2018 Toyota C-HR transmission and drivetrain problems
216 of the 327 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota C-HR name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 9 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 216 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 56 · 2026: 84
Half of the 27 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 64,000 and 91,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
327 complaints in all about the 2018 Toyota C-HR, 84 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota C-HR transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I heard a whining noise coming from front end of my car. I took it to the services department at 42,000 miles while under powertrain warranty and they said they thought it was the air conditioner pump but said they couldn't fix something that wasn't tore up and advised me to call or come back it the noise worsened.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal winding noise detected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Needs transmission replaced along with torque converter. These components of the vehicle have failed with only 82,000 miles on the car and a complaint about noise was initially filed with Toyota around 50,000 miles but they will not honor the warranty. The components are available for inspection.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal humming sound while accelerating and decelerating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined.
Heard a humming noise from the engine. Went online to the Toyota forums to see if any similar stories were there and to my surprise there were more than several indicating the same noise I was hearing all of them saying it was the torque converter and transmission. I was shocked to see these stories and hoped that mine was not the same.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications9 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26TE06 Warranty extensionSep 22, 2026
- 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’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing
- T-SB-0048-26 Rev1 Service bulletinSep 4, 2026
- 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 transaxle is available when the specified noise an
- T-SB-0048-26 Service bulletinAug 13, 2026
- 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 transaxle is available when the specified noise an
- H0L - Dealer Let Service bulletinOct 5, 2020
- DL: H0L Expired on October 5, 2020
- T-TT-0585-19 Service bulletinDec 3, 2019
- TT: On 2018-2020 model year C-HR vehicles follow the recommendations when performing the HVAC odor maintenance service using A/C Power Foam Evaporator Cleaner & Refresher.
- T-SB-0134-16-Rev Service bulletinJul 1, 2019
- TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has be
The 6 newest are listed (the model year’s page has its newest of every kind). Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 216 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (66% of everything owners filed about it), and 9 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 80,000 miles; half of them between 64,000 and 91,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.