When I was heading to work I started to hear a grinding sound. After my shift I drove my car to pickup my kids from school and the sound I was hearing was louder. It sounded like something was cracking as I was driving. I was worried that we were going to be stranded in the middle of the road. I drove as slow as possible till we made it home. So, the very next morning I took it to a mechanic shop. I did not have any warning symbols or messages to alert of any issue. I was told their was and internal failure within my transmission. They also mentioned it was a sealed transmission and the only solution was to replace it. They quoted me 11k to replace and program new transmission. My vehicle has 125k miles and was purchased when they first released in 2017. I purchased a Toyota because they have a reputable name so I thought. Now I see many people have been having trouble with this CVT transmission around the same mileage or earlier. My registration is due this month and cant renew it do my vehicle being undrivable. I'm stuck without a car and I'm not able to afford to repair or purchase another vehicle. Something has to be done with these CVT transmissions. My wife's Highlander has the same type of transmission and I'm worried that it potentially will have the same issue down the line.

- Cypress, TX, USA

My transmission went in my 2018 Toyota car and the dealer wants to charge me more than the cars worth. It only lasted until 83000 miles. Many others had the same complaint online and Toyota will not do anything about it. Took it in to the dealer when I was supposed to for maintenance. So frustrating that now I will have to get another car and can't afford it.

- Micanopy, FL, USA

The CTV transmission failed with a check engine light and multiple error codes including front end collision warning failure and Electronic brakes failure. The car had supposedly passed a 125 pt inspection less than 5000 miles before this. In addition, the fluid had been replaced as recommended at about 60,000 miles.

- Apple Valley, CA, USA

The eCVT transmission failed causing the vehicle to stop at highway speed. No warnings. Only warning was a whining sound that could have been mistaken for highway noise. When taken to a dealer this was beyond repair. Since this was a "sealed" transmission, no maintenance was required or recommended by the dealer. I have only had this vehicle maintained by the dealer. Other Toyota C-HR owners have had the same problem.

- Columbus , MS, USA

I am reporting a defective CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in my Toyota vehicle that completely failed at approximately 85,000 miles under normal driving conditions. The transmission did not exhibit abusive use or unusual load beyond everyday driving -?" just standard highway and city miles. At ~85,000 miles, the transmission began to exhibit significant performance degradation and mechanical failure, including (describe what happened -?" e.g., whining, slipping, failure to engage, loss of drive). Eventually it failed outright, leaving the vehicle inoperable and requiring a replacement transmission at substantial cost. Toyota has used this CVT design across multiple models, and there are numerous owner complaints and documented powertrain failures tied to Toyota-??s CVT, including reports of failures well below 100,000 miles. Independent sources and consumer complaint databases show this is not isolated -?" many owners report early transmission failures and extremely high replacement costs when out of warranty. CarComplaints +1 I believe this is a safety and reliability defect because a transmission giving out at moderate mileage can cause loss of propulsion, unexpected behavior while driving, and potentially hazardous situations if it fails while the vehicle is in motion. This issue should be investigated for potential recall or formal safety action, as the frequency and severity of failures impose undue financial hardship and risk to consumers. I am submitting this complaint to alert NHTSA to the pattern of CVT failures in Toyota vehicles and to ensure that this problem receives appropriate investigation

- Medford, MA, USA

CVT transmission went out at about 101,000, and is currently sitting in my yard.

- Rockford, AL, USA

Vehicle: 2018 Toyota C-HR (Base Model) Issue: CVT Transmission Failure I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious defect in the CVT transmission of my 2018 Toyota C-HR. After owning it less than 2 years, the vehicle developed transmission problems that rendered it unsafe and ultimately undrivable. Multiple mechanics, including a dealership and a transmission specialist, confirmed the issue originates where the transmission meets the axle on the driver-??s side. The recommended solution was a full transmission replacement, with repair costs quoted as high as $11,000, nearly equal to the car-??s entire market value. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There were no warning messages or lamps to indicate an issue prior to the incident that occurred. This situation raises serious safety concerns: The transmission failure occurred suddenly, leaving me unable to operate the vehicle. I was on the way home during rush hour traffic. I approached a redlight and came to a stop. Once the light turned green, my car wouldn't accelerate and began rolling backwards any time I attempted to accelerate. A transmission defect can cause unexpected loss of power or drivability, putting myself, drivers nearby and passengers at risk on the road. The fact that this issue is widely reported among Toyota owners suggests a systemic defect that compromises public safety. Customers are forced to choose between paying exorbitant repair costs or continuing to make loan payments on a car they cannot drive. Toyota has long been viewed as a trusted brand known for reliability, yet this defect undermines that reputation and leaves loyal customers feeling misled. I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this issue and Toyota to issue a recall or extended warranty coverage for affected CVT transmissions. Customers should not be left with unsafe, undrivable vehicles and repair costs that exceed the cars value. This is not only a matter of fairness but of public safety.

- Orlando, FL, USA

I am currently at 75,000 miles on my Toyota CHR and starting to experience transmission failure related issues like shuttering, whinning and burnt smell. I have been unable to afford repairs for this vehicle. According to Toyota this is a problem with multiple Toyota CHR owners. There is a recall for this in Canada but has yet to be recalled in the USA.

