Toyota C-HR hesitation problems

Filed Aug 9, 2026 · Transmission · IL

The transmission (CVT) in my 2018 Toyota C-HR failed at 101,740 miles, approximately 5,000 miles and 2 months after I purchased the vehicle used. The vehicle began making a whining/rotary noise while driving. I took it to Toyota of Downtown Chicago (RO [XXX], 7/28/2026), where the technician test-drove the vehicle, confirmed the noise originates from the transmission, and recommended full CVT replacement. The quoted repair cost is $14,271.52. The vehicle is currently not being driven and is available for inspection upon request. Safety concern: a CVT that is failing internally can produce unpredictable loss of power, hesitation, or sudden changes in acceleration while driving, which creates a risk of being unable to safely merge, accelerate away from a hazard, or maintain consistent speed in traffic. I have stopped driving the vehicle to avoid this risk. The problem has been confirmed by a Toyota dealership (Toyota of Downtown Chicago), not by an independent shop. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer's field engineering, police, or insurance representatives. Prior symptoms: the whining/rotary noise was the only symptom I noticed, and it appeared shortly before I brought the vehicle in for inspection. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared at any point. I do not know how long the underlying defect was present before I purchased the vehicle, though vehicle history records show the previous owner's independent shop performed a CVT transmission fluid service approximately six weeks before the vehicle was sold at auction. I am aware that Toyota Canada has issued a Warranty Enhancement Program (10 years / 193,000 km) for 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles covering CVT failures caused by a known defective internal bearing. No equivalent program currently exists in the United States. I am filing this complaint because I believe this same defect affects U.S.-market vehicles and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Transmission · FL

My 2020 Toyota C-HR is exhibiting clear, escalating symptoms of the known K114 CVT internal bearing defect, creating an active safety hazard while driving. The transmission has not failed completely yet, but it regularly experiences high-pitched whining noise, sudden hesitation during acceleration, and loud grinding-like noise which gets louder and faster as I speed up. This behavior creates a significant safety risk because the vehicle unexpectedly fails to accelerate when merging onto the highway / hesitates unpredictably at busy intersections, exposing me to the risk of a rear-end collision. The car is less than 6 years old, and a mechanic/dealership has diagnosed it as an impending internal bearing failure. Toyota Canada has already acknowledged this exact flaw by extending the CVT warranty to 10 years. However, Toyota USA refuses to act, forcing American drivers to choose between operating an increasingly unpredictable, unsafe vehicle or paying $10,000+ out of pocket to replace a component with a known manufacturing defect. I am filing this to urge the federal safety agency to investigate before this transmission suffers a complete, dangerous failure at highway speeds.

Filed Apr 29, 2026 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at faster speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating, with an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Transmission · KY

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.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Transmission · FL

The transmission on my 2019 vehicle began making loud grinding and whining noises and then started hesitating during acceleration. A Toyota dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed a failing transmission bearing and advised that the entire transmission must be replaced. The repair was quoted at approximately $12,000. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and serviced. Despite proper maintenance, the transmission failure occurred unexpectedly and prematurely. Because of this issue, the vehicle became unsafe to drive and has now been undrivable for nearly a year. The failure creates a safety risk due to hesitation, loss of acceleration, and unpredictable shifting while merging into traffic or maintaining highway speed. The issue has been reproduced by the dealer and fully documented. There were no warning lights or error messages prior to the failure; the first signs included grinding noises and difficulty shifting. Publicly available reports indicate that Toyota extended warranty coverage in Canada for similar CVT transmission concerns affecting comparable model years, suggesting manufacturer awareness of premature internal component defects. My vehicle’s symptoms match those issues. This defect poses a significant safety hazard, especially given the possibility of sudden power loss. I am filing this complaint because this is clearly a premature CVT failure that has left the vehicle unusable.

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Engine · CA

The transmission on my 2018 Toyota C-HR has been malfunctioning, and there is a noticeable grinding or rattling noise coming from the front end while driving. The issue occurs consistently during driving. This problem puts my safety at risk because the vehicle hesitates to accelerate properly, and the noise suggests a potential mechanical failure that could lead to loss of control while driving. The issue has not yet been officially confirmed by the Toyota dealer, but I plan to have it inspected. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem started around 67,000 mileages in October, and there were no warning lights or dashboard messages before the issue began. The noise has gradually worsened over time.

Filed Oct 19, 2025 · Transmission · ME

I am reporting repeated transmission failures and unsafe driving behavior in my 2018 Toyota C-HR. The transmission was first replaced at approximately 89,000 miles under an extended warranty due to whining noises and slipping. Since then, I have returned to the dealership three separate times with the same symptoms. The dealer acknowledges the issue but has not performed any corrective repairs. The vehicle now exhibits the same failure symptoms again at 124,000 miles. These include whining noises when accelerating, hesitation to engage, and intermittent loss of power. This creates unsafe driving conditions, especially when merging or crossing intersections. Details and Pattern: Toyota Canada has publicly acknowledged a faulty bearing inside the CVT transmission for the 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR and extended the warranty to 10 years / 193,000 km. My vehicle has the same CVT transmission (K114) and was built in the same factory (Turkey). Toyota USA has not offered any comparable warranty extension or recall, despite identical vehicles experiencing the same failures. Numerous other U.S. owners have reported similar CVT failures to the federal safety agency and CarComplaints.com. This appears to be a widespread safety defect related to the transmission’s internal bearing or CVT assembly, which can cause loss of power and control while driving. Requested Action: I request that the federal safety agency investigate the 2018 Toyota C-HR CVT transmission for design or manufacturing defects, including bearing failure, and determine whether a U.S. recall or extended warranty campaign should be issued as Toyota Canada has already done.

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormally loud humming sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the transmission was hesitating while shifting into gear. The contact stated that RPM was extremely elevated before upshifting to the next gear. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced due to a failed bearing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Nov 15, 2024 · Transmission · TX

The vehicle has only 106 thousand miles on it, and it started to make a loud sound while driving it with lots of hesitation to accelerate out of the first gear. There were no warning lights on the dashboard. I took it to my mechanic, who stated it was the CVT transmission. The estimated cost is over 6 thousand. I am waiting on the final quote. It is impossible to believe that Toyota has not recalled this vehicle based on this issue and the many complaints.

Filed Nov 12, 2018 · Electrical · 23,000 miles · TX

Toyota ch r I noticed hesitation when starting the engine about 3 days prior. Two days ago the car would not start. I called road side assistance. I was given a jump. 8 hours later I needed another jump. The car turned on and but shortly afterwards the parking break and lights began flashing on the control panel. The car could not be pushed. It was not accelerate nor reverse. Car was towed to the dealer. The dealer states the battery was not jumped correctly and the control panel may need to be replaced. I asked for the warranty to cover the diagnosis, because this car should have control panel protection to avoid major issues. This car is poorly designed. It should be stated on the battery not jump the car and inform me all the damage this could create. However the car was not jumped incorrectly. The dealer showed me acid around the battery but never showed me the control panel damage. Why is there a battery and a control panel issue on a car that is new. Why does the diagnostic cost $280. Headquarters was contacted. But no resolution