2020 Toyota C-HR

64 complaints on file, page 1 of 4.

1. Filed Sep 29, 2026Failure Sep 24, 2026Kirbyville, TXPower train

   Transmission is going out. It is sitting at the Toyota dealership in silsbee Texas. It has been recalled in Canada but not the US . IT HAS WELL KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. It is unsafe for me to drive and others on the road way. Toyota will not replace it. Said it was out of warranty only having 133k miles on it

   NHTSA complaint 11767642
2. Filed Sep 25, 2026Failure Sep 24, 2026Denver, NCPower train

   The vehicle is exhibiting symptoms of the widely documented internal differential/output bearing failure associated with the Toyota K114 CVT transmission. When coasting—even with the engine completely turned off—and during mechanical rotation of the front wheels, there is abnormal metallic clicking, clacking, and mechanical play apparently emanating directly from the center of the transaxle housing. This internal component degradation poses a potential safety hazard. A catastrophic failure of this bearing could lead to severe metallic debris entering the sealed CVT system, potentially resulting in drivetrain lock-up or an instantaneous loss of motive power at highway speeds, creating a serious risk of a high-speed collision. This is a documented recurring failure in the K114-equipped C-HR. Toyota Canada has acknowledged this mechanical failure in 2018–2019 C-HR vehicles by issuing a 10-year/193,000 km Warranty Enhancement Program covering CVT failures associated with internal bearing failure. Similar failures have also been documented in U.S. C-HR vehicles, including 2020 model-year vehicles, although no equivalent U.S. warranty enhancement has been extended to those vehicles. Despite the vehicle having approximately 136,000 miles, this component would reasonably be expected to provide substantially greater service life. The vehicle has been maintained appropriately. Its premature failure is therefore potentially indicative of a systemic defect affecting the K114 transmission and warrants investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and consideration of whether a safety-related defect investigation or appropriate corrective action is warranted.

   NHTSA complaint 11766870
3. Filed Sep 9, 2026Failure Jun 6, 2025Middle Island, NYPower train

   CVT failing, causing extreme bearing noise. Toyota insisted lifetime fluids with no transmission service or fluid changes. At 147000 miles it is noisy with no warning lights and no recommended service.

   NHTSA complaint 11763104
4. Filed Sep 7, 2026Failure Aug 1, 2026Orem, UTPower train

   Transmission went out 3,400 miles past the 60k warranty. Vehicle taken in at 59k miles and told there were no issues. Filed good will warranty claim. Toyota needs to do a recall. This is a know problem. 2018 and 2019 models recalled. 2020 models same issue, why no recall for 2020. I have read at least 17% of 2020’s have already failed.

   NHTSA complaint 11762609
5. Filed Aug 31, 2026Failure Aug 28, 2026Collinsville, ILPower train

   Transmission making winding noise, took into toyota told will need full transmission replacement. Said could just go out at anytime. 2020 with 75700 miles on car.

   NHTSA complaint 11760975
6. Filed Aug 28, 2026Failure Jul 1, 2026Mckinney, TXPower train

   Transmission – Loss of Power / Jerking / Safety Hazard The vehicle is experiencing a serious issue with the K113 CVT transmission. The transmission produces abnormal noise and can jerk and lose power, creating a potentially hazardous condition, particularly when accelerating to overtake another vehicle or when merging onto a freeway. A sudden loss of power in these situations can significantly increase the risk of a collision. The vehicle has been properly maintained and driven normally. The transmission issue appears consistent with a known problem reported with this CVT/transmission design. I am concerned that the underlying manufacturing/design issue may cause premature transmission failure and create an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle currently has approximately 107,000 miles. Despite the issue, the vehicle may continue to operate and shift, making the problem difficult to identify until the transmission is under load or has been driven for some time. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this transmission issue and determine whether a safety defect or manufacturing/design defect exists and whether additional action by the manufacturer is warranted.

   NHTSA complaint 11760186
7. Filed Aug 17, 2026Failure Jul 8, 2026Jarrell, TXPower train

   CVT bearing disintegrating. Expected repair cost is $10k-$12k. Purchased about a year ago and still owe almost 20k on the loan. This is the car that was intended to be used by my daughter but cannot trust this to make the drive. There have been no warning lamps or system messages just a metal on metal grinding sound. This is a known issue with this model of vehicle and there is already a warranty enhancement for this issue on 2018 and 2019 models. Mine is a 2020 so they clearly did not fix this known issue. This started about a month ago as a slight high pitched whine and has quickly progressed to the point that we cannot use the vehicle.

   NHTSA complaint 11757556
8. Filed Aug 14, 2026Failure Aug 5, 202681,321 milesGrundy Center, IAPower train

   The contact owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,321.

   NHTSA complaint 11756919
9. Filed Aug 13, 2026Failure Aug 13, 2026Lacey, WAEngine, Vehicle speed control

   While driving, my 2020 Toyota C-HR suddenly lost acceleration in the middle of the road, with the vehicle failing to respond to throttle input. This has now happened twice. There was no warning noise (no whining or grinding) beforehand, and the loss of power occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion, creating a dangerous driving condition due to inability to maintain speed or safely merge/clear traffic.

   NHTSA complaint 11756861
10. Filed Jul 23, 2026Failure Jul 1, 2026Manteca, CAPower train

    I have a K114 CVT internal bearing defect. It is available for inspection upon request. Transmission issues are unsafe because it can cause sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic, and delayed shifting or gear slippage. These sudden changes make my car behave unpredictably; risking rear-end collisions or loss of control. This puts myself, my passengers, and others at risk. I am unsure if the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and/or component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. However, the vehicle received Service in December 2025 for a transmission fluid replacement for maintenance and no issues were reported at the time. There were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The issues first appeared in mid-June, around June 15, 2026, where I could hear a grinding noise when I drove. On July 1, I was driving home and experienced stalling while turning right at a stoplight. I took the car in for a diagnostic inquiry on 7/18/2026 and was notified I had a transmission issue. I took it for a second opinion, where it was confirmed it was transmission. I took it to Toyota and on 7/22/2026, they confirmed it was transmission issues requiring a full replacement with no financial assistance citing my warranty has ended and my service history is not thorough enough. Toyota has already extended the warranty for Canadian drivers due to this exact safety hazard.

    NHTSA complaint 11752512
11. Filed Jul 14, 2026Failure Jun 12, 2026North Brunswick, NJPower train

    Had the car brand new since 2020 just started to hear noises took it to the dealership and they said the transmission needs to be replaced

    NHTSA complaint 11750469
12. Filed Jun 30, 2026Failure Jun 29, 2026Covina, CAPower train

    Transmission bearing is going out. I hear a whine noise while driving. And took it to a Transmission shop and was told the Transmission bearing goes out alot on these types vehicle. And i just bought this car used 1 month ago.

    NHTSA complaint 11747331
13. Filed Jun 26, 2026Failure Jun 9, 2026Debary, FLPower train

    My 2020 Toyota C-HR is exhibiting clear, escalating symptoms of the known K114 CVT internal bearing defect, creating an active safety hazard while driving. The transmission has not failed completely yet, but it regularly experiences high-pitched whining noise, sudden hesitation during acceleration, and loud grinding-like noise which gets louder and faster as I speed up. This behavior creates a significant safety risk because the vehicle unexpectedly fails to accelerate when merging onto the highway / hesitates unpredictably at busy intersections, exposing me to the risk of a rear-end collision. The car is less than 6 years old, and a mechanic/dealership has diagnosed it as an impending internal bearing failure. Toyota Canada has already acknowledged this exact flaw by extending the CVT warranty to 10 years. However, Toyota USA refuses to act, forcing American drivers to choose between operating an increasingly unpredictable, unsafe vehicle or paying $10,000+ out of pocket to replace a component with a known manufacturing defect. I am filing this to urge the NHTSA to investigate before this transmission suffers a complete, dangerous failure at highway speeds.

