2019 Toyota C-HR Powertrain (other) Problems

We purchased this vehicle from a local dealer brand new. It was titled in my father in-laws name but now ours (hence 2 owners on vin). at 108,XXX miles, we began to experience loud grumbling. We took it to a Toyota Dealer and it was diagnosed as "catastrophic transmission failure". They wanted $11k for a transmission replaced for a car worth maybe $14k. We did not perform the repair. After a few weeks, the noise got better. People online were having the same issue. At 129,XXX miles, we got a notice in the mail from Toyota Corporate with our name and VIN number on it. It stated extended warranty service coverage for up to September 2027 with no miles limitation. I took the car in to the dealer we purchased the vehicle from and they could not get the symptoms to replicate. After 1 week without the vehicle, we picked it up and went home. The symptoms have came and went, but at the end of October 2026, they were very bad. I dropped off the vehicle on 11/2/2026 and it was diagnosed again with a transmission replacement needed. After informing me and getting my hopes up again, they left me with a lemon that is unsafe to drive and worth $0 resale. The dealership followed the steps for Toyota's extended service, but the serial number on the transmission did not match the programs' needs. Neither Toyota or the local dealer will do anything for me even though the symptoms, model, make, year, and VIN all are recorded to have these same symptoms and issues. Toyota is aware of these issues but not willing to acknowledge certain serial numbers at this time..... Needs investigation.

NHTSA ID

11775251

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

The CVT had castrophic failure on the highway. Yes you may inspect it. Thankfully myself and my daughter were not injured, but it stalled out going 70 mph on the freeway and cars were speeding around us to avoid impaling us from behind. I was able to get it off the road and tow it home. There were no warning lights or indications that the transmission was failing it simply made a low whining noise that grew louder over time and then quiter at higher speeds. On the freeway it was imperceptable. It began making the noise in July and the CVT failed in August. I took it to a transmission shop as the dealership is outrageously over priced and I couldn't get it all the way to the dealership anyway. The transmission shop sent me photos of the pan dropped with huge pieces of metal debris inside it along with small glitter sized pieces filling the entire pan. Toyota issued customer support program 26TE06 in July 2026 but they capped the VINs included in September 2019 my CHR was made in the 3 months after September 2019 so it is not included in their program which replaces the CVT awknowledging the internal bearing failure leading to premature transmission failure and exhibiting the exact symptoms my car gave as it is the exact model of CVT (K114) that is in my CHR. Nothing else would have caused total breakdown of the internal bearings and belt as the car has never even been in a small accident and I have had it for over 5 years. Toyota still refuses to take responsibility however they put my life and my daughters at risk putting us on the road in a brand new car that had a faulty transmission when we purchased it, we could have been hit by another car on the highway and died. I bought a brand new toyota expecting to drive safely in a good car and that the car would last for at least 300,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11774975

Incident

Aug 27, 2026

Subject: Formal Vehicle Safety Complaint — Premature CVT Transmission Failure in 2019 Toyota C-HR Limited Vehicle: 2019 Toyota C-HR Limited Component: Power Train — Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Mileage at Diagnosis: Approximately 105,000 miles Diagnosing Dealership: Lodi Toyota, California Reported Symptom: Abnormal whining noise from the transmission I am submitting this formal vehicle safety complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning a suspected premature failure of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) installed in my 2019 Toyota C-HR Limited. At approximately 105,000 miles, my vehicle was experiencing an abnormal whining noise originating from the transmission. I took the vehicle to Lodi Toyota in California for a professional diagnosis. The dealership confirmed a transmission-related problem and determined that the transmission assembly required replacement. This diagnosis raises serious concerns regarding the durability and potential safety implications of the CVT transmission installed in certain 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. After receiving the dealership's diagnosis, I became aware of Toyota Customer Support Program 26TE06, which addresses certain abnormal CVT whining-noise conditions in eligible Toyota C-HR vehicles. Despite my vehicle exhibiting a similar symptom, Toyota informed me that my vehicle identification number (VIN) was excluded from the program. I contacted Toyota Corporate repeatedly to request an explanation and reconsideration of its decision. Toyota declined to provide assistance and ultimately informed me that my case had been reviewed, its position would remain unchanged, and no additional department was available for further escalation. My concern extends beyond Toyota's refusal to provide financial assistance. I believe the premature transmission failure diagnosed in my vehicle warrants examination alongside similar complaints involving Toyota C-HR CVT transmissions.

