2018 Toyota C-HR Problems
Compared with other Toyota C-HR years
More complaints than typical for this model
80/100 2.0× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 2.0× that of a typical Toyota C-HR year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 33 of its 328 complaints were filed by the end of 2020.
- Most reported problem: CVT whining, humming or grinding; transmission replaced (259 complaints, median 80,000 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019, 2020, 2021
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 328filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 46,000miles, 62 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 29 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Toyota C-HR (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2018 Toyota C-HR most often write about the continuously variable transmission (CVT), describing humming, whining or grinding noises that often end with a dealer diagnosis that the transmission needs replacement. These reports cluster mostly between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles, and many owners note the repair was not covered once warranty coverage ended. A second, smaller group of complaints concerns electrical and warning-light behavior, including electronic parking brake messages, battery drain and no-start conditions, which tend to appear at much lower mileage.
- Transmission and drivetrain
CVT whining, humming or grinding; transmission replaced
- 259 complaints (79%)
- median 80,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (26 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $10,294 (median of 50 quotes)
- filed 2019–2026
Owners describe a humming, whining or grinding noise that starts at the front of the vehicle, often while accelerating or decelerating and sometimes becoming constant over time. Many say a dealer diagnosed the transmission, or bearings inside it, as failed and recommended replacement, and some report the noise returning after a replacement. Several mention the work was quoted at owner expense once warranty coverage had ended. Reported mostly between about 35,000 and 110,000 miles, with many clustered around 50,000 to 100,000 miles.
What to check: Ask for the transmission and transaxle service history and listen for humming or whining during a test drive at 15-45 mph under light acceleration and deceleration. Check whether any CVT warranty extension or customer support program applies to the vehicle's transmission serial number.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11728388, filed 2026-03“The transmission in this specific car model for not only me, but others as well always have problems and go out at any time. Dealership won’t help with me having my warranty go out even tho it’s a notorious problem. Typically costs over 10k in in repairs of replacing the transmission that will eventually go out again.”
NHTSA complaint #11729824, filed 2026-04 - Electrical system
Battery drain, no-start and dashboard warning lights
- 103 complaints (31%)
- median 50,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (27 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $11,934 (median of 14 quotes)
- filed 2018–2026
Owners report slow battery drain, repeated jump starts, displays resetting or multiple warning messages lighting up at once, and in some cases the vehicle shutting off or refusing to restart. Complaints describe dealers replacing batteries or suggesting the control panel may need replacement, while in other cases the cause was not found. Mostly reported under about 30,000 miles, including vehicles only a few months old.
What to check: Ask about battery age and any history of no-start or jump-start events, and check that all dashboard displays and warning lights behave normally through several start cycles.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I stopped at a friends house. When I left, the car would not start. Dashboard mentioned my brakes, malfunction. I had the car towed to the dealership. I had brought the car in a few weeks earlier because my odometer started changing from trip a to total mileage every time I restarted the car. It didn't do that before. Also the clock randomly looks more like an error code than the time, it corrects itself after 10 min. Or so. …”
NHTSA complaint #11316458, filed 2020-03, 18,279 miles“The epb malfunction came up on my screen while I drove my car it became I inoperable as I drove. I was driving to get on the highway and when I accelerated the car did not accelerate and my car was only able to go at about 5mph when the incident happened”
NHTSA complaint #11277248, filed 2019-10, 26,765 miles - Brakes
Electronic parking brake warning and 'EPB malfunction'
Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe messages such as "EPB malfunction" or "EPB and traction control fault detected" appearing on the dash, sometimes while driving, and in some cases the vehicle would roll while parked or lose acceleration. Owners report multiple dealer visits where the cause could not be reproduced or a warning reappeared after service, and some note their VIN was not covered by the parking brake recall. Reported from very low mileage up to about 84,000 miles, including several within the first few thousand miles.
What to check: Ask whether the electronic parking brake recall (17V717000) was performed on this VIN and whether any EPB warnings have been recorded. Test the parking brake on a slope and confirm the hold function engages and releases smoothly.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“4 weeks after purchasing a 2018 Toyota C-HR I receive an alert while in motion on a city street to take the vehicle to my dealership for a ebp malfuction. Took it to the dealership and a week after that the alert came out again. Took it back to the dealership who states that they couldnt find the issue and to take a video when it happens again.”
NHTSA complaint #11363124, filed 2020-10, 18 miles“Epb malfunction light warning comes on while driving. Has come on a total of 15 times since purchasing in 9/19. Dealership has not been able to determine issue. Front camera has gone out 7 times while driving since purchase, dealer states it's from the heat. Front bumper molding is loose due to warped clips used by Toyota per the dealer”
NHTSA complaint #11364171, filed 2020-10, 26,000 miles - Electrical system
Door mirror puddle light projecting distorted logo
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints and dealer bulletins describe the door mirror foot lights projecting a distorted image of the C-HR logo onto the ground rather than a clean projection. The condition is cosmetic and involves the projector film inside the mirror light assembly. Reported across a range of mileages; the related bulletin applies to 2018-2019 model year vehicles.
What to check: At night, check the logo projected by each mirror light; ask the dealer whether the mirror light bulletin was applied.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Front camera has gone out several times since purchasing august 2019. I've been told by the dealership it is sensitive to the heat. The ebs has failed twice since march 2020.. Both issues happened while in motion. The front bumper molding continues to separate due to cheap clips holding it to the frame per the tech at Toyota avondale, az.”
