially when the parts produced break down. Having any transmission with such low miles is already rare but for a Toyota to fail so completely is just exceptionally rare. All of this indicates willful ignorance and disregard for safety on Toyotas part. Please investigate this and help us regular owners get justice.
NHTSA complaint #11757868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmission on the vehicle needed to be replaced. The dealership told me that I was responsible for the repair. The price quote was $14,000.00. The Toyota dealership knew that the transmission were problematic and said nothing.
NHTSA complaint #11757475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CVT bearing disintegrating. Expected repair cost is $10k-$12k. Purchased about a year ago and still owe almost 20k on the loan. This is the car that was intended to be used by my daughter but cannot trust this to make the drive. There have been no warning lamps or system messages just a metal on metal grinding sound. This is a known issue with this model of vehicle and there is already a warranty enhancement for this issue on 2018 and 2019 models. Mine is a 2020 so they clearly did not fix this known issue. This started about a month ago as a slight high pitched whine and has quickly progressed to the point that we cannot use the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11757556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission won’t shift out of manual mode and car won’t move at all even when in drive or reverse. Was working completely fine then all of a sudden got drive start malfunction and won’t move. Called mechanic they came looked at it and they diagnosed it as a transmission problem. Did some research and this is a well known issue that Toyota Canada has acknowledged but Toyota USA won’t. Car is barely over 100k miles and all maintenance has been kept up on. Transmission only issue, but very expensive. There needs to be a recall on these.
NHTSA complaint #11757110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,321.
NHTSA complaint #11756919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmission started a whining noise 2022 approx 10k miles it got worse. I took it toyota and got an estimate for 10k plus to replace transmition which is probably what the car is worth.
NHTSA complaint #11756517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When I accelerate from a complete stop. It makes a roaring noise that dies down once the car is in full swing. Toyota dealership is saying that it is a common problem for Toyota CHR and needs to be replaced. Replacement cost from my pocket is $12k
NHTSA complaint #11756078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmission (CVT) in my 2018 Toyota C-HR failed at 101,740 miles, approximately 5,000 miles and 2 months after I purchased the vehicle used. The vehicle began making a whining/rotary noise while driving. I took it to Toyota of Downtown Chicago (RO [XXX], 7/28/2026), where the technician test-drove the vehicle, confirmed the noise originates from the transmission, and recommended full CVT replacement. The quoted repair cost is $14,271.52. The vehicle is currently not being driven and is available for inspection upon request. Safety concern: a CVT that is failing internally can produce unpredictable loss of power, hesitation, or sudden changes in acceleration while driving, which creates a risk of being unable to safely merge, accelerate away from a hazard, or maintain consistent speed in traffic. I have stopped driving the vehicle to avoid this risk. The problem has been confirmed by a Toyota dealership (Toyota of Downtown Chicago), not by an independent shop. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer's field engineering, police, or insurance representatives. Prior symptoms: the whining/rotary noise was the only symptom I noticed, and it appeared shortly before I brought the vehicle in for inspection. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared at any point. I do not know how long the underlying defect was present before I purchased the vehicle, though vehicle history records show the previous owner's independent shop performed a CVT transmission fluid service approximately six weeks before the vehicle was sold at auction. I am aware that Toyota Canada has issued a Warranty Enhancement Program (10 years / 193,000 km) for 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles covering CVT failures caused by a known defective internal bearing. No equivalent program currently exists in the United States. I am filing this complaint because I believe this same defect affects U.S.-market vehicles and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11755795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The transmissions on these vehicles have well issues. The only reason I bought the one I did was because the Carfax report falsely started that the transmission had been replaced. Toyota knows it's a safety hazard and can fail at highway speed but will not take responsibility. I bought the car and within 5 days it is making a grinding noise. The Toyota dealership states the car needs an entire transmission replacement for $12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11754109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my vehicle, it is a consistent clicking loud noise. I had the vehicle checked out twice and both places said the same thing as it is explained down below: Transmission Replacement (Automatic): SEVERE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION NOISE- NOISE LOUDER W/ SPEED. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY- DO NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING VEHICLE MAY BE CATASTROPHIC AND COME APART This statement is from the Toyota dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11754044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There was a loss of power while driving. As I pressed on the gas, the engine would rev, but the vehicle would not accelerate. This is a major safety risk.
