Is the 2018 Toyota C-HR a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 217.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 66k–91k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 217 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 C-HR owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 217 (66%) | 66k–91k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 39 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 29 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 21 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 18 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 328 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 6 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
135 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission fail replacement malfunction, and a third transmission again needs to be replaced the car has 80,000.
Car began making whirring noise from front end of car at first intermittently and then eventually at al times especially when accelerating.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Toyota C-HR: 1
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not operate properly, possibly causing the parking brake not to disengage after it is applied or prevent it from being applied. If the EPB cannot be applied, there is an increased risk of a vehicle rollaway if the vehicle is parked on a hill without being placed into "Park."
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 100
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Toyota C-HR. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Although the Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) is covered by Toyota's New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first)…
Some vehicles may exhibit a grinding and/or whining noise from the transaxle while accelerating from 15 - 30 mph and/or decelerating from 30 - 15 mph
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): * P2646…
Neighbouring years
2019 C-HR: 116 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota C-HR year
2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2026 · All C-HR years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Toyota C-HR a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 217. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 66k–91k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 217 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota C-HR?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (217), engine (39), electrical system (29), brakes (21), collision avoidance (18). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 66k–91k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota C-HR have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Parking brake (NHTSA 17V-717). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.