NHTSA complaint #11331929, filed 2020-07, 25,000 miles“When driving there after using the cruise control there is a warning about the epb malfunction. It appears certain ch-r models have been recalled for this, but my VIN does not appear to be one recalled.”
NHTSA complaint #11408237, filed 2021-04, 5 miles
Buying note. The transmission is the item to focus on for this model year: get a pre-purchase inspection that includes listening for whine or grind at low speeds and ask for any CVT service or warranty-extension history. Also confirm the electronic parking brake recall and any related software or mirror-light bulletins were completed.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 328 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota C-HR. 62 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 46,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 160 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 3 Toyota C-HR model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 80 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Transmission and drivetrain217 66%
- Other or unknown45 14%
- Engine39 12%
- Electrical system29 8.8%
- Brakes25 7.6%
- Forward collision avoidance18 5.5%
- Air bags5 1.5%
- Fuel system4 1.2%
- Lane departure4 1.2%
- Steering4 1.2%
Also reported: Body and structure (4), Exterior lighting (3), Electronic stability control (2), Suspension (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “Car began making whirring noise from front end of car at first intermittently and then eventually at al times especially when accelerating. Took car to dealership to take a look at noise have now been told whole transmission has to be replaced. Car is only three years old, bought new same driver, maintenance every 5k miles. Car mileage is around 65000 and waiting on manufacturer for possible next steps.”
NHTSA complaint #11414999, filed 2021-05, 64,500 milesOther or unknown: “I just purchased the new 2018 chr. Driving home and car engine had a burning odor with exhaust fumes, and the engine shimmied. I pulled over as I thought the tire was flat. I went home and got my son. He checked the engine and it was over heated. I had only driven the new car 60 miles in 2 weeks. We drove to Toyota and all I could smell was a carbon monoxide odor in the car with exhaust fumes. I felt like I was going to pass out. The car is with Toyota for the weekend. I am filing this report, in case other car owners of chr have the same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11078427, filed 2018-03, 120 milesEngine: “I purchased this car on march 9th, 2018 at 8:00 pm at heritage Toyota catonsville) and drove to work next day (march 10th, 2018). While driving to work on the highway route 100, the car suddenly and completely stopped / dead in the middle of highway and I almost got hit by another car behind me. I called the dealer (heritage Toyota catonsville where I purchased this vehicle) to get the car back and asked them to exchange another one but they refused. I'm really concerned about safety for my live when I have to drive this car on the highway to work everyday. …”
NHTSA complaint #11078467, filed 2018-03, 57 milesElectrical system: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11151077, filed 2018-11, 23,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
50% of the 62 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,000 and 82,607 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Toyota C-HR. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-HR · hatchback FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 14.2% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.
Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2018 Toyota C-HR version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-HR FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | 27 | 31 | 29 | $2,300 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 17V717000Nov 15, 2017Parking brakeCovers: Toyota C-HR 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota CH-R vehicles. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not operate properly, possibly causing the parking brake not to disengage after it is applied or prevent it from being…
Recall details for the 2018 Toyota C-HR → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 160 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038386Sep 22, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11038382Sep 16, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11038381Sep 15, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11038369Sep 4, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Some 2018 – 2019 model year C-HR vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle while accelerating from 15 – 30 mph and/or decelerating from 30 – 15 mph. An updated…
- 11037194Aug 13, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Some 2018 – 2019 model year C-HR vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle while accelerating from 15 – 30 mph and/or decelerating from 30 – 15 mph. An updated…
- 11037192Aug 13, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11036133Jul 31, 2026Engine. Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- 11028712Jan 7, 2026Other or unknown. Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and…
- 11021715Jul 9, 2025Body and structure, Electrical system. All VINs under ZKH are expired as of July 6, 2025 Some 2018 – 2019 model year C-HR vehicles may exhibit a condition where the door mirror foot light projects a distorted image of the C-HR logo onto…
- 11021714Jul 9, 2025Electrical system, Body and structure. All VINs under ZKH are expired as of July 6, 2025 Toyota has received reports stating that the door mirror foot lights (puddle lights) may project a distorted image of the C-HR logo onto the ground…
Other model years of the Toyota C-HR
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | — | 1 | — | 117 MPGe | — | Too new |
| 2021 | 36 | 28,764 | 1 | 4–5 | 29 | 40 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 66 | 20,000 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 42 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 114 | 49,000 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 57 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 328 | 46,000 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 80 · More | Rising |
All Toyota C-HR model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
Owners of the 2018 Toyota C-HR most often write about the continuously variable transmission (CVT), describing humming, whining or grinding noises that often end with a dealer diagnosis that the transmission needs replacement. The issues reported most often: CVT whining, humming or grinding; transmission replaced; Battery drain, no-start and dashboard warning lights; Electronic parking brake warning and 'EPB malfunction'.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Toyota C-HR have?
NHTSA recorded 328 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota C-HR as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2018 Toyota C-HR is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 217 complaints (66% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 45.
Has the 2018 Toyota C-HR been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2018 Toyota C-HR do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Toyota C-HR 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota C-HR get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Toyota C-HR (C-HR, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 27 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Toyota C-HR reported?
Among the 62 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 46,000 miles and the middle half falls between 11,000 and 82,607 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.