2018 Toyota C-Hr problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (209) · Service Brakes (16) · Engine (16)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota C-Hr model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
62 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Parking Brake 2017-11-15 · campaign 17V717000 · 28,764 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota CH-R vehicles. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not operate properly, possibly causing the parking brake not to disengage after it is applied or prevent it from being applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the EPB cannot be applied, there is an increased risk of a vehicle rollaway if the vehicle is parked on a hill without being placed into "Park."
Fix: Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will update the programming of the skid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0W.
Service bulletins (160)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2026-09-22 · 26TE06 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the continuously variable transmissions (cvt) is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to an abnormal whine noise in
Power Train 2026-09-16 · 26TE06 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the continuously variable transmissions (cvt) is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to an abnormal whine noise in
Power Train 2026-09-15 · 26TE06 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the continuously variable transmissions (cvt) is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to an abnormal whine noise in
Power Train 2026-09-04 · T-SB-0048-26 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2018 – 2019 model year c-hr vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle while accelerating from 15 – 30 mph and/or decelerating from 30 – 15 mph. an updated transaxle is available when the specified noise and serial number requirements are met.
Power Train 2026-08-13 · T-SB-0048-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2018 – 2019 model year c-hr vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle while accelerating from 15 – 30 mph and/or decelerating from 30 – 15 mph. an updated transaxle is available when the specified noise and serial number requirements are met.
Power Train 2026-08-13 · 26TE06 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the continuously variable transmissions (cvt) is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to an abnormal whine noise in t
Showing the 6 most recent of 160 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Power Train · 147,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 toyota c-hr. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle experienced transmission failure. the contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced in 2023 at 93,000 miles. before the failure, there was a high-pitched whining sound while driving at approximately 30 mph, and the transmis…”
2026-10-22 · Unknown Or Other“i owned a 2018 toyota chr just this year. i only had it for 9 months and the bearing in the transmission went bad. when it happened it wasn't covered under warrenty because this was a worldwide problem with these vehicle's. well i didn't know what to do so i went ahead and traded in my vehicle and only got back 2750.00 in trade in. mind you i soent…”
2026-10-20 · Power Train“my first transmission went out at 54,000 miles now my second transmission went out at 148,000 miles. first one was whinnning between 20-40 mph would not shift correctly then second one is doing the same thing. …”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“am filing this complaint regarding a transmission failure in my 2018 toyota c-hr that left me stranded on the freeway and created a serious safety hazard. the vehicle experienced a transmission-related failure that caused it to lose its ability to operate properly while i was driving. as a result, i was left stranded on the freeway, exposed to pas…”
2026-10-05 · Service Brakes“warning light comes on frequently saying epb need service. this is a known recall for this car but for some reason my vin # is not on recall list.…”
2026-09-30 · Power Train“unknown, i recently received a customer support program notice from toyota regarding a known transmission noise affecting certain 2018 toyota c-hr vehicles. my vehicle exhibits the exact symptoms described in the bulletin—specifically, a small plane-like engine sound when driving between 20 and 40 mph. on xxx, i brought my vehicle to toyota of [x…”
2026-09-24 · Power Train · 105,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 toyota c-hr. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the transmission bearing failed, causing the vehicle to coast to a stop on a main road. the vehicle was towed from the scene. the contact associated the failure with customer support program: 26te06 that provided a free transmission replacement for certain 2018-2019 …”
2026-09-23 · Power Train“car began making a grinding sound while driving on an expressway. from that point on, could no longer reach a speed above 30 mph. independent mechanic diagnosed an issue with cvt. car was inoperable and sat in my driveway for 8+ months as we tried getting toyota to respond to calls and email. received a customer support program 26te06 letter from …”
2026-09-09 · Power Train“the cvt transmission completely failed making the car undriveable…”
2026-09-09 · Power Train“purchased vehicle in costa mesa, ca. mileage on vehicle when taken to auto repair shop: 70,037. request for transmission fluid replacement and diagnostic on front end noise. notes from auto repair shop: performed transmission service with cvt service kit. technician test drove customer vehicle and confirmed there's a rotational groaning from …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.