2018 Toyota C-HR

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 NHTSA to the pattern of CVT failures in Toyota vehicles and to ensure that this problem receives appropriate investigation

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 NHTSA 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.