Toyota C-HR: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota C-HR problems by model year, from 534 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2020 (84%, 53 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (77%, 243 drivetrain complaints) and 2021 (67%, 20 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 4 Toyota C-HR years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; all of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Toyota C-HR year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2019 (65%).
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (243 of 387 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota C-HR year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 C-HR | very high | 77% | 243 | 322 | 2/4 | 1 |
| 2019 C-HR | very high | 65% | 71 | 111 | 4/4 | 3 |
| 2020 C-HR | very high | 84% | 53 | 64 | 1/4 | 1 |
| 2021 C-HR | very high | 67% | 20 | 34 | 3/4 | 1 |
| 2022 C-HR | too few to score | – | 3 | 3 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota C-HR years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota C-HR powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Toyota C-HR involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2018 | 18V710000 | power train: axle hubs | 2019 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2017 | 17V717000 | parking brake | 2018 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V877000 | seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly | 2019–2020 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V107000 | forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radar | 2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota C-HR
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota C-HR
What are the worst years for the Toyota C-HR?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Toyota C-HR years are the 2020 (84% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (77% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2021 (67% of relevant complaints, very high). 4 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Toyota C-HR?
No Toyota C-HR year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2019 (65%).
Does the Toyota C-HR have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 387 of 527 relevant NHTSA complaints (73%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Is the Toyota C-HR reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 4 Toyota C-HR years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 73% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota C-HR?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota C-HR years we track, out of 5 in total: 18V710000 (Oct 2018, 2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.