Toyota C-HR stalling problems

Filed Nov 1, 2026 · Transmission · TX

The CVT had castrophic failure on the highway. Yes you may inspect it. Thankfully myself and my daughter were not injured, but it stalled out going 70 mph on the freeway and cars were speeding around us to avoid impaling us from behind. I was able to get it off the road and tow it home. There were no warning lights or indications that the transmission was failing it simply made a low whining noise that grew louder over time and then quiter at higher speeds. On the freeway it was imperceptable. It began making the noise in July and the CVT failed in August. I took it to a transmission shop as the dealership is outrageously over priced and I couldn't get it all the way to the dealership anyway. The transmission shop sent me photos of the pan dropped with huge pieces of metal debris inside it along with small glitter sized pieces filling the entire pan. Toyota issued customer support program 26TE06 in July 2026 but they capped the VINs included in September 2019 my CHR was made in the 3 months after September 2019 so it is not included in their program which replaces the CVT awknowledging the internal bearing failure leading to premature transmission failure and exhibiting the exact symptoms my car gave as it is the exact model of CVT (K114) that is in my CHR. Nothing else would have caused total breakdown of the internal bearings and belt as the car has never even been in a small accident and I have had it for over 5 years. Toyota still refuses to take responsibility however they put my life and my daughters at risk putting us on the road in a brand new car that had a faulty transmission when we purchased it, we could have been hit by another car on the highway and died. I bought a brand new toyota expecting to drive safely in a good car and that the car would last for at least 300,000 miles.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Transmission · WA

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 the front of the car. Unable to determine cause at this time, requesting further diagnostic time Performed nvh diagnostic for front end rotational noise concern. Isolated noise to transaxle internal.Technician determined transmission failure (torque converter) and recommended replacement. Afterwards, while driving home and waiting at a red light, vehicle did not accelerate when light turned green. I put the car into park, then back into drive. No movement. Switched to manual mode, no movement. Went back to automatic and car started to go. Felt that the transmission was slipping. I was afraid that it was going to stall out again, so I ran the next light to get onto to the freeway to get my vehicle home ASAP. I will never drive another vehicle with a CVT transmission. If I would have known about any issues with CVT’s, I would NOT have purchased this vehicle.

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Transmission · CA

I have a K114 CVT internal bearing defect. It is available for inspection upon request. Transmission issues are unsafe because it can cause sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic, and delayed shifting or gear slippage. These sudden changes make my car behave unpredictably; risking rear-end collisions or loss of control. This puts myself, my passengers, and others at risk. I am unsure if the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and/or component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. However, the vehicle received Service in December 2025 for a transmission fluid replacement for maintenance and no issues were reported at the time. There were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The issues first appeared in mid-June, around June 15, 2026, where I could hear a grinding noise when I drove. On July 1, I was driving home and experienced stalling while turning right at a stoplight. I took the car in for a diagnostic inquiry on 7/18/2026 and was notified I had a transmission issue. I took it for a second opinion, where it was confirmed it was transmission. I took it to Toyota and on 7/22/2026, they confirmed it was transmission issues requiring a full replacement with no financial assistance citing my warranty has ended and my service history is not thorough enough. Toyota has already extended the warranty for Canadian drivers due to this exact safety hazard.

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Engine · OH

I was driving when the dashboard lights all turned on and started getting warning messages too. The gas pedal wasn't giving anymore and the car would not accelerate. Luckily I was able to roll into a parking lot where we waited almost 2 hours for a tow. The car fortunately was still running so we had the a/c on while waiting (important for later.) Had it taken to a collision center thinking a squirrel got in the engine... that happened a few months ago. They had it towed to Toyota who said there was no issue found and it was most likely a battery issue. No sir it didn't turn off after stalling on me for 2 hours which hello... battery! So he said he would check it again after I informed him I don't feel safe in it. Well next day I get told its the transmission with no warranty because it's just over 60,000 miles. Ridiculous! Oh and no mention of the battery now...

Filed May 21, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 39,000 miles · DE

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was sputtering while driving after 20 minutes of driving. Their vehicle failed to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there was no recall coverage. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was due to the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. An independent mechanic was contacted, who determined the failure was due to the fuel pump. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred him to the federal safety agency hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2026 · OK

My transmission failed after only having my vehicle for 4 months. My safety and the safety of my passengers was put at high risk because of this issue due to stalling in traffic and loss of acceleration. My problem was confirmed by 2 separate mechanics and my local Toyota dealership. I also was able to confirm in this process that this is a common issue with this specific year of the CH-R and it needs to be addressed by Toyota. This issue came without warning.

Filed Mar 31, 2026 · Transmission · CT

The CVT transmission failed on my 2018 Toyota C-HR, which I purchased in 2022. The vehicle stalled in the middle of traffic on a day with elevated temperatures while my special needs child was a passenger, creating an immediately life-threatening situation. The car showed no signs of any issue prior to this failure. I attempted to have the vehicle inspected multiple times before the failure occurred, but this defect is not detectable without a deep diagnostic inspection and by the time that level of inspection is needed, the transmission is already in the process of failing. There are no warning lights or symptoms until complete failure occurs. When I contacted Toyota, the representative acted as though this was an isolated issue and not a known defect. This is false. This is a viral, widespread problem that the vast majority of 2018 Toyota C-HR owners are experiencing and actively reporting across forums, consumer complaint sites, and to the federal safety agency itself. Toyota is fully aware of this defect. Upon seeking an independent inspection, the mechanic showed me the same transmission from another vehicle of the same make and compared it to mine, explaining that the C-HR uses a larger CVT transmission, making a used replacement approximately $6,000 alone and advised that given the repair cost relative to the car’s value, purchasing a new vehicle may be the only realistic option. I am now completely without transportation due to what is clearly a premature manufacturing defect on a 7-year-old vehicle, causing severe financial hardship. Notably, Toyota Canada has already issued a recall and extended the warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for this exact same defect on the same model. U.S. owners are being denied the same protection and quoted $10,000–$14,000 for a known manufacturing defect. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate and issue a U.S. recall for all affected 2018 Toyota C-HR vehicles immediately.

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 Oct 24, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CA

My 2018 Toyota, which has around 96,000 miles, is experiencing transmission failure. I recently had it inspected by an independent repair shop, and they confirmed the issue is caused by a bad bearing inside the transmission—a problem they mentioned is common for this model. The transmission makes a loud whining noise and could fail at any time, which puts my safety and the safety of others at risk since it could cause the car to lose power or stall in the middle of the road. There were no warning lights, messages, or signs before the issue started. I contacted Toyota about the problem, but they refused to cover the repair because the vehicle is out of warranty. However, given how new the car still is and that this issue is known to occur in similar models, I believe this is a safety hazard that Toyota should take responsibility for.

Filed Aug 24, 2025 · Transmission · TN

Transmission is failing prematurely. Family in car. Car stalls and fails to move in middle of busy intersection. Restart the car and then luckily get out of way to safety. Dealer acknowledged and done a test. The transmission issue is being ignored by Toyota. Toyota of Knoxville is currently attempting to avoid working on fixing this safety issue. No indication other than sudden whining, then grinding, the. Stalling.