Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
After 4 weeks of purchasing the car with only 500 miles, car's 12 volt battery drained, and car wouldn't turn on, had to have it towed to toyota dealer they had it for 3 weeks and couldn't figure out where parasitic drain was coming from, they replaced 12 volt battery kept car for few days and it wouldn't start again when it was at their dealership, they kept it another few days and charged the battery and told me car was ready, they didn't fix the cause just as they don't know was told , if car isn't driven for few days battery drains, if it's driven daily it's OK. It's disgraceful from toyota to allow this and not do anything about it.
The 12 Volt battery failed and the car was therefore not responsive after it was parked for 1 week. Had to jump start the car at 1AM. The car is brand new (purchased in June 2026). The battery should obviously not fail so soon. The dealer confirmed that the battery failed test with a DCA tester and replaced the battery.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that upon having the windshield replaced, the technician was unable to connect the LTA, RTA, and the pre-collision system. The contact stated that the LTA, RTA, and Pre-Collision system intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the system needed to be recalibrated. The contact was then informed that the vehicle was repaired; however, after the contact retrieved the vehicle, the warning lights failed to operate as designed. The dealer was then notified, and the contact was informed that the failure could potentially be due to the windshield. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,529.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the message "Service Vehicle Now" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Toyota dealership confirmed cup holder within console allowed liquid to leak within the cup holder down underneath into the console which shorted out the communication computer. The cup holders do not have a barrier to keep liquids within this area and will allow liquid to escape into the lower console. When the liquid leaked into that area and later trying to start my car I received a message stating key fob malfunction and to review the owners manual. Toyota said to drive it to their repair shop, but it would not start and had to get a tow. They fixed the key ignition issue and the next day same communication error, took car back and they realized it was from the liquid that leaked from the cup holder. Who has cup holders that are not leak-proof above a computer? Or at least put a shield around the computer so the liquid doesn't short it out?
The motor mounts broke when it hit a pothole and that snapped the wiring harness which caused the transmission to shift. Toyota dealership says it needs a new CVT transmission replacement. The engine has shifting issues. My insurance adjusters believe that the transmission failure is due to wear and tear, but the car did not have issues before the pothole. There were and are no warning lights or messages prior to and after the incident. I got the engine wiring harness and motor mounts fixed and there was still a noise and lag while accelerating and they finally said it was the transmission the second time I brought it in and that wasn't covered by insurance. I've only put 11,000 miles on it and I'm the second owner. I bought it from a Lithia Nissan of Clovis.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked at a shopping center when she attempted to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called automotive roadside assistance who arrived and jumped started the vehicle. The contact stated that once the vehicle was started, the vehicle was idling very roughly. The contact attempted to shift the vehicle into drive however, the parking brake remained engaged and she could not move the vehicle. The contact was told by roadside assistance to try releasing the parking brake button again. The contact stated that the vehicle then started to move. The contact then moved the vehicle out from the parking lot onto the roadway and while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would not exceed 15 MPH. …
Today suddenly, the vehicle gave me a warning message to "Pull over in a safe spot and to not drive the vehicle" along with other messages flashing "Braking power reduced" "Pre-collision system failure" and a bunch of lights came on. Mechanic, over the phone, said "He doesn't understand how a minor rear-bumper colission could affect sensors and electrical things in the front of the car. Another incident, last year, a small nick on one of the wires under the car disabled my entire car and it was undriveable until repaired. I am frustrated that one small issue with a wire, or sensor, or other small gadgety things in the vehicle can disable the entire car and put me in danger while driving.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Propulsion system
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 C-HR battery electric vehicles. A software programming error may cause the electric drive system battery to become overcharged under certain driving conditions, which can shut down the electric drive system and result in a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery electric vehicle electronic control unit (BEV ECU) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota C-HR years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2018 (29), 2019 (7), 2020 (5), 2021 (5) and 2026 (5) model years. Electrical complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 2018.
Is there a recall for Toyota C-HR electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 26V-570 (propulsion system, Sep 2, 2026). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota C-HR electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 27,000 miles; 85% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (1 mentions), followed by the 12v/24v/48v battery (1).
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.