10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,442 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Toyota C-HR:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Jan 312024

C-HR

  • miles
Whirring sound from front end when you start to accelerate and get louder as you speed up. Dealer recommended replacing transmission for thousands of dollars...

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #56

Jan 022024

C-HR

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, an abnormal clicking noise was detected while speaking with her on the Bluetooth system. The contact stated that the noise was heard at 5 to 60 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Norwich, CT, USA

problem #55

Dec 292023

C-HR

  • miles
When the driver of the vehicle is coming to a stop a loud whine is coming from the transmission area caused by the paper filter cartridge inside the transmission housing being plugged causing damage to the transmission due to no maintenance as indicated by the manufacturer. The manufacturer has indicated the transmission is bad and needs replacing after hearing it in the parking lot, but has also indicated this is a sealed system and does not need servicing... so which is it? The car industry gets to tell their customers that a wearable part does not need to be serviced any longer, but needs to be replaced when it fails from no service. The transmission has an actual paper filter cartridge inside the transmission and the only way to replace it is to remove the transmission pan, but was told this was a screen and not a filter. Since vehicle was out of warranty, the filter was ordered and replaced by removing the transmission pan and found the filter to be plugged. After replacing all parts including fluid with Toyota Genuine parts, the damage has already been done. Metal shavings were all over in the pan as captured by two magnets Toyota places in the transmission pan, yet this is a sealed system and does not need servicing only replacement after warranty goes out. Manufacturer needs to realize ALL wearable parts need servicing and let their customers know this information in the vehicle manual(s) because if these transmissions fail at highway speeds, damage, injury (including death) will be the result from a plugged non-serviceable/sealed filter. Will be splitting the plastic filter housing to inspect the filter media, but from the two openings where a portion of the media can be seen, it is completely plugged.

- Versailles, KY, USA

problem #54

Nov 302023

C-HR

  • miles
At only 85,000 miles I had a total transmission failure. Diagnosed by Toyota dealership and repair falls under Toyota warranty. The vehicle has been maintained to the book, and is driven with love. I see hundreds of posts about this model year having this issue and it needs to be looked into.

- Sanford, ME, USA

problem #53

Oct 232023

C-HR

  • miles
The vehicle transmission failed very unexpectedly at very low mileage (62,000 miles). We had just finished a 500-mile highway trip and heard a loud whining noise from the front of the car. Our mechanic checked it the next day and said the transmission had to be replaced. There were no warning lights or notifications of any kind from the vehicle, only the noise, which was not noticeable at highway speed. Because of the low mileage, we felt completely safe driving the car on long trips -- and had the transmission completely failed when we were on the highway, the situation would have been extremely dangerous for us and surrounding drivers. When the garage ordered the new transmission, the supplier commented that failure of the transmission in the 2018 C-HR is a -??known issue-?? because -??the bearings were too small.-?? And we found that there are many, many instances of low-mileage transmission failure in this model year. We were already concerned about our individual incident, but this definitely seems like a larger safety issue.

- New Albany, IN, USA

problem #52

Oct 052023

C-HR

  • miles
I was driving and heard a whirring noise and thought that my wheel bearing was going. The mileage was 66000 miles. I called Toyota and was told warranty ended at 60000. I took it to my mechanic and he told me it was the transmission. I then took it to a transmission shop and they told me the transmission had to be replaced as they couldn't be rebuilt. The cost was 9400. The shop called Toyota to see if I had a warranty. They were told no so they replaced. I went to the dealer to lodge a complaint and they told me I did have a certified pre-owned warranty. I tried to get reimbursement from regional and national and they denied me. Now I have to trade this car in because I am afraid the transmission will go again and I no longer would have a warranty. I could have been in big trouble if I had continued to drive this vehicle as when the transmission would have gone it could have been anywhere. Plus for the cost of that transmission you could almost buy anothet car.

- Port Jervis , NY, USA

problem #51

Oct 182023

C-HR

  • miles
Very loud grinding noise coming from the transmission. It makes the entire car shake.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #50

Sep 242023

C-HR

  • miles
I was driving down the high way with my cruise control set. When all of a sudden my dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree and the engine revs up. As I slow I can hear a grinding sound. The CVT transmission in my car went, it's the only 5 years old I've had every service done on time by Toyota. 90% of the miles on the car are highway miles, lots of straight line driving. I have seen Toyota has already made a recall on their Corolla that also has the CVT transmission. Other manufacturers that use the CVT transmission have also had it recalled.

