YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota C-HR Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Toyota C-HR, 47% of all complaints filed for this model year. Owners report transmission or CVT failure at a median mileage of 60,000, with no related recalls on file.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
16
47% of 34
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
60,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe a growing whine, whistle, or whirring noise from the transmission that gets louder over time.
  • Some report the transmission or transaxle fails outright, requiring full replacement.
  • Several describe a bearing inside the CVT failing, producing noise along with slipping or unexpected deceleration.
  • One owner reported the vehicle suddenly could not exceed 25 mph and would not shift gears.
  • Multiple owners say the failures occurred despite routine dealer maintenance with no prior warning signs.

When 2021 Toyota C-HR transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 14, 2021, latest Sep 10, 2026.

2021 Toyota C-HR transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2021Sep 2025Dec 2025Feb 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2021 to Sep 2026; peak May 2026 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2021 Toyota C-HR

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by C-HR model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2018212 (66%)
  2. 201961 (55%)
  3. 202047 (76%)
  4. 202116 (47%)
  5. 20223 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Toyota C-HR transmission reliable?
NHTSA lists 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 C-HR, making up 47% of all complaints filed for the year, with failures reported at a median mileage of 60,000.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 C-HR's Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
What transmission problems do 2021 C-HR owners report?
Owners describe transmission whining or whistling noises, CVT bearing failures, slipping, and in some cases complete transmission failure, most often around 60,000 miles.
How does the 2021 C-HR compare to other C-HR model years for transmission complaints?
The 2021 C-HR has 16 complaints (47% share) in this area, lower in count than 2018 (212 complaints, 66% share) and 2019 (61 complaints, 55% share), but still nearly half of all complaints for the year.

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.