NHTSA ID

11771921

Incident

Jan 10, 2025

Failure transmission verify by Toyota, and Toyota has a program for this issues with this certain cars and it's called Toyota Customer Support Program (20T006) but they said that my car isn't not covered under this program not giving any reason why. Transmission failure puts your safety and the safety of others at risk primarily by causing a sudden loss of vehicle control or propulsion in traffic etc etc Yes, and i will be adding the diagnosis (invoice) from Toyota dealership stating my car's problem. Its been only inspected by the manufacturer. My car has never showed up any warning lights or messages etc etc.

NHTSA ID

11771918

Incident

Jan 10, 2025

Transmission failure that toyota has already recognized in some vehicles. They have not covered all vehicles that are showing the same issues as the ones covered in the service program.

NHTSA ID

11771025

Incident

Oct 6, 2026

Transmission slippage and failure

NHTSA ID

11768192

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

Driving home from work on the freeway, the loud droning and whining sound was already present. Same issue that I thought had been previously resolved by replacing the transmission from the dealership it was purchased from. Though this time it was accompanied by a horrible grinding sound coming from the bearings in the transmission. After much research into this issue, iI found that it is a very common issue wtih this particular vehicle. Specifically the K1114 transmissions used in them. Toyota has since used different transmissions in newer models, but has not issued a recall for the ones that are so commonly breaking and keep replacing but not fixing the issue.

NHTSA ID

11766496

Incident

May 2, 2026

The transmission has failed twice. It was replaced once in 2020, right after we bought the vehicle in 2019. We have serviced the car as required at the same dealership. We were told in August 2026 by the dealership, after having the transmission serviced in the Spring of 2026, that the transmission needed to be replaced. We received a Customer Support Program letter from Toyota in September 2026 that the transmissions on 2018-2019 vehicles are being replaced because of known issues. However, they are denying it because of a serial number. There are/were warning lights, etc. It makes a sound when trying to accelerate. When we Google information, we find that there are also issues with the 2020 transmissions.

NHTSA ID

11766376

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

While driving my 2019 Toyota C-HR normally on [XXX] in [XXX] at approximately 8:00 PM, traffic began slowing due to congestion. When traffic began moving again, the vehicle accelerated very slowly and did not respond normally to the accelerator. Shortly afterward, the dashboard displayed a “Pull Over Safely” warning. The vehicle then completely lost its ability to move under its own power. It would not move normally in either Drive or Reverse and had to be towed off the freeway. Condition of the car when we check it ourselves: Vehicle goes into Drive/Reverse Engine revs Vehicle doesn't move Vehicle rolls in Neutral Vehicle stops in Park EPB-related warnings occurred The vehicle was subsequently taken to a mechanic and then to Toyota of [XXX] for diagnosis. Toyota has issued Customer Support Program 26TE06 and T-SB-0048-26 concerning premature CVT wear and abnormal whining/grinding conditions on certain 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. I subsequently learned that Toyota corporate denied the dealer's request for assistance with my vehicle because the vehicle is no longer operable and the dealership cannot perform the road test/video required to reproduce the whining noise described in the TSB. The vehicle's inability to produce the specified whining noise during a road test is because the CVT has progressed to a complete loss of propulsion. The vehicle currently remains at Toyota of [XXX]. I am reporting this because the vehicle experienced a complete loss of propulsion while being driven on a major freeway, creating a potentially serious safety situation. I was fortunate that the vehicle could be safely moved off the freeway and that no collision or injury occurred. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review this incident as a potential safety-related CVT/transmission failure and consider whether similar failures are occurring in 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11765841

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

Transmission won’t shift out of manual mode and car won’t move at all even when in drive or reverse. Was working completely fine then all of a sudden got drive start malfunction and won’t move. Called mechanic they came looked at it and they diagnosed it as a transmission problem. Did some research and this is a well known issue that Toyota Canada has acknowledged but Toyota USA won’t. Car is barely over 100k miles and all maintenance has been kept up on. Transmission only issue, but very expensive. There needs to be a recall on these.

