2018 Toyota C-HR

I bought my 2018 CHR in 2017 from Huntersville NC, it has 112,000 miles on it and it is paid off. My CHR has only been serviced at Toyota dealerships and I have all the invoices. On [XXX] Toyota performed the 100,000 mile multi-point inspection and everything was good to go. However, approximately 2 weeks later I started hearing a whining noise. On [XXX] Toyota inspected my vehicle and notified me that the transmission was going bad, and there was no time frame on when the CHR would leave me stranded. Upon my own research the CHR in Canada has issued a 10 year extended warranty due to a faulty bearing in the CVT Transmission; which is the same issue my CHR in North America is having. There has not been an extension on my specific vehicle. I inquired to my local Toyota dealership about Goodwill Assistance and was shut down. The Toyota dealership is only concerned with selling me a different vehicle at this point. I am [XXX] and do not have sufficient income to cover expenses nor a monthly payment. Toyota needs to be held responsible for the same manufacturer defect they recognize in Canada, here in North America as well. It definitely put a sour taste in my mouth about purchasing another Toyota. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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)

The transmissions on these vehicles have well issues. The only reason I bought the one I did was because the Carfax report falsely started that the transmission had been replaced. Toyota knows it's a safety hazard and can fail at highway speed but will not take responsibility. I bought the car and within 5 days it is making a grinding noise. The Toyota dealership states the car needs an entire transmission replacement for $12,000.