RoadVitals

2018 Toyota C-HR Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Jul 27, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 307 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Toyota C-HR submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2026

My EPB malfunction light goes off for no reason and kicks my cruise control off . My transmission is now making a crazy noise. Has happened MULTIPLE times since ownership.

NHTSA ID
11753158
Incident
Dec 31, 1969
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2026

I bought the car in May of 2021 with roughly 40,000 miles. It is now June of 2026 and I have roughly 111,000. Regularly maintenanced. My front sensor system went out last year, so I cannot use cruise control, auto brights, lane assist, emergency braking system, etc. It is a pretty penny to replace that. My transmission is now going out and I am faced with replacing the transmission or replacing the vehicle that I still owe money on- roughly $8,500. There are no warning signs other than the signs for my front sensor system not working. I have seen other complaints with the exact problems I am facing and I believe a recall is appropriate.

NHTSA ID
11746975
Incident
Jun 27, 2026
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 14, 2026

Transmission issue per car dealer

NHTSA ID
11731195
Incident
Apr 14, 2026
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 3, 2026

My front camera sensor light came on stating it was unavailable, then turned back on after a few minutes. About a week later on several occasions, the emergency brake notification came on when I was on the freeway with no vehicles in front of me to cause this. There has been an excessive whirring sound coming from the engine also. With these issues there have been no warning signs including check engine lights or other vehicle maintenance lights on. Reading complaints from other Toyota, CHR owners with similar issues, and stating they’ve had costly transmission failure brings a great deal of concern for my safety and those on the road.

NHTSA ID
11708551
Incident
Aug 1, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2025

Vehicle: 2018 Toyota C-HR (Base Model) Issue: CVT Transmission Failure I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious defect in the CVT transmission of my 2018 Toyota C-HR. After owning it less than 2 years, the vehicle developed transmission problems that rendered it unsafe and ultimately undrivable. Multiple mechanics, including a dealership and a transmission specialist, confirmed the issue originates where the transmission meets the axle on the driver’s side. The recommended solution was a full transmission replacement, with repair costs quoted as high as $11,000, nearly equal to the car’s entire market value. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There were no warning messages or lamps to indicate an issue prior to the incident that occurred. This situation raises serious safety concerns: The transmission failure occurred suddenly, leaving me unable to operate the vehicle. I was on the way home during rush hour traffic. I approached a redlight and came to a stop. Once the light turned green, my car wouldn't accelerate and began rolling backwards any time I attempted to accelerate. A transmission defect can cause unexpected loss of power or drivability, putting myself, drivers nearby and passengers at risk on the road. The fact that this issue is widely reported among Toyota owners suggests a systemic defect that compromises public safety. Customers are forced to choose between paying exorbitant repair costs or continuing to make loan payments on a car they cannot drive. Toyota has long been viewed as a trusted brand known for reliability, yet this defect undermines that reputation and leaves loyal customers feeling misled. I respectfully urge NHTSA to investigate this issue and Toyota to issue a recall or extended warranty coverage for affected CVT transmissions. Customers should not be left with unsafe, undrivable vehicles and repair costs that exceed the cars value. This is not only a matter of fairness but of public safety.

NHTSA ID
11704029
Incident
Mar 28, 2025
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 13, 2025

My transmission failed and I took it to the dealership. They recommended I replace the transmission that would cost $11,000. I have 120k miles driven in my car and regular get it maintenance. After looking online I saw that I was not alone with the Ch-r model. It is ridiculous that a repair would cost half of a brand new car. This is very anti consumer behaviors coercing car owners to buy new cars since repairing them is so expensive.

NHTSA ID
11699085
Incident
Nov 11, 2025
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 7, 2025

When I place my car in park and take my foot off the brake occasionally it will still drive. This has happened several times but this last time it did damage to my garage door.

NHTSA ID
11698249
Incident
Nov 5, 2025
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 22, 2025

I’m driving my car and all lights turn on dashcam and RPMs start going down really fast and unable to apply more gas/speed. This happened 3 times in the past year

NHTSA ID
11695099
Incident
Sep 30, 2024
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 25, 2025

Unknown, all started 3 month ago car wasnt turning on, mechanic said was the battery, battery installed but kept reading same malfunctions, ebs , collision malfunction, steering wheel, speeding problems, Autozone has checked engine light on no specifics on warning lights.

NHTSA ID
11676156
Incident
May 14, 2025
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2025

The forward collision warning goes off and automatically slams the breaks, when nothing is in front of it. It does this on highways as well. This could cause accidents. There is been several complaints about the CVT transmission. If they won't recall it, they should have a lifetime warranty. Toyota transmissions used to last. I cannot afford to get a whole new transmission, so I have to sell it to a dealership.

NHTSA ID
11672986
Incident
May 14, 2021
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved loudly while the transmission was stuck in low gear. The check engine, power steering, Forward Collision Avoidance, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon exceeding 25 MPH, the engine revved loudly to 4,000 RPM. The contact drove to the residence, where the vehicle was diagnosed by a mobile independent mechanic. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. Glen Burnie Transmissions was contacted, and the contact was informed that there were several similar vehicles at the location being repaired for the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ID
11648296
Incident
Mar 13, 2025
Mileage
91,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 1, 2023

The vehicle experienced an “EPB Malfunction” resulting in the vehicle becoming unresponsive during use due to the electronic brakes failing to disengage or engage. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. The vehicle is currently under inspection by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID
11558004
Incident
Nov 30, 2023
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 2, 2023