NHTSA ID

11757110

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

While driving my vehicle, it is a consistent clicking loud noise. I had the vehicle checked out twice and both places said the same thing as it is explained down below: Transmission Replacement (Automatic): SEVERE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION NOISE- NOISE LOUDER W/ SPEED. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY- DO NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING VEHICLE MAY BE CATASTROPHIC AND COME APART This statement is from the Toyota dealership.

NHTSA ID

11754044

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

No warning lights, only noticed a new noise like a whirring sound that matches car speed, not acceleration. Had the car looked at and determined it was likely the same CVT transmission bearing failure most CHR owners are experiencing. Toyota is no help and estimates for repair are $6k to $10k from private transmission repair places. Now we have a dud of a car that we still owe money on that isn't even worth the price to repair it.

NHTSA ID

11753623

Incident

Jul 27, 2026

Noise from front left axel began on XXX. Taken to local garage for diagnostic on XXX at approximately 149,000 miles. Was informed that it likely was the transmission. This was confirmed when taken to Toyota dealership on XXX. National recall was issued in [XXX] by Toyota for the known transmission failure that occurs in the CH-r CVT transmission. No other issues or alerts had occurred prior to the transmission failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11748913

Incident

May 26, 2026

2019 C-HR is experiencing transmission failure due to a faulty joint. Metal shavings flow into the fluid. Am being told I will need to replace the entire transmission. Toyota is fully aware of the issue with the failures occurring between 75,000 & 120,000 miles. My vehicle is at 107,000. Perfect maintenance record, never missed a service & all work done at the dealership where it was purchased. Research shows Toyota Canada acknowledged the issue & extended the warranty to cover it's customers. Toyota USA refuses to do the same. Estimate out of pocket for this known defect is $9900.00

NHTSA ID

11747544

Incident

Jun 19, 2026

The CVT transmission failed at approximately 60,000 miles. The vehicle was fully maintained by Toyota dealerships. The failure of the transmission bearing will cause the car to lose power and could fail while driving, creating a risk of being stranded in traffic or being unable to accelerate to avoid a collision. Toyota Canada has extended the warranty for this same transmission issue up to 119,924 Miles (193,000 KM) and 10 years on comparable Toyota C-HR vehicles, but Toyota USA has refused to provide the same coverage.” See comments at Toyota Forum [XXX] Please see below Toyota Canada announcement: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11746996

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

Transmission is making metallic type noise from below. Had rotors ,brakes,cv axles replaced thinking those were the culprits until reputable automotive repair informed me that noise was from Toyota cv transmission. And a repair or replacement would be around $10k I researched and found many Toyotas in the United States have same problem and Canadian residents with same issue have been granted an extended warranty to resolve this issue. I live in Texas. This is my wife’s car that is sitting in driveway with no answers or help from Toyota. Thank you for your time. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11746732

Incident

Sep 3, 2025

Before 2024, my friend heard a noise coming from my car, he wasn’t sure what it was and I couldn’t hear it. December 2024, I took my car in to the Toyota dealership for the 100,000 mile transmission service (~107,000 miles) but I didn’t mention the sound because I didn’t hear it. The dealership didn’t find any issues. My friend could still hear the sound but we thought that the service done ruled out the transmission. 18 months and 36,000 miles later a louder noise started. I took the car in with the transmission failing. With the maintenance done, this transmission should have lasted to 200,000 miles. Since I had the maintenance done, I was confident driving it thinking that the transmission wouldn’t fail while I was driving. There was either an issue with the part or the service that was there at 107,000 miles that was not addressed that could have led to the car failing on the highway and risking the safety of myself and other drivers. The dealership has confirmed that the transmission has broken at 36,000 miles past their service. There were no warning lights that appeared, no difficulty driving, just noises.

NHTSA ID

11745946

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

The vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic internal failure of its Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) at 139,000 miles. While driving, a heavy grinding noise began coming from the vehicle during acceleration. A certified technician at a Toyota dealership inspected the vehicle and officially diagnosed it with an internal center differential grind and noted that the transmission fluid was burnt and filled with metal flakes. The dealership stated the entire transmission must be replaced at a cost of over $10,000. Toyota explicitly markets and describes this CVT transmission fluid as 'lifetime' fluid with no standard required maintenance, leading consumers to believe the unit is sealed and durable. However, this internal bearing/differential disintegration is a known material manufacturing defect affecting 2018-2022 Toyota C-HR models. This is a severe safety hazard as a sudden internal transmission failure can cause an immediate loss of vehicle propulsion while driving at high speeds in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. This should not be happening at all at this mileage

