YearToAvoid

2019 Toyota C-HR Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 C-HR years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Toyota C-HR has 110 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 75, and ranks 2nd-worst of 5 model years, earning an 'Avoid' verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 55% of complaints, with 3 recalls on file including a rear axle hub bearing bolt issue.

Complaints
110
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
27 city / 31 hwy

Top 2019 Toyota C-HR problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain61 (55%)
  2. Other33 (30%)
  3. Engine13 (12%)
  4. Electrical System8 (7%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (5%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers5 (5%)
  7. Brakes4 (4%)
  8. Fuel System3 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the CVT transmission developing a whining noise at highway speeds that shops trace back to the transmission itself.
  • Some owners describe the transmission failing outright, with repair quotes reaching $10,000 to $11,000.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling backward out of a driveway on its own while parked with the engine running, resulting in a crash.
  • An owner reported brake assist failing to stop the vehicle during a collision despite pressing the brake pedal.
  • An owner reported a corroded hood latch and cable breaking on the vehicle after several years of use.
  • One owner reported airbags failing to deploy in two separate crashes.
2019 Toyota C-HR complaints: complaints filed per month11Nov 2018Jun 2021Nov 2022Jan 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Jan 2026 (11).

2019 Toyota C-HR recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V877000Dec 11, 2019Seat Belts9,468 vehicles

    Seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 C-HR and 2020 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.

    Risk: In the event of a crash involving multiple impacts, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 19TB22 and 19TA22.

  2. NHTSA 19V244000Mar 27, 2019Other3,634 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.

  3. NHTSA 18V710000Oct 11, 2018Transmission & Powertrain681 vehicles

    Power train:axle hubs

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles. The rear axle hub bearing bolts may have been insufficiently tightened, causing the bolts to loosen and damage the rear brake components or cause a rear wheel to detach.

    Risk: If the bolts loosen and damage the rear brake components, or cause a rear wheel to detach, it would increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle hub bearing bolts. If a bolt is found to be loose or detached, the dealer will replace the rear axle hub bearing assembly and rear axle carrier sub-assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0Y.

2019 Toyota C-HR fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other C-HR years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Avoid100320129
2019Avoid75110329
2020Caution5062129
2021Good2534129

All Toyota C-HR years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Toyota C-HR reliable?
Compared to other C-HR model years, 2019 ranks 2nd-worst of 5 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 110 NHTSA complaints, earning an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Toyota C-HR?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 55% of all reported issues, the largest share of any problem area, with a median mileage at failure of 87,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Toyota C-HR have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2019 C-HR: a seat belt assembly issue, an incorrect load carrying capacity label, and a rear axle hub bearing bolt issue that could damage rear brakes. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2019 C-HR compare to other years?
The 2018 C-HR has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated 'Avoid,' while 2020 (Complaint Index 50) and 2021 (Complaint Index 25) rank better with 'Caution' and 'Good' verdicts respectively.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.