On 2/13/2023, an object hit my windshield & it cracked. I filed a claim with my insurance & took it to Safelite. Safelite replaced my windshield on 2/27/2023, however, they were not able to recalibrate the sensors within the windshield. This means 3 safety components in my car no longer work, which are; lane departure, cruise control, & pre-collision. I now have a flashing warning in my dash constantly because the sensors embedded in the windshield aren’t calibrated, which is a hazard. I filed complaint #11448934 on 1/26/2022 with NHTSA explaining how my pre-collision system was giving me problems. Safelite is going to try a different glass and then try to recalibrate on 3/4/2023. My car is available upon request. My & others safety are put at risk because Toyota opted to put important safety features in one of the most exposed & vulnerable places on a car, that I quite frankly wasn’t aware of until it cracked. I have not had it evaluated by the manufacturer, independent dealer/service center and it has not been inspected. There haven’t been any accidents.. yet. I will upload a picture of the Safelite work order. You will see it says, “Recal failed”

NHTSA ID
11509935
Incident
Feb 27, 2023
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 27, 2022

EPB brake warning is showing on my display. I see there is a recall for this exacy item for the 2018 CH-R vehicles but it says that my car isnt involved. Is it just a coincidence?

NHTSA ID
11471088
Incident
Jun 27, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 28, 2022

The pre-collision system malfunction warning appeared on my dash. It turned off the pre-collision warning, cruise control and lane assist alerts. I took it to the dealer for diagnostics and they told me it was mice on the wiring harness. The picture they provided did not show any bite marks.

NHTSA ID
11458710
Incident
Mar 25, 2022
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 16, 2022

EPB Malfunction visit dealer Pre-Collision System Malfunction visit dealer vehicle has a rough drive, does not have the same shifting power on road.

NHTSA ID
11452329
Incident
Feb 16, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 26, 2022

The pre-collision system automatically turned off and said something along the lines of “not being detected” while I was driving in snow. I can be available upon request. If I have the pre-collision system on, & it automatically shuts off, I believe this could cause a potential wreck or some other safety hazard. The problem has not been evaluated by any service dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone for this issue. The pre-collision light in the dash came on that the function was turned off while I was driving in the snow. This issue actually first appeared in 2018, but at the time I didn’t think it was an issue. Then I moved to a place where it doesn’t snow, & saw it happened again in heavy rain weather.

NHTSA ID
11448934
Incident
Jan 23, 2022
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 5, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

A file its atach

NHTSA ID
11439519
Incident
Aug 25, 2020
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 15, 2021

WHEN DRIVING THERE AFTER USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THERE IS A WARNING ABOUT THE EPB MALFUNCTION. IT APPEARS CERTAIN CH-R MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS, BUT MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ONE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11408237
Incident
Apr 15, 2021
Mileage
5 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 21, 2020

I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JUNE 26TH 2018, THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING JUST ABOUT FINE UNTIL APRIL 24TH 2020. I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND MY CAR HAD NOT SHOWN ANY SIGNS OR WARNINGS ABOUT NEEDING SERVICE OR THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I TURNED ON MY CAR, I BACKED UP A LITTLE AND THE CAMERA MALFUNCTIONED AND I HEARD A WEIRD SOUND, THEN THE CAR TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AND THEN IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. I CALLED AAA AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, IT WOULDN'T CHARGE AT ALL. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DEEMED THE BATTERY TO BE DEAD AND IT WAS REPLACED. ON SEPTEMBER 19TH 2020, THE NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, FROM BEING PARKED, IT WOULDN'T TURN ON, CALLED AAA AND THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THE CAR TURNED ON. I GOT ON MY WAY BACK HOME, AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE STEREO, A/C, DASHBOARD AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. DASHBOARD HAD SOME SERVICE LIGHTS ON AND THE MESSAGE "ABNORMAL VOLTAGE. STEERING POWER LOW." THE STEREO WOULD RESTART NONSTOP OVER AND OVER AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME TURN IT OFF. EACH TIME THERE WAS A RESTART, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM, SHUT OFF OR GO REALLY BRIGHT. ALSO ON EACH RESTART THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS. A/C & STEREO SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND A RED STEERING LIGHT WITH A WARNING WAS SHOWING WHILE THERE WAS SOME BEEPING COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. I DIDN'T FEEL CONFIDENT OR SAFE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR BUT WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AT THAT TIME AND MY MOM WAS RIDING WITH ME. SO I DROVE THE CAR SLOWLY AND AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE UNTIL I MADE IT HOME. ONCE PARKED AT HOME, I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND HAD NO LUCK. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING SEP 21ST 2020, THEY CLAIM IT MIGHT BE THE ALTERNATOR. A FAIRLY NEW CAR WITH 21,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES OR BURN OUT 2 BATTERIES.

NHTSA ID
11360234
Incident
Sep 19, 2020
Mileage
21,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 11, 2020

ALL OF DASHBOARD LIGHTS POP ON RANDOMLY, CAR THEN SLOWS DOWN ON ITS ON RANDOMLY(MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ETC) IT ISN'T SAFE. TOOK TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC READING DONE AND THERE ISN'T ANY ISSUES, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES

NHTSA ID
11354508
Incident
Sep 11, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 10, 2018

I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON MARCH 9TH, 2018 AT 8:00 PM AT HERITAGE TOYOTA CATONSVILLE) AND DROVE TO WORK NEXT DAY (MARCH 10TH, 2018). WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY ROUTE 100, THE CAR SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY STOPPED / DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BEHIND ME. I CALLED THE DEALER (HERITAGE TOYOTA CATONSVILLE WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE) TO GET THE CAR BACK AND ASKED THEM TO EXCHANGE ANOTHER ONE BUT THEY REFUSED. I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY FOR MY LIVE WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK EVERYDAY. I'M EXPECTING TOYOTA TAKE THIS CAR BACK AND LET ME EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER ONE.

NHTSA ID
11078467
Incident
Mar 10, 2018
Mileage
57 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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