Electrical failure of the transmission. No inciting incident. Confirmed by the dealership who has done all maintenance on the vehicle. Vehicle suddenly cannot go above 25mph and will not shift gears. Vehicle has approx 60k miles on it.
2021 Toyota C-HR powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Toyota C-HR have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 C-HR | 196 |
| 2019 C-HR | 56 |
| 2020 C-HR | 41 |
| 2021 C-HR (this page) | 14 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 powertrain complaints filed for the 2021 Toyota C-HR, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Toyota C-HR we track for powertrain problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (14).
The failure pattern owners describe
Transmission failures in the 2021 C-HR cluster around 60,000 miles, though one owner reported failure at 40,000 miles and another at 67,764 miles. The failures happen even on vehicles with full dealer maintenance records and no abuse history.
Symptoms vary: some transmissions quit shifting entirely and cap speed at 25 mph; others produce whirring or whistling noises before complete failure. A couple of owners had no warning signs whatsoever before the transmission became inoperable.
Dealers confirm transmission malfunction but refuse warranty extensions. Owners cite replacement costs of $11,000 to $13,000. One mechanic told an owner this is a "known issue" Toyota is aware of. Multiple owners reference that Toyota issued recalls for 2018 and 2019 C-HR models with identical transmission problems but has not recalled the 2021 model despite the failure pattern being essentially identical. One owner notes Toyota Canada has acknowledged the problem. The consensus among owners: Toyota continued manufacturing and selling 2021 models after learning about the transmission defect from earlier model years.
Same Toyota C-HR powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission/Transaxle Failure
Complete transmission or transaxle failure requiring full replacement. Owners report the transmission stops functioning normally, preventing normal gear shifting and acceleration. Some failures occur with no warning signs despite regular maintenance; others preceded by noise.
When: Occurs between 40,000 and 67,764 miles; multiple reports cluster around 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle cannot exceed 25 mph; Inability to shift gears normally; Whirring noise from transmission; Whistling noise from transmission; Noticeable change in vehicle drive and engine noise; Sudden loss of transmission function
Repairs/costs cited: Full transmission replacement required. Owners report costs of $11,000 to $13,000 for replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer refuses warranty extension. Owners report Toyota Canada has acknowledged the problem exists. Mechanics indicate Toyota is aware of the 'known issue' but has not issued recalls for 2021 models despite recalls on 2018 and 2019 models with the same issue
Transmission Bearing Failure
Internal bearing failure within the transmission, leading to transmission malfunction and requiring replacement.
When: Specific timing not stated in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Bearing going out in transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Bearing replacement/transmission replacement. One owner cited $11,000 cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific TSB or recall mentioned for this failure mode
Electrical Failure of Transmission
Electrical malfunction affecting transmission function, resulting in limp mode or complete loss of shifting ability.
When: Approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle cannot exceed 25 mph; Will not shift gears; Sudden failure with no inciting incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Confirmed by dealership performing maintenance
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
incorrect programming - ECU
Bought car December 2024 with 54,557 miles and had it inspected at time of purchase; inspection was fine. Car started making odd noise last week, so I took it in for an oil change and they ran diagnostics and determined it needs the transmission replaced, having 67,764 miles. Mechanic told me this is a "known issue" that Toyota is aware of this and won't recall the affected cars. It's going to…
Transmission went out at 40 thousand miles.this car has been serviced and maintaned as directed. No rough use what so every.
Original owner. Vehicle has internal failure of transaxle at exactly 60,000 miles. All routine services for the life of the car has been completed by a Toyota dealer.
It will not drive forward and only in reverse. There is a known bearing issue but unfortunately this is past the 60k and no recall.
Transmission failure. Required service visits always on time with no indication of any problems. After a noticeable change in the vehicle drive and noise from the engine, the vehicle was immediately brought to the dealer service center for inspection. The dealer confirmed transmission malfunction. The dealer refused to extend the warranty which would cover a good portion of the cost. Instead…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that progressively became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained at the dealer.…
The car has developed a growl/whine from the transmission. A trip to the mechanic determined that it sounded as if a bearing inside the transmission is failing. A check online showed multiple complaints regarding the transmission failing with the same issues as my car, and what appeared to be a possible class action lawsuit being filed regarding this transmission issue. No recall is showing…
unusual noises, unexpected slipping, deacceleration. According to mechanics is a CVT bearing failure
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 Toyota C-HR?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 60,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Toyota/C-HR.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.