AI Damage2021 Toyota C-HR: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Toyota C-HR filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 106 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 36
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 106
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 47% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Forward collision avoidance 11% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 7 Lane departure 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 17 complaints (47% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
- Forward collision avoidance: 4 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Air bags: 2 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
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 4 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 36 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 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 31 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 1 | 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 contact stated no warning light was illuminated. No air bags deployed, and the front driver side seat belt failed to retract. The contact sustained injuries on his neck and back and sought medical attention at a nearby hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable.
The contact stated that the collision was the result of the pre-collision avoidance system failing to activate. Both driver-side and passenger-side air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. A police report was filed.
The incident happened on the 9th of april 2021 at 06:45am on our company's car park, third level. As I was parking the toyota chr, I'm fully aware that I'm just lightly stepping on the gas like what I'm doing when I'm parking the car everytime I go to work when the car suddenly revved up.
I have a very loud whine coming from the front of my 2021 Toyota CHR with 93,000 miles. At first I thought it was a wheel bearing so I replaced it but the noise did not change. Over the last few days it has become louder and louder. Now every once in a while the car feels like it almost slips then catches traction.
There were no warning messages or notifications before, during, or after the incident.
The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that progressively became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced.
The car has developed a growl/whine from the transmission. A trip to the mechanic determined that it sounded as if a bearing inside the transmission is failing. A check online showed multiple complaints regarding the transmission failing with the same issues as my car, and what appeared to be a possible class action…
My 2021 CHR, that I purchased in March 2021 with 11 miles on it, started making a noise when driving in December 2025 so I took it in to Street Toyota in Amarillo, TX on 12-27-2025. It was confirmed that the automatic transaxle needed to be replaced and it would cost $15,653.58 to replace.
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 1,004 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the C-HR has 68 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 36, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- 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…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software…
- 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…
- 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.
NHTSA lists 106 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 2021 Toyota C-HR?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, forward collision avoidance. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%), transmission slipping (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
NHTSA lists 106 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 2021 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 2021 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.