2020 Toyota C-HR Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact's customer owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding and whining sounds coming from the transmission. The contact diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the CVT transmission was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 76,000.

I have a 2020 Toyota C-HR with 95,000 miles. The transmission is making whining noises and needs to be replaced. This is a known defect that has been reported by an excessive amount of Toyota C-HR owners. In some regions, it was reported that Toyota extended the warranty on the CVT transmission for certain 2018–2019 models to 10 years or 193,000 km but they have not done this with the 2020 C-HR that has the exact same issue. [XXX] I am scared to drive the car because I don't want it to leave me stranded. The local Toyota dealer has given me a repair estimate of over $13,000 which is almost as much as the car is worth. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle: 2020 Toyota C-HR Mileage: 77,980 miles About a year ago, when the vehicle had fewer than 60,000 miles, I began noticing unusual noises and that the vehicle was not always accelerating smoothly. The symptoms were initially intermittent but gradually became more noticeable over time. Meanwhile, there were no warning lights or signs displayed and I was so insured that Toyota produces very safe cars that I wasn't so aware it could be unsafe to drive it. Recently the vehicle developed a severe rattling noise while driving. And even now - no warning light appeared on my car screen. Toyota dealership service inspection indicated an internal transmission failure requiring full transmission replacement, with an estimated repair cost of approximately 15,000. The vehicle currently has only 77,980 miles. A major transmission failure at this mileage appears premature. I have also learned that other Toyota C-HR owners have reported similar CVT transmission issues. Because the transmission affects acceleration and drivability, I am concerned that this condition could potentially create a safety risk in traffic, particularly during merging or acceleration situations.

Cvt transmission fails for no reason on a new car could be very dangerous for us and other on the road i think toyota should be responsible and resolve this issue

Car is making a clunking/whirring noise that speeds up with acceleration and slows with deceleration. Also beginning to have a vibration. No warning lights on the dashboard. Dealer states an entire new transmission is needed, more than $11,000. This is a large financial burden. I see reports online that there is a known issue with the CVT transmissions in C-HRs causing failure, and Toyota Canada has extended warranties to cover the problem. Toyota USA has not yet. As this is a known problem with this part, please initiate a recall or encourage a warranty extension, something to address this so that transmissions are not failing on the road - most owners do not have this amount of money to cover a sudden, expensive repair/replacement like this.

Transmission appears to be shifting hard at times.

ONLY AFTER 5YRS THE TRANS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE THERE SHOULD BE A WARRANTY FOR THIS TRANS THERE IS ONE FOR 2018 2019

Trans is shot bearing went in it I understand they had problems with 2018-2019

The front of the car started making a high pitched whining noise at around 115000 miles. I had the breakpads and the rotors replaced but the sound kept on. Then the dealership said that the transmission is causing the noise. There were no warnings prior to the sound.

Transmission went out dropping daughter off at school.

The bearing in the transmission has failed at 92384k miles. This is a known issue and Toyota has not issued a recall. My car is currently at the dealership I am waiting to hear if it's to be repaired or replaced.

The CVT transmission has a faulty bearing and it will fail within the next 30,000 miles. Toyota refuses to replace my transmission to the newer, better variant.

Good evening, My 2020 Toyota C-HR’s transmission broke down today while I was driving my kids to school. The car was last serviced on September 27, 2025, and at that time, no issues were mentioned regarding the transmission. I paid $269.19 for the service and $597.65 for the brake pad replacement. I was not expecting such a serious issue, especially with a relatively new car. The repair estimate I received is over $11,000, which I cannot afford. I’m a single mother living alone with my children, and this situation has put me in a very difficult position. I kindly ask that Toyota review my case for possible goodwill assistance or partial coverage, given that the car has been regularly maintained and is only slightly past the warranty limit. Thank you for your time and understanding. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving down the street, n while pressing on the gas , the car felt like the car was slowing down, even though still pressing the gas. You could hear the Rev of the engine. I was in a middle lane at the time, n was out at risk as I could not accelerated safely to get to an outside lane, car coasted where I was able to pull into a parking lot. Car will crank, can hear car rev, while putting in gears, seems you can hear the gears shift. However the car will not move in any gear. Few mechanics pass by the area and stated the transmission has failed. Only 120k on car. There is no warning light that lit up, no check engine light. Just all of a sudden, out.

I was told by dealership that my transmission needs replaced. As per Reddit, this year make and model has had many issues with transmissions needing to be replaced as soon as 50,000 miles. I’m not understanding why there has not been a recall on these specific transmissions. Dealership is wanting to charge me $12,000 for replacement. I don’t have that type of money especially when I owe $17,000 still on this car. Plz help me or I’m going to be out a vehicle and extreme debt if I can’t get this fixed. Also, I replaced my brakes already twice in the past couple years which is not normal at all, I don’t drive vehicle tech less nor has it ever been I wreck. Dealership is saying they need replacement again. Plz plz help me.

My transmission started making whining noises about 100000 miles I brought it in to get diagnosed and was confirmed that my transmission is going out and will cost 10000 dollars to replace the car made it to about 130000 miles and the transmission fully went out the car is sitting behind my house currently waiting for me to raise the money to fix it the car was used for daily commute to work and had regular maintenance and I don't beat on my vehicles so there was nothing done on my half to cause any damage to the transmission

Transmission failed days of buying the car used. Had less than 90,000 miles on it.

Purchased a used 2020 Toyota CH-R at Fairless Motors in the Philadelphia, PA area. As I was driving homw, noise at front right began. Took to mechanic as per dealer's request and was diagnosed with a transmission failure that required a complete replacement at $11,500. I purchased the car for $20,000, only drove it for one day and am now stuck making $500 per month payments for a car that does not run

CAR STARTED MAKING A HUMMING, WHINING TYPE NOISE. I WORK OUT OF TOWN SO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. AND THE COST WAS OVER $10000 TO FIX. THIS IS A 5 YEAR OLD CAR!!! I STILL OWE $7000 ON THE CAR!!! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT TO KEEP MY CAR GOING!!! I STARTED TO LOOK THINGS UP AND WE TOOK CAR TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY LOOKED IN TO IT AND STATED YES THE TRANISMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. THEY COULD ONLY FIND 1 OF THE PIECES NEEDED TO FIX TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE CHARGING $9000 ON IT. I CANT AFFORD TO BE DOING ALL OF THIS! HARD PART IS 5 YEARS AGO I WAS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BEING HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK. I HAD A CHR AT THE TIME. IT IS UNKOWN HOW I LIVED THROUGH EVERYTHING. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. ODDLY ENOUGH THE DEALERSHIP ENDED UP GETTING A CHR THE WAS THE SAME AS MINE JUST NEWER. IT WAS MEANT FOR US TO GET THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR SAVED MY LIFE. SO WE BUY THE NEW CHR AND NOW THIS!!! I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR MONTHS, AND MEDICAL BILLS ARE ASTRONOMICAL!! PLEASE HELP! MY HUSBAND NAME IS [XXX] , THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNDER HIS NAME INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My transmission went out @105k without any warning. There is no engine light warning or anything. I can shift the gear into reverse, neutral, and drive but the car will not move. Took to dealership and was told that to fix the problem I have to change a whole new transmission which was quoted at 11.3k