I left my apartment on my way to school when my vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. I was on a three lane, one way street and I was stuck in the middle. My vehicle could not move forward or backward despite the engine still running and being gear. It was a really busy time of day and I sat there for about 3 hours, still in the middle of the street, waiting for a tow. A police officer had to sit behind me with his lights on and cones out to prevent other drivers from colliding with me. No warning lights came up on my dash prior to or during the incident. The repair shop diagnosed it to need a new transmission and torque converter costing roughly $16k to fix. My vehicle is under 100k miles and I have seen others complain about the same issue. Toyota Canada has issued an extended warranty on these same vehicles because this is a known issue however, the same cannot be said for the US. My car is currently still in the shop as I am still trying to figure out how I’m going to get it repaired.
2018 Toyota C-HR transmission complaints
Page 4 of 8: complaints 71 to 100 of 217, newest first, as owners wrote them.
CVT Transmission making Whining noise and shifting hard while driving. After extensive research I have discovered this is a common problem with the 2018 CH-R. Extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 mi available for Canada, but not US. I have been a loyal Toyota owner for over 20 years, owning 5 different Toyotas, and even encouraged my kids to purchase Toyota due to longevity, reliability, and durability of the products. Our family has owned over 15 Toyota vehicles. Due to Toyotas refusal to take responsibility we will no longer give our business to this company and will tell everyone we know to NEVER purchase a Toyota
Transmission failing, I’ve read this is extremely common on these cars. In Canada they have issued a recall on these vehicles. It’s been making noise for quite a while, it recently started getting. Loud grinding squeaky sounds.
Vehicle has a cvt transmission and has faulty bearings. Started making a dragging rough noise. Needs a whole new transmission.
Transmission bearings
Transaxle assembly, consistent with a possible differential bearing fault no transmission fault I have been quoted of price range $5,000 to $11,000 and have read that for 2018-2019 there have been issues but why is my vehicle not included. I was told by Toyota my vehicle not included in the extended warranty
A barring in the CVT transmission went out and I was told by the dealer I need to replace the transmission. This is a common failure with this vehicle
I noticed a humming sound coming from my car about a month ago. After getting it looked at it is a transmission issue. The same issue many people are having with this model of car. It is drivable for now but for how long I don’t know.
Yes, Toyota has extended the warranty for the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) on certain C-HR models (specifically 2018-2019) in Canada and potentially the US due to widespread reports of a defective bearing, covering failures up to 10 years or 193,000 km (around 120,000 miles) and offering refunds for past repairs, a move prompted by consumer advocacy, though US action often lags Canada's. Details of the Extension (Canada-focused, but relevant for US): Models Affected: Primarily 2018 and 2019 Toyota C-HRs, with investigations extending to 2018-2022 models. The Problem: A faulty bearing inside the CVT can fail, leading to very expensive ($10,000-$15,000) transmission replacements, notes the Automobile Protection Association (APA). New Coverage: Up to 10 years or 193,000 km (about 120,000 miles) from the original purchase date, with some reports mentioning no mileage cap until September 2026. Reimbursement: The program also provides refunds for owners who paid out-of-pocket for repairs before the extension was announced.
The issue I’m having with my vehicle is my transmission. When I drive it doesn’t want to shift smoothly, grinds and whines when accelerating and braking. The safety on my 17 MONTH OLD daughter is the main one that I transport around and this definitely puts her safety at risk as we could be driving down that posts higher speeds or up hill and loose momentum to go and could be struck by another vehicle. As we hope people pay attention accident death rates rising shows otherwise. The vehicle has been loosed at and diagnosed it’s my transmission and now CNA warranty is bending over backwards to NOT replace it when it is a known issue. There have been ZERO indication that an issue was happening and that puts me and my family at greater risk of injury or death due to negligence of Toyota not making a recall on the transmissions or being transparent about the issue.
Same Problem as almost all 2018 chr has. Bad transmission
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated that while driving in ECO Mode, there was a humming sound coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission and torque converter were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer’s Extended Warranty Coverage for the failure. The contact stated that a recall for the failure had been issued for certain vehicles manufactured in Canada. The failure mileage was 35,100.
I have a 2018 Toyota CHR with of course a CVT transmission. I am around 105k miles with normal maintenance and have had small issues but nothing crazy until now. I have been noticing a strange noise coming from my car and after replacing pretty much every moving part on the car (besides the transmission), the issue is a bearing coming from within the transmission. After doing further research through the federal safety agency and other websites it seems like this is an inevitable problem with all models from this make within the year 2017-2022. This is extremely disappointing coming from a lifelong Toyota customer. There seems to be a recall for these units in other parts of North America but not the United States. I would not recommend this car or this company to anyone. Failures in this part exceed the value of the car as of 2026 and it is completely ridiculous that Toyota has not done anything. As a loyal Toyota customer you have lost my business and every time I see someone in this model CHR I can only feel bad for them knowing their car is most likely not going to make it 5 years or even to 100k miles. This is a great little car on the interior and exterior but is unfortunate that Toyota made the wrong decision mass producing and rushing the import of them into the United States with a Turkish made transmission. Not the Toyota quality that anyone expected.
The component that failed is the CVT transmission. Toyota dealership in kansas city replaced transmission and the faulty transmission is no longer available for inspection. The faulty transmission could have placed me at risk by failing without notice and causing a loss of control while driving. the componenet has been inspected by a toyota dealership named Molle toyota in kansas city and they have deemed that the transmission needed to be replaced as well as the torque converter. there were no warning lamps or messages, a faint whining noise was the only symptom.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the federal safety agency to the pattern of CVT failures in Toyota vehicles and to ensure that this problem receives appropriate investigation
CVT transmission went out at about 101,000, and is currently sitting in my yard.
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 the federal safety agency 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Faulty CVT transmission
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.
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 $13,600.00 to replace transmission when Toyota is very aware if this defect.
Bad transmission. Appears to be a widespread issue.
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