AI Damage2018 Toyota C-HR: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Toyota C-HR filed 327 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. The maker issued 87 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 327
- involving a crash
- 9
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 87
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 66% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 6% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 2% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 1% of all complaints
- 8 Parking brake 1% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 216 complaints (66% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Engine: 39 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 29 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Service brakes: 21 complaints (6% of all).
- Forward collision avoidance: 18 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- CVTnamed in 79 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 327 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 216 | 3 | 8 |
| Engine | 39 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 0 | 10 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 31 |
| Parking brake | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The airbags did not deploy. There were no lights prior to failure. My insurance said that it was surprising that the airbags did not deploy given the extensive frame damage to my vehicle. My safety was put at risk due to potentially enduring life threatening injuries if any other cars hit me.
The contact stated the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 17v717000 (parking brake) three times, however the failure recurred. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in a stand still in park, the vehicle reversed on it's own causing the vehicle to hit the contact.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a fractured shoulder, left wrist, and injuries to the left ankle. The other driver sustained a broken nose. In addition, the contact sustained a concussion and was taken to the hospital where she received medical attention. A police report was filed.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact was injured and transported to the hospital; however, the other driver was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (green's toyota of lexington, [address], lexington, [ZIP], [phone]) where it was awaiting diagnostic testing and repairs.
While the vehicle was unoccupied and parked, it rolled backwards, crashed into a pole, and then started to roll forward. The contact had to jump into the vehicle to stop it from rolling. There were no injuries and a police report was filed.
am filing this complaint regarding a transmission failure in my 2018 Toyota C-HR that left me stranded on the freeway and created a serious safety hazard. The vehicle experienced a transmission-related failure that caused it to lose its ability to operate properly while I was driving.
The contact associated the failure with Customer Support Program: 26TE06 that provided a free transmission replacement for certain 2018-2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles experiencing continuously variable transmission failures.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 192 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the C-HR has 68 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 327, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty…
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…
- Some 2018 – 2019 model year C-HR vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle…
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…
- Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty…
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…
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
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 address this condition…
- All VINs under ZKH are expired as of July 6, 2025 Some 2018 – 2019 model year C-HR vehicles may exhibit a…
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 the ground.
- All VINs under ZKH are expired as of July 6, 2025 Toyota has received reports stating that the door mirror…
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. This distortion may…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 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 address this condition…
NHTSA lists 87 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 327. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (26%), transmission slipping (23%), warning lights, check engine (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
NHTSA lists 87 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Toyota C-HR from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.