I am reporting a transmission failure involving my 2020 Toyota C-HR Limited at approximately 111,852 miles. For several weeks, I had noticed an unusual humming or dragging noise coming from the front driver’s side of my vehicle while driving. The noise became increasingly noticeable, but I did not know what was causing it. On October 8, 2026, after driving approximately 30 miles at highway speeds of around 75 mph, I arrived home and began backing into my driveway. While the vehicle was moving in reverse, it suddenly made a noticeable clunk and jerk. This was the first and only time I had experienced the vehicle jerking. I took my vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealership on October 9, 2026. The dealership recommended replacing the transmission assembly. I was verbally informed that an internal transmission bearing had failed. Throughout the weeks leading up to the diagnosis, my vehicle never displayed a check engine light, transmission warning, or any other dashboard warning message. I regularly drive approximately 60 miles per day, including interstate travel. I am concerned that an unexpected transmission failure while driving at highway speeds could cause a loss of propulsion or leave the vehicle disabled in traffic, potentially putting myself and other motorists at risk. Although I have not experienced a complete loss of propulsion, the worsening noise, sudden clunk and jerk while reversing, and dealership’s recommendation to replace the transmission have raised concerns about the vehicle’s continued safe operation. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document and evaluate this transmission failure to determine whether it may represent a potential safety defect affecting Toyota C-HR vehicles.
Toyota C-HR jerking problems
12 of the 559 owner complaints about the Toyota C-HR describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 2018 model year.
- owner complaints
- 12
- worst model year
- 2018
By model year
- 20203
- 20193
- 20186
Often reported together
Transmission failure 5Loss of power 4Whining noise 3Stalling 3Check engine light 2Grinding brakes 2Hesitation 1
What owners say
My 2018 Toyota CH-R started with a whining noise that sounded like a cat. I didn't get any lights on my dash that could pin point the problem. I took it to the dealership to get it diagnosed and they couldn't tell which part was making the noise. I asked the if they could do a transmission fluid change, and they told me that that type of transmission did not require service. Overtime the noise got worse and louder and a few times while driving in the freeway the car jerked and the RPM gauge drastically moved up and down. I took it to the dealership again and they quoted me $8,000 for a new transmission. At this point I am nervous I will lose power in the middle of the freeway during my daily commute which could cause an accident.
Transmission – Loss of Power / Jerking / Safety Hazard The vehicle is experiencing a serious issue with the K113 CVT transmission. The transmission produces abnormal noise and can jerk and lose power, creating a potentially hazardous condition, particularly when accelerating to overtake another vehicle or when merging onto a freeway. A sudden loss of power in these situations can significantly increase the risk of a collision. The vehicle has been properly maintained and driven normally. The transmission issue appears consistent with a known problem reported with this CVT/transmission design. I am concerned that the underlying manufacturing/design issue may cause premature transmission failure and create an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle currently has approximately 107,000 miles. Despite the issue, the vehicle may continue to operate and shift, making the problem difficult to identify until the transmission is under load or has been driven for some time. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this transmission issue and determine whether a safety defect or manufacturing/design defect exists and whether additional action by the manufacturer is warranted.
Started making a clicking noise after crossing a railroad track and then all of a sudden jerked and stopped going forward. I’ve only had the car for a year and never been in an accident.
- My 20218 C-HR has a hard jerk noise when accelerating from a stop sign. Transmission of the car is malfunctioning, took the car to Toyota Fort Worth and the diagnosed the issue to be a noise coming from the transmission. - Car can suddenly stop while driving it on the freeway, this can cause a serious accident and to myself and others. - There is a TSB related to K71, meaning that the manufacturer is aware of the issue. It is a known issue to them. - No warning sign
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.
I am writing to report a serious and potentially dangerous defect with my 2018 Toyota C-HR. Shortly after purchasing this vehicle, I began experiencing multiple issues related to the transmission. The car makes a persistent whining noise while accelerating, which was immediately concerning for a new vehicle. More alarmingly, the vehicle sometimes suddenly stops accelerating and begins to jerk unexpectedly while driving. This has happened on the road and creates a hazardous situation for myself and other drivers, as it can be difficult to maintain control of the vehicle, especially in traffic or at higher speeds. Despite owning the car for only a short period, I have been told that repairing these transmission issues will cost thousands of dollars, which is not normal for a relatively new vehicle. These problems are not only inconvenient but also pose a significant safety risk. I believe this may be a manufacturing defect affecting the transmission system. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter promptly to protect other consumers and ensure road safety. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
I started hearing a grinding noise coming from the front driver-side wheel well for about a week. Then one day, while backing out of my driveway, the car suddenly lost power. I was stuck on a slight incline and no matter if I put it in reverse or drive, the car wouldn't move—it just wouldn’t respond like it normally does. A few days after that, I was sitting at a red light with my foot on the brake when the car jerked backwards. Right after that, the check engine light came on, and I noticed the car didn’t handle the same. It felt sluggish to respond when I hit the gas. After the red light incident, I had the car towed to a shop. They told me it had a bad bearing and said the transmission needed to be replaced. I’m reporting this because it felt like a serious safety issue—especially with the car losing power and jerking unexpectedly. I’ve seen other people mention similar problems with this transmission, so I think it’s something that should be looked into.
The transmission bearing has an internal failure making the vehicle jerk and noisy. When I drive the car it shakes / jerks A LOT. My safety is put at risk because the car can stall out. TOYOTA LET ME DRIVE MY CAR HOME FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER FAILING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I currently cannot drive my car because I can stall out and crash! I had no warnings, no lights , no nothing telling me there was an issue ! It just started jerking when I was driving. I have been to the dealer I bought the car from and they did nothing to fix the issue. How can an issue like this not show up on my car dashboard!! ? I have video of the car jerking as well.
While driving, my vehicle suddenly jerked and lost significant speed without warning, putting my life at serious risk on the road. When I took it to Toyota, they quoted me over $11,000 to replace the faulty transmission. This issue has been widely reported with Toyota vehicles, yet it remains unresolved. It's alarming to think that someone might have to lose their life before the company takes meaningful action to address this dangerous defect.
Related recalls
Power train: axle hubs
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. The rear axle hub bearing bolts may have been insufficiently tightened, causing the bolts to loosen and damage the rear brake components or cause a rear wheel to detach.
- Risk
- If the bolts loosen and damage the rear brake components, or cause a rear wheel to detach, it would increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle hub bearing bolts. If a bolt is found to be loose or detached, the dealer will replace the rear axle hub bearing assembly and rear axle carrier sub-assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0Y.
Recall number 18V710000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota C-HR jerking
Which Toyota C-HR years have jerking or lurching problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2018 (6 complaints), 2019 (3 complaints) and 2020 (3 complaints).
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