    NHTSA complaint 11746632
14. Filed Jun 11, 2026Failure Jun 1, 2026Magnolia, TXPower train

    I purchased my Toyota CHR 2020 LE right off the lot in 2020. In 2023, I had to replace my first transmission, THANK GOD THAT ONE WAS UNDER WARRANT. It is now 2026 and I am again, having to replace my transmission. This is a real safety concern. Just in the beginning stage of failure my car is sluggish to accelerate and I live in Houston, TX! People will run you over here if you aren't careful. No to mention the highway robbery that is being committed for having to pay half the cost of my car for a new transmission that is absolute garbage. It is absolutely ridiculous that no one has done anything about this yet. You sell a vehicle you know is having these issues without disclosing them. Shame on everyone involved.

    NHTSA complaint 11743549
15. Filed Jun 10, 2026Failure May 1, 2026Peru, INPower train

    Started hearing a whining noise shortly after buying this car and found out it is an internal bearing failure inside the CVT transmission that is widely known in these vehicles to fail but there has been no recalls to correct the problem and could cost me money I don't have to get it fixed.

    NHTSA complaint 11743202
16. Filed Jun 2, 2026Failure May 1, 2026delano, CAPower train

    Transmission failure, sounds like there is a rattle inside of the transmission.

    NHTSA complaint 11741617
17. Filed May 18, 2026Failure Mar 12, 2026Fresno, CAElectrical system, Engine, Power train

    The motor mounts broke when it hit a pothole and that snapped the wiring harness which caused the transmission to shift. Toyota dealership says it needs a new CVT transmission replacement. The engine has shifting issues. My insurance adjusters believe that the transmission failure is due to wear and tear, but the car did not have issues before the pothole. There were and are no warning lights or messages prior to and after the incident. I got the engine wiring harness and motor mounts fixed and there was still a noise and lag while accelerating and they finally said it was the transmission the second time I brought it in and that wasn’t covered by insurance. I’ve only put 11,000 miles on it and I’m the second owner. I bought it from a Lithia Nissan of Clovis.

    NHTSA complaint 11738452
18. Filed May 14, 2026Failure May 1, 2026Ocoee, FLService brakes

    TO: CarMax Corporate Relations Attn: Jennifer Sheppard, AVP Customer Service Excellence 12800 Tuckahoe Creek Parkway Richmond, VA 23238 [XXX] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 RE: Vehicle: 2020 Toyota C-HR 4D Sport Utility VIN: [XXX] Subject: Formal Safety Complaint, Inspection Failure, and Demand for Buyback To the Representatives of CarMax Corporate and NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a severe safety incident and a gross failure of the CarMax Certified Quality Inspection process. The negligence displayed by the CarMax Orlando staff not only violated the terms of our purchase contract but actively endangered my life and the lives of others on the road. 1. Timeline of Events and Staff Negligence On 04/30/2026, I purchased the above-referenced vehicle from CarMax Orlando. Upon attempting a test drive, I was denied by sales consultant Boris Iniquez, who stated the vehicle could not be driven until it was cleaned. On 05/01/2026, I took delivery and immediately noticed the brakes were non-responsive and emitting a loud "air brake" sound. I returned to the dealership on 05/02/2026. Mr. Iniquez performed a ride-along, personally witnessed the brake malfunction, and was informed of my immediate need to drive 450 miles to Atlanta, GA, for my role as a Site Inspector. Rather than providing a safe loaner or grounded vehicle, Mr. Iniquez and the acting manager explicitly instructed me to drive the vehicle to Atlanta, asserting that the car had "passed all inspections." 2. Mechanical Safety Failure Upon reaching Atlanta, the vehicle's condition became untenable. On 05/07/2026, CarMax GA inspected the vehicle and found: - Total failure of all four brake pads. - Front rotors requiring immediate replacement. It is mathematically and mechanically impossible for a vehicle with metal-on-metal rotors and failing pads to have passed a legitimate 125+ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F

    NHTSA complaint 11737906
19. Filed May 12, 2026Failure May 12, 2026San Antonio, TXPower train

    Transmission bearing failure. Whining noise started about 2 months ago and continually got worse before complete transmission failure.

    NHTSA complaint 11737332
20. Filed Apr 28, 2026Failure Apr 27, 2026Aberdeen, MDUnknown or other

    My transmission is whining and the mechanic shop is stating that I need a new transmission. A common issue they are seeing within vehicles with the CVT transmission

    NHTSA complaint 11734284