- East Rochester , NY, USA

problem #49

Sep 152023

C-HR

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Reno, TX, USA

problem #48

Sep 212023

C-HR

  • miles
Vehicle has 59,000 miles on it currently I am a Toyota certified collision tech so I try to fix my own cars and not cause unnecessary visits to the dealer and my car started making a wining/clicking noise early 2022 around 55,000 miles. So I tried to diagnose this problem I replaced both front wheel bearings and it seemed to get a little better. Then it got exceptionally worse after about 57,000 miles the noise was always slightly there since I bought the car used with 20,000 miles. So as the noise continued to get louder I scanned the car and found no trouble codes in any of the vehicle systems. So I did some research online and found ALOT of people complaining about the same type of noise and all said they took the car to the dealer and was told the transmission needed to be replaced. So I took my car in because I knew my warranty expired at 60,000 miles. They said my transmission had an internal failure and that all of the fluids and stuff on my car looked great but unfortunately the transmission had broken internally. They also informed me that my warranty had expired in November of 2022. So even with the milage being in warranty because I do my own maintenance and car on my vehicle they were not willing to help with the costs of repair at all. And the best part is the transmission replacement is $10,000!!!! This isn't a Bentley or Lamborghini it's supposed to be a reliable affordable car and I can't think of any vehicle maker that has anything besides tires brakes and fluids that should need to be replaced before 60,000 miles.

- Benson, NC, USA

problem #47

Aug 232023

C-HR

  • miles
General Defect with Transmission causing gear slippage at low RPMs from day one. Car can soft stutter to hard stutter going from idling position to soft press of accelerator. Hard transmission failure starting at 80K mi even with preventative maintenance. additional engine stalls randomly in middle of driving starting to appear with no error codes.

- Barrington, NH, USA

problem #46

Sep 072023

C-HR

  • miles
Just rolled over 100K miles and the Toyota service center just diagnosed it saying we need a new transmission. Upon further researching, it turns out the noise that started at 80k miles was actually the transmission failing. After doing a quick google search, it turns out to be a very common issue for this make and model. Toyota needs to be held accountable for this, because $10,588.85 to replace the defective transmission for a -??lifetime fluid vehicle-?? is highway robbery.

- Magnolia, TX, USA

problem #45

Sep 162022

C-HR

  • miles
Transmission went bad after 90K but the buzzing sound has been coming from transmission since 50-60k

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #44

Aug 162023

C-HR

  • miles
The final drive bearing within the continuously variable transmission is causing a whining noise. Diagnoses from the dealer is that the entire transmission needs to be replaced. This component transmits all engine torque to the wheels, and if failure occurs, it could cause overheating, slippage, jerking, or stalling putting the driver, passengers and all other persons on the road at risk. No indication of the failure was communicated by the vehicle via a light or message. I had to hear the noise, know it was a problem and bring it in to the dealership for diagnoses.

- Arundel, ME, USA

problem #43

Aug 082023

C-HR

  • miles
My car started making a whining noise from the engine. I took it into my Toyota dealer, and was told there was an internal bearing failure in the transmission. The transmission would have to be replaced. This is not right for a car only 4 1/2 years old. I contacted Toyota Brand Engagement Center Headquarters. They were of little help. I have researched other cases on the Toyota forum with exact same problems in the transmission. How can this not be a recall?

- Hampton , NJ, USA

problem #42

May 012023

C-HR

  • miles
Transmission is failing. Apparently it-??s a very common problem amongst this car. Bunch of people are complaining about it on here and just a regular google search on any CHR form. This issue needs to be investigated as it may have faulty parts.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #41

May 012023

C-HR

  • miles
Bought the car brand new in 2018, my car is only 90k miles and the transmission is bad. Apparently there-??s thousands of owners requesting a recall on the transactions of these cars, not reliable at all-?? Please help, it-??s outside warranty already and they refused to help me out with this problem that ITS NOT MY FAULT

- Wayne, NJ, USA

problem #40

Jun 272023

C-HR

  • miles
Informed today that the vehicle has an -??internal transmission failure-?? with less than 90,000 miles.

- North Clarendon, VT, USA

problem #39

May 172023

C-HR

  • miles
Transmission is failing despite appropriate service through Toyota Care.

- Fallbrook , CA, USA

problem #38

Mar 302023

C-HR

  • miles
Transmission and/or Torque converter failure. Attempt to accelerate onto major Highway and vehicle shakes dramatically and will not gain speed, requiring a pull onto the shoulder of the road safety concern. 3 times. Had towed to local shop. They diagnosed faulty transmission and torque converter.

- Hardeeville, SC, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »