2018 Toyota C-HR Problems: Transmission / driveline (316 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2018 Toyota C-HR is Transmission / driveline (61% of 316 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 316 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?

192 of 316 filings named Transmission / driveline (61% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (22 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2018 Toyota C-HR

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 192 complaints · 60.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 9
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 192 of 316 owner complaints (60.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 192 complaints, 60.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 192 · 60.8% Engine (ENGINE): 22 complaints, 7.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 22 · 7.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 16 complaints, 5.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 16 · 5.1% Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE): 14 complaints, 4.4% of reports Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 1 crash reports 14 · 4.4% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 5 complaints, 1.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 crash reports 5 · 1.6% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 1.6% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 · 1.6% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 4 complaints, 1.3% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 4 · 1.3% Steering (STEERING): 4 complaints, 1.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 4 · 1.3% Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE): 3 complaints, 1.0% of reports Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 3 · 1.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 60 complaints, 19.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 60 · 19.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 192 60.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 22 7.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 16 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 14 4.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 1.6% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 4 1.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 4 1.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 3 1.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 60 19.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2017; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2017. 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2023-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2024-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2025-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2025-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2025-Q4: 41 owner reports 41 2026-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2026-Q2: 38 owner reports 38 2026-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 Owner reports Jul 2017 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 17V717000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V717000
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 5
2018-Q3 Owner reports 4
2018-Q4 Owner reports 3
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 3
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 7
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 2
2021-Q2 Owner reports 5
2021-Q3 Owner reports 5
2021-Q4 Owner reports 6
2022-Q1 Owner reports 7
2022-Q2 Owner reports 7
2022-Q3 Owner reports 8
2022-Q4 Owner reports 8
2023-Q1 Owner reports 5
2023-Q2 Owner reports 5
2023-Q3 Owner reports 9
2023-Q4 Owner reports 9
2024-Q1 Owner reports 4
2024-Q2 Owner reports 12
2024-Q3 Owner reports 3
2024-Q4 Owner reports 6
2025-Q1 Owner reports 12
2025-Q2 Owner reports 10
2025-Q3 Owner reports 19
2025-Q4 Owner reports 41
2026-Q1 Owner reports 36
2026-Q2 Owner reports 38
2026-Q3 Owner reports 26
Recall campaign 1 17V717000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

  1. Recall campaign 17V717000

    Safety recall 17V717000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the EPB cannot be applied, there is an increased risk of a vehicle rollaway if the vehicle is parked on a hill without being placed into "Park."
    Remedy:
    Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will update the programming of the skid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0W.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 316 complaints · page 1 of 13
2026-09-03Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11761882
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The car suddenly started shaking and making a weird noise and it turns out the transmission went out. I know I’m not the only one with this issue.
2026-08-29Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11760556
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My 2018 Toyota CH-R started with a whining noise that sounded like a cat. I didn't get any lights on my dash that could pin point the problem. I took it to the dealership to get it diagnosed and they couldn't tell which part was making the noise. I asked the if they could do a transmission fluid change, and they told me that that type of transmission did not require service. Overtime the noise got worse and louder and a few times while driving in the freeway the car jerked and the RPM gauge drastically moved up and down. I took it to the dealership again and they quoted me $8,000 for a new transmission. At this point I am nervous I will lose power in the middle of the freeway during my daily commute which could cause an accident.
2026-08-27Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11759974
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota C-HR. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,433 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 262,136.
2026-08-24Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11759111
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The Toyota CVT transmission has failed and is incredibly expensive to replace. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS! I will never buy a Toyota again!
2026-08-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11758658
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Desconocido
2026-08-21Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11758512
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated that while shifting gears or while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the transmission was not operating properly due to a bearing failure and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.
2026-08-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11758383
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The transmission failure I a known issue for this year make and model. It has been recalled in Canada and is being honored there with extended warranty’s. It is not honored here in the US even though they know it is an issue. This vehicle has been inspected by both an independent shop and a Toyota dealership and both recommend replacement. The cost is 12,000-14,000. Toyota corporate denied any good faith assistance. This a safety hazard for all concerned.
2026-08-19Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11757868
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I own a 2018 Toyota. My transmission has died prematurely. The car has less than 140k miles and has been meticulously maintained. The only component that has not been serviced is the transmission because no one wanted to “take the liability” according to 5 different local shops. This clearly tells me that this issue has been known. Toyota in Canada has already acknowledged the issue and issued a recall. Any mechanic will tell you that no component lasts “forever” so having a forever seal transmission was destined to fail, especially when the parts produced break down. Having any transmission with such low miles is already rare but for a Toyota to fail so completely is just exceptionally rare. All of this indicates willful ignorance and disregard for safety on Toyotas part. Please investigate this and help us regular owners get justice.
2026-08-17Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11757475
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The transmission on the vehicle needed to be replaced. The dealership told me that I was responsible for the repair. The price quote was $14,000.00. The Toyota dealership knew that the transmission were problematic and said nothing.
2026-08-14Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11757035
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission. My car started making loud noises and eventually got to this point where it is not shifting gears. I would put it into drive, press the gas, and it would accelerate and abruptly stop on me. I've had it for less than 10 years and I bought it brand new. Its completely un-drivable.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Toyota C-HR?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 192 of 316 reports (61%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Toyota C-HR?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2018 Toyota C-HR?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources