2018-2022 Toyota C-HR Problems: 10 Known Issues

Certain 2019-2020 C-HRs and 2020 Corolla/Corolla Hybrids (~9,468 vehicles in total) have a rear seat belt — on the C-HR the rear center belt — whose dual-mode webbing/G-sensor locking mechanism may not have been assembled correctly. The webbing-sensor lock may not engage as intended, so in a crash (particularly multi-impact) the belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing injury risk. Covered by NHTSA 19V877 / Toyota 19TA22 / 19TB22.

On roughly 36,558 units (produced ~June 12, 2020 – July 26, 2021) the front millimeter-wave radar supporting Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking was never activated during production, so those Toyota Safety Sense functions do not operate. Critically, no warning light or message indicates the systems are inactive, so drivers may wrongly assume AEB will intervene. Covered by NHTSA 22V107000 / Toyota 22TA02.

The C-HR's styling makes it hard to see out the back. Reviewers point to the small rear window and wide C-pillars, which create blind spots over the shoulder and make reversing into parking bays tricky. A rearview camera is standard, and depending on market and trim the car also has parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, so the driver relies on the camera more than in most small SUVs. At least one 2018 owner reports that the backup camera fogs up and stops being usable on rainy days. Reports of camera fogging are few: CarComplaints lists a single complaint for the 2018 model.

Distinct from the CVT's normal 'rubber-band' feel, owners report an internal CVT carrier/variator bearing wearing out and producing a loud humming, whining, or grinding that rises with speed (often initially mistaken for a wheel bearing) and can escalate to a jet-engine-like roar. Toyota Canada publicly acknowledged the faulty CVT bearing on 2018-2019 C-HR and extended the warranty to 10 years/193,000 km; Toyota USA did not issue a comparable extension. Affects only the North American 2.0L non-hybrid (regular CVT); hybrid eCVT models are unaffected. Left unaddressed it can ruin the transmission.

The C-HR's CVT (K114) exhibits noticeable hesitation on acceleration and the typical CVT 'rubber band' effect where engine RPM rises before the vehicle accelerates. The lag between throttle input and forward motion is more pronounced than in competing vehicles.

The Skid Control ECU can misread a small increase in EPB motor circuit resistance (from expected oxide film, typically after the parking brake has sat unused) as an open circuit, illuminating an EPB warning and potentially leaving the brake unable to release or apply. If it will not apply and the vehicle is parked on a grade without being in Park, a rollaway is possible. Covered by Toyota recall H0W (~28,000 units, 2018 C-HR).

On a small batch of 2019 C-HRs (built shortly after a mid-June 2018 plant shutdown; ~681 vehicles) the four bolts securing each rear axle hub bearing assembly to the rear axle carrier may have been insufficiently torqued at the factory. In service the bolts can loosen, damaging rear brake components, degrading stability, or in the worst case allowing a rear wheel to detach. Covered by NHTSA 18V710000 / Toyota J0Y.

Owners report the 12V battery going flat after the car sits for a few days, requiring a jump start, and the small factory battery failing early. The Data Communication Module (DCM/telematics) drawing standby current before a software update is a cited cause; forums note a customer-satisfaction campaign providing a DCM software update. Short trips that don't fully recharge the battery worsen it.

The C-HR's Entune/Audio Plus infotainment system freezes, restarts randomly, and drops Bluetooth connections frequently. The touchscreen becomes unresponsive requiring a full system reboot. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (where available) can also disconnect intermittently.

C-HR owners widely report the factory windshield cracking or chipping from minor stone strikes far sooner than on other vehicles, with cracks sometimes appearing to spread spontaneously (including on stationary cars at very low mileage). Owners attribute it to thin/low-quality OEM glass and the steep windshield rake. Because the forward-facing camera for pre-collision/lane-keep is bonded to the glass, replacement also requires camera recalibration. CarComplaints lists windshield chips/cracks as the most-reported problem for the 2018 C-HR, with a separate 2019 complaint page.