Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Toyota C-HR owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormally loud humming sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the transmission was hesitating while shifting into gear. The contact stated that RPM was extremely elevated before upshifting to the next gear. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced due to a failed bearing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,321.
The contact's customer owns a 2020 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding and whining sounds coming from the transmission. The contact diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the CVT transmission was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 76,000.
The transmission no longer works on my husbands relatively new vehicle, only turning five years old not even a full two months ago. He took it to a dealership in Culpeper, VA to get inspected and was told it needs a CVT transmission replacement totalling a large sum of money which is arguably the full value of the car. Not only has my safety and his safety been compromised due to this issue, but also the safety of our families and other fellow drivers on the road. This issue can cause car accidents where not only is my husband and I's life in jeopardy, but also nearby drivers on the road due to a manufacturing issue with his car specifically. The car has been inspected by one of Toyota's dealerships where they identified and confirmed the issue but are refusing to cover the cost of it. …
While taking off in my 2020 Toyota C-HR on the highway, the CVT transmission suddenly failed, resulting in an immediate and significant loss of propulsion power. The vehicle did not fully shut off but lost the ability to maintain normal highway speed, requiring me to rapidly reduce speed and carefully maneuver the vehicle to safety in active traffic conditions. This created a serious safety risk due to unexpected loss of acceleration and potential inability to maintain highway speed in traffic. The failure occurred at approximately 117,700 miles and shortly after purchase. The vehicle had a documented history of regular maintenance performed at Toyota dealerships approximately every 3,000 miles. …
I have a K114 CVT internal bearing defect. It is available for inspection upon request. Transmission issues are unsafe because it can cause sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic, and delayed shifting or gear slippage. These sudden changes make my car behave unpredictably; risking rear-end collisions or loss of control. This puts myself, my passengers, and others at risk. I am unsure if the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and/or component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. However, the vehicle received Service in December 2025 for a transmission fluid replacement for maintenance and no issues were reported at the time. There were not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. …
Vehicle: 2020 Toyota C-HR Mileage: 77,980 miles About a year ago, when the vehicle had fewer than 60,000 miles, I began noticing unusual noises and that the vehicle was not always accelerating smoothly. The symptoms were initially intermittent but gradually became more noticeable over time. Meanwhile, there were no warning lights or signs displayed and I was so insured that Toyota produces very safe cars that I wasn't so aware it could be unsafe to drive it. Recently the vehicle developed a severe rattling noise while driving. And even now - no warning light appeared on my car screen. Toyota dealership service inspection indicated an internal transmission failure requiring full transmission replacement, with an estimated repair cost of approximately $15,000. The vehicle currently has only 77,980 miles. A major transmission failure at this mileage appears premature. …
Transmission - Loss of Power / Jerking / Safety Hazard The vehicle is experiencing a serious issue with the K113 CVT transmission. The transmission produces abnormal noise and can jerk and lose power, creating a potentially hazardous condition, particularly when accelerating to overtake another vehicle or when merging onto a freeway. A sudden loss of power in these situations can significantly increase the risk of a collision. The vehicle has been properly maintained and driven normally. The transmission issue appears consistent with a known problem reported with this CVT/transmission design. I am concerned that the underlying manufacturing/design issue may cause premature transmission failure and create an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle currently has approximately 107,000 miles. …
My 2020 Toyota C-HR is exhibiting clear, escalating symptoms of the known K114 CVT internal bearing defect, creating an active safety hazard while driving. The transmission has not failed completely yet, but it regularly experiences high-pitched whining noise, sudden hesitation during acceleration, and loud grinding-like noise which gets louder and faster as I speed up. This behavior creates a significant safety risk because the vehicle unexpectedly fails to accelerate when merging onto the highway / hesitates unpredictably at busy intersections, exposing me to the risk of a rear-end collision. The car is less than 6 years old, and a mechanic/dealership has diagnosed it as an impending internal bearing failure. Toyota Canada has already acknowledged this exact flaw by extending the CVT warranty to 10 years. …
I started hearing a grinding noise coming from the front driver-side wheel well for about a week. Then one day, while backing out of my driveway, the car suddenly lost power. I was stuck on a slight incline and no matter if I put it in reverse or drive, the car wouldn't move-it just wouldn't respond like it normally does. A few days after that, I was sitting at a red light with my foot on the brake when the car jerked backwards. Right after that, the check engine light came on, and I noticed the car didn't handle the same. It felt sluggish to respond when I hit the gas. After the red light incident, I had the car towed to a shop. They told me it had a bad bearing and said the transmission needed to be replaced. I'm reporting this because it felt like a serious safety issue-especially with the car losing power and jerking unexpectedly. …
Transmission complaints in other C-HR years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2020 Toyota C-HR?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2020 Toyota C-HR, 77% of the model year's 65 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › internal › cvt (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Toyota C-HR transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2020 Toyota C-HR, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota C-HR transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.