NHTSA ID

11743556

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

The vehicle's CVT transmission has failed, confirmed by Dublin Toyota (Dublin, CA) on June 9, 2026. The dealership has quoted $12,477 to replace the transmission, bringing the total repair estimate to over $15,000 — exceeding the vehicle's current market value. The dealership documented the following diagnostic trouble codes: P075B, P0741, and P2757. These codes are listed together in Toyota's own C-HR service manual as indicators of Torque Converter Clutch Circuit failure within the CVT system, confirming internal mechanical failure of the transmission. These are not minor or maintenance-related codes — they indicate a fundamental failure of the CVT's internal components. This is a known, widespread defect affecting 2018–2020 Toyota C-HR vehicles. Hundreds of owners have reported identical CVT bearing failures, often with no warning lights or prior symptoms, at mileages ranging from 38,000 to 140,000 miles. Toyota has acknowledged CVT issues on this model previously — issuing a software service campaign (Special Service Campaign J0D) for CVT programming defects — yet has refused to issue a recall or extended warranty for the underlying mechanical bearing failures now presenting across the fleet. Notably, Toyota Canada has extended warranty coverage for identical CVT failures on the same model years, while Toyota USA has declined to offer comparable relief to American owners facing the same defect. This defect represents a significant safety hazard, as CVT failure can result in sudden loss of propulsion while driving at highway speeds. Requested Action: Formal NHTSA investigation into CVT transmission bearing failures in 2018–2020 Toyota C-HR vehicles, and consideration of a recall or extended warranty campaign consistent with what Toyota Canada has already provided.

NHTSA ID

11743345

Incident

Jun 9, 2026

Transmission Failure

NHTSA ID

11741886

Incident

May 16, 2026

The component or system failed is the CVT transmission. The safety of the vehicle is very risky because when you drive it; it gets ready to cut off. The transmission has been confirmed that it is the problem by the independent service center. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by a transmission company. There were no warning signs or symptoms of the problem.

NHTSA ID

11740258

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

No warnings lights given. My car has been serviced three times in the past year of owning it. Yesterday I was informed my entire transmission needs to be replaced as it failed its inspection. My car was last seen by Toyota in September and I paid a little under 2k each visit to keep my car running perfectly. This visit I was quoted over 9k to replace the transmission. I have never had preexisting issues with it. This CVT transmission is known to fail prematurely and there needs to be a recall and compensation made for those who have faced the same issues. My car is only at 125k miles and I have spent about 20k purchasing and servicing this vehicle in the last year alone. I travel out of state frequently with my children to visit my relative who is in active chemotherapy. If my transmission were to die in the middle of Donners Pass I would be left stranded with my two young children. This is my daily driver and I can’t imagine what would happen if my car completely shut down in the middle of traffic or out of state as I was given certainty that my car ran perfectly until this just recently happened. I no longer have an operable vehicle regardless of the care and money put into it unless I spent another 10k on full transmission replacement.

NHTSA ID

11738274

Incident

May 15, 2026

While traveling South on [XXX] toward [XXX] , the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic internal failure of the CVT transmission. This resulted in an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power while in motion on a busy roadway. My husband (who was driving at the time) was forced to manually push the vehicle off the road with the assistance of a police officer to avoid a collision. A subsequent diagnosis at a local shop (Hot Rod Scott's LLC) who removed the transmission fluid in order to refill it and found the transmission had fallen apart. He did not return the old fluid and returned the plate of the transmission with all the pieces in the bottom and an authorized Toyota dealership in Chippewa Falls confirmed the transmission failed internally. This is a widely documented manufacturing defect in 2018–2022 C-HR models (K114 CVT). Toyota has acknowledged a bearing defect in other markets, such as Canada, by extending the warranty to 10 years/193,000 km, yet US consumers are being denied similar protection for the same defective part. This failure presents an unreasonable safety risk due to the unpredictable loss of propulsion in traffic. I am requesting a formal investigation into this systemic defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11734953

Incident

Mar 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at faster speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating, with an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11734547

Incident

Apr 5, 2026

Mileage

87,000 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was associated with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission might lock and that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,001.

NHTSA ID

11733318

Incident

Mar 29, 2026

Mileage

130,001 mi