- San Diego, CA, USA

I was told today, on 12/2/25, by the Toyota dealership that my 2018 Toyota C-HR has a prematurely defective bearing in the transmission, causing a loud noise while driving. This will ultimately cause catastrophic vehicle failure. This is a known issue and needs to be resolved by Toyota. The vehicle only has 118,000 miles on it and has been meticulously maintained. Please help the Toyota C-HR customers who have spent their hard-earned money on this vehicle.

- Prince Frederick, MD, USA

Transmission internally failed. This has been confirmed through multiple sources. Dealership, mechanic. No warning lights, grinding noise. My safety is put at risk because A failing transmission creates multiple safety hazards while driving. The vehicle may lose power unexpectedly, hesitate, or fail to accelerate when needed, especially during turns, intersections, or highway merging. It can also shift unpredictably or refuse to shift, causing sudden jerking, surging, or deceleration that increases the risk of losing control. Transmission failure can lead to total loss of propulsion in traffic, leaving the vehicle stalled in dangerous locations. Additionally, fluid leaks and overheating pose fire risks. Overall, the unpredictable operation of a failing transmission significantly increases the likelihood of collisions and unsafe driving situations.

- Dry Ridge, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that there was an abnormal thumping sound coming from the vehicle while driving at undisclosed speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed that the transmission was faulty. The vehicle was taken to another unknown dealer, who informed the contact that the transmission was failing. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the failure was due to the transmission. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

- Oceanside, NY, USA

The transmission had to be replaced before 100k miles. If I didn't notice it in time, I could have caused an accident if the transmission stopped working. The dealership I got it fixed at said there were other cars, same make and model, that had to have full transmission replacements. I saw online that a bunch of other people had the same problem as me. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It was inspected by the mechanics at my dealership. There were no warning lamps or messages. I just began to hear odd loud noises while I was driving.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Faulty CVT transmission

- Edna, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that became louder during acceleration. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the bearings in the transmission had failed, causing the transmission failure. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the vehicle had been recalled in Canada due to the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 82,960.

- Dover Plains, NY, USA

At just under 83,000 miles my transmission began to make a whining sound which increased upon acceleration. I immediately had mechanic check it, then took it to my dealership where they diagnosed the problem as defective ball bearings within the transmission. I have contacted Toyota Corporate office and reported the problem with a request for no charge replacement. It's been crickets for 2 weeks. I did find that this is not just my vehicle as Toyota Canada did a recall on this and extended the warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles. There are many others in U.S. reporting same problem; and many YouTube videos documenting the same. This could be a danger when driving should the transmission stop functioning in heavy traffic; could cause a serious life threatening accident. Toyota must do the right thing and recall all affected vehicles. Customers should not have to pay $13,600 to replace transmission when Toyota is very aware if this defect.

- Dover Plains, NY, USA

Bad transmission. Appears to be a widespread issue.

- Sarasota , FL, USA

Car making a whining noise Took it to the mechanic and they diagnosed it as a transmission issue Looked online and noticed that this is a common issue that multiple people with this model are experiencing

- Kurtistown, HI, USA

There are multiple reports across North America and Canada about 2018 Toyota C-HR Transmission making noise because of the bearing failing. Canada already issues a Warranty Enhancement Program (WEP) to offer owners of this vehicle at no cost to help them get a repair and replacement of the transmission because this is a high value repair cost at around $5,000-$10,000. I hope you can do something about this and help us get this similar program at least here in the US. I am including the link for the Warranty Enhancement program for this issue. Thank you! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Henderson, NV, USA

2018 TOYOTA CH-R DEAD TRANSMISSION OVER ONE YEAR AGO -139,000 MILES DEALERSHIP REPAIR BIDS $12,000 AND $9,930. NO REPAIR ATTEMPTED CANDA APA Toyota has extended the warranty on the 2018 and 2019 C-HR coupe to cover CVT transmission failures up to 10 years or 193,000 km. A defective bearing inside the transmission can fail over time, resulting in a very expensive repair. Consumers reported spending $10,500 to $15,000 at a Toyota dealership to replace the entire CVT transmission. The warranty extension carries no mileage limitation [XXX] OP -?? 4mo ago Definitely Toyota manufacturing in Canada has already began to work with their national highway association to pressure for extended warranties. I would contact the Canadian Toyota manufacturer wait for the customer satisfaction advocacy option. It-??s one of the last on the menu so just be patient and then they-??ll lead you in the right direction from there. [XXX] [XXX] -?? 2mo ago I called corporate told them my situation said that I came on Reddit and I went on the web and I did research and found out that this is a common problem of transmission failure failure at low mileage. I had 60,000 miles on my 2018 told them that there are going to be class action lawsuits against them coming up. They called me the next day and said they would repair mine for free. I have a year warranty. I got my car back in three days. I was totally blown away. Toyota actually really came through. [XXX] -?? 1mo ago Omg!! I'm gonna have to try this. My transmission also just went out this week 120k miles and 2019. I'm so upset and don't know what to do!! I love my CHR so much INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

CVT transmission failure after owning this vehicle for two years. I bought this vehicle in feb 2023 for my daughter in college and she has put only around 35k miles since the purchase. She took the car to the Toyota dealer oct 2025 reporting a whining noise and they stated the car now needs a complete replacement transmission costing $11,000. I am a single father and and still owe over $11000 on this car. Please consider a national recall on this transmission. I do not have financial resources to fix this car or purchase a new car for my daughter.

- Perrysville , IN, USA