NHTSA complaint #11753888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
No warning lights, only noticed a new noise like a whirring sound that matches car speed, not acceleration. Had the car looked at and determined it was likely the same CVT transmission bearing failure most CHR owners are experiencing. Toyota is no help and estimates for repair are $6k to $10k from private transmission repair places. Now we have a dud of a car that we still owe money on that isn't even worth the price to repair it.
NHTSA complaint #11753623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My EPB malfunction light goes off for no reason and kicks my cruise control off . My transmission is now making a crazy noise. Has happened MULTIPLE times since ownership.
NHTSA complaint #11753158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recently my car started making a grinding metallic noise while trying to accelerate from a stop this was the first real indicator to start doing research. I found that Toyota CH-R 2018 has known issues with premature CVT transmission bearing failure, with recalls in Canada but not in the US even though they are exactly the same. I also discovered the class action lawsuit due to Toyotas blind eye and several complaints. Before this metallic grinding and slippage I had noticed gear noises but at the time thought it was just the gears shifting. As of now, my dash lights are on. I am a mother of a [XXX] with multiple Dr and pediatrician appts and I'm terrified to drive with my baby. I'll also add that I've recently paid my car off, replaced tires, rotors and brakes as a safety measure but due to Toyota's lack of issuing a recall on a known default I may not only be subjected to a safety hazard but also a complete loss financially after over 45k in finance fees and repairs that should've ensured peace of mind. I bought a Toyota because they are supposed to be safe, reliable and back their product. I'm finding out now that US Toyota is not to be trusted due to their complete lack of responsibility with this known issue. In addition, I purchased the platinum warranty and am just 10,000 over which would covered the 10,000 - 15,000 repair to the CVT but now, due to no recall on a known faulty part I have to submit a good will claim and pray they make it right. I'm absolutely devastated! This is a massive safety issue with a brand that considers themselves as the most safety oriented and reliable car company out there. PLEASE ISSUE THE RECALL and hold Toyota accountable INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11752930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving over a bumpy road surface, the message "See Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V717000 (Parking Brake). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that recall repairs were a one-time, free-of-charge service, and any additional related failures would be repaired at the owner's expense. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11752587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a K114 CVT internal bearing defect. It is available for inspection upon request. Transmission issues are unsafe because it can cause sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic, and delayed shifting or gear slippage. These sudden changes make my car behave unpredictably; risking rear-end collisions or loss of control. This puts myself, my passengers, and others at risk. I am unsure if the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and/or component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. However, the vehicle received Service in December 2025 for a transmission fluid replacement for maintenance and no issues were reported at the time. There were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The issues first appeared in mid-June, around June 15, 2026, where I could hear a grinding noise when I drove. On July 1, I was driving home and experienced stalling while turning right at a stoplight. I took the car in for a diagnostic inquiry on 7/18/2026 and was notified I had a transmission issue. I took it for a second opinion, where it was confirmed it was transmission. I took it to Toyota and on 7/22/2026, they confirmed it was transmission issues requiring a full replacement with no financial assistance citing my warranty has ended and my service history is not thorough enough. Toyota has already extended the warranty for Canadian drivers due to this exact safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11752512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I started to hear a whining noise under acceleration so I asked Firestone to check it out when I dropped it off for a 100k mile service. They said it was the transmission beginning to fail. I researched online and saw that it is a very common and known problem with the Toyota chr CVT transmission. We went with Toyota because they are known for their reliability and here we are at 102k miles with what is about to become a paperweight that needs a 10-12k repair. That's half the cost of the car itself. At the time we purchased this vehicle new Toyota claimed that this transmission is sealed and maintenance free and the transmission fluid is "lifetime fluid". We have had the car for 8 years, quite short of a lifetime.
NHTSA complaint #11751303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am experiencing a severe and hazardous failure of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) bearing. While driving, the vehicle produces a loud, persistent humming noise that increases in volume with higher RPMs. A failure of this nature leads to a complete loss of propulsion while in motion, creating a critical safety hazard and a high risk of high-speed rear-end collisions. The vehicle has been officially inspected twice confirming the CVT bearing failure. It’s being recall in Canada but not the USA Toyota has refused the usa market for any help. American drivers are left operating vehicles with a known, unaddressed safety defect that can cause sudden power loss at highway speeds.
NHTSA complaint #11750474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.