Transmission failure
The worst 2021 Toyota C-HR problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission19
- Driver assistance6
- Electrical5
- Seat belts3
- Airbags2
- Brakes2
- Engine2
- Fuel system2
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Toyota C-HR
Recalls 1
Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radar
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 C-HR vehicles. The radar sensor may not have been activated during production, making the pre-collision system (PCS) inoperative.
- Risk
- An inoperative PCS that does not provide a malfunction indicator to the driver, or braking assist as expected, can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and activate the radar sensor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA02.
Recall number 22V107000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Toyota C-HR 106
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to...
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System...
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
2021 Toyota C-HR fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 27 | 31 | 29 |
What 2021 Toyota C-HR owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
CVT transmission. It cost more than the cost of the car for the tiny little transmission that fails so much. Toyota should get their fingers cut off for continuing to do this and intentionally abusing their customers. They must pay for this. At 100,000 mi a dealer quote for $13,000, is asinine and obnoxious for a manufacturer to intentionally knowingly abuse people this way. Horrible corporation. I hope you crash and the earth opens up and swallows you.
I have a very loud whine coming from the front of my 2021 Toyota CHR with 93,000 miles. At first I thought it was a wheel bearing so I replaced it but the noise did not change. Over the last few days it has become louder and louder. Now every once in a while the car feels like it almost slips then catches traction. The noise has been confirmed by an independent shop, who said there is a new TSB (T-SB-0048-26) for the transmission which they said matches everything they noticed with my vehicle but it was only for 2018-2019. No warning lights or anything has appeared.
My vehicle began making a grinding noise. I immediately called the issue in to Toyota of Dallas. I scheduled to have all my tires replaced and to inspect the noise. I was informed that my CVT needed to be replaced. The dealership is unwilling to replace the CVT despite prior recalls on CVTs in 2018 and 2019 for Toyota CHR. My 2021 vehicle is paid off, has little to no wear and tear (I only drive locally), and has been taken to the dealership consistently when service is needed. I should not have a bad transmission. This vehicle is not safe for the road and I don't feel safe with myself nor my family to travel in this vehicle. I have to drive at very low speed to get to work, get the kids to school, etc and this is the only vehicle I possess. I cannot think of any reason of what would cause the CVT to go bad other than the dealership not properly maintaining the transmission OR simply a faulty transmission.
There was a sound that the car was making. Took in to the Toyota of Ashland dealership they could not repair it. The CVT bearing needs replaced.
Driving to [XXX] from [XXX] to visit my [XXX] mother. Stopped in [XXX] called my brother to come fallow me the rest of the way because a noise that started under the car was very disturbing. My brother fallowed. Me the rest of the way to [XXX] to my sisters house. This was XXX the following day my sister had me take it into a local shop in town. They said it was the transmission and I knew I couldn’t afford a new transmission I just bought the car a week ago for $17,000. I asked the dealer to help nothing asked Toyota for help nothing . Decided to get a second opinion and took it to AAMCO same diagnosis. This powertrain if it would have seized up while driving I could have been killed or hurt or even worse I could have hurt a child or killed a child. This is unexceptionable. Why is it that they are doing something for people in [XXX] but not the [XXX]. Are we less important? I know they are under investigation but allmost all the companies that are having problems with there cvt transmissions are at least trying to do something. I have multiple sclerosis and this stressed me out so much I went to the emergency room to get care. Please make them take accountability. We are important too. This happened XXX and today is XXX and I might have my car back XXX to go home. I had to get a $5,000 signature loan on top of the $17,000 loan i just got to get the car borrowed $1,300 from my husband boss and a $1,000 from my sister. I would have got it all from the bank but that’s all they could give me with the one loan. I hadn’t enven had time to make one payment. The loan I had to get is a high cost loan but none of this should be happening. I’m grateful no one got hurt but this does hurt me. Especially if I end up not being able to pay for it in the end on $1010 a month. Please seriously look into this INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
It will not drive forward and only in reverse. There is a known bearing issue but unfortunately this is past the 60k and no recall.
On May 26, 2026 I was driving on the highway at around 50mph and the vehicle swerved to the right on its own causing me to swerve back and forth between two lanes for about 10 seconds. The wheel moved on its own causing me to use force to try to get the car back in control. Thankfully no one was next to me but if that had not been the case, it would have a caused a serious and life threatening accident. Had I been going any faster or on the regular streets, I am certain the vehicle would have flipped or ran off the road. It was EXTREMELY scary, especially as I am a mother and my baby is frequently in the car. I have contacted two separate Toyota dealerships neither one of them giving any concern to my safety or well-being and are charging me $100+ to run a diagnostics. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle, I no longer believe that Toyota cares about their clients and will no longer be recommending Toyota for their lack of concern of their drivers safety. There were no warning messages or notifications before, during, or after the incident.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that progressively became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained at the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions for routine maintenance since the whining sound started, but the dealer had not advised the contact of a transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a goodwill assistance offer, which the contact declined. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The car has developed a growl/whine from the transmission. A trip to the mechanic determined that it sounded as if a bearing inside the transmission is failing. A check online showed multiple complaints regarding the transmission failing with the same issues as my car, and what appeared to be a possible class action lawsuit being filed regarding this transmission issue. No recall is showing for the transmission from Toyota. Recommendation from the mechanic was to replace the transmission rather than repair it.
Compare the 2021 Toyota C-HR
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Other model years
Questions about the 2021 Toyota C-HR
Is the 2021 Toyota C-HR reliable?
Owners have filed 38 complaints about the 2021 Toyota C-HR, fewer than a typical C-HR model year.
What is the 2021 Toyota C-HR year score?
The 2021 Toyota C-HR scores 75 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota C-HR: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 19 complaints. Next is driver assistance (6).
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota C-HR have?
1 recall, covering forward collision avoidance.
What year does the Toyota C-HR have bad transmission?
The Toyota C-HR model years with the most transmission complaints are 2018 (217 complaints), 2019 (67 complaints) and 2020 (51 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota C-HR get?
Official estimates for the 2021 Toyota C-HR range from 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 27 city and 31 highway.
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