2018 Toyota C-HR

When the driver of the vehicle is coming to a stop a loud whine is coming from the transmission area caused by the paper filter cartridge inside the transmission housing being plugged causing damage to the transmission due to no maintenance as indicated by the manufacturer. The manufacturer has indicated the transmission is bad and needs replacing after hearing it in the parking lot, but has also indicated this is a sealed system and does not need servicing... so which is it? The car industry gets to tell their customers that a wearable part does not need to be serviced any longer, but needs to be replaced when it fails from no service. The transmission has an actual paper filter cartridge inside the transmission and the only way to replace it is to remove the transmission pan, but was told this was a screen and not a filter. Since vehicle was out of warranty, the filter was ordered and replaced by removing the transmission pan and found the filter to be plugged. After replacing all parts including fluid with Toyota Genuine parts, the damage has already been done. Metal shavings were all over in the pan as captured by two magnets Toyota places in the transmission pan, yet this is a sealed system and does not need servicing only replacement after warranty goes out. Manufacturer needs to realize ALL wearable parts need servicing and let their customers know this information in the vehicle manual(s) because if these transmissions fail at highway speeds, damage, injury (including death) will be the result from a plugged non-serviceable/sealed filter. Will be splitting the plastic filter housing to inspect the filter media, but from the two openings where a portion of the media can be seen, it is completely plugged.

The vehicle transmission failed very unexpectedly at very low mileage (62,000 miles). We had just finished a 500-mile highway trip and heard a loud whining noise from the front of the car. Our mechanic checked it the next day and said the transmission had to be replaced. There were no warning lights or notifications of any kind from the vehicle, only the noise, which was not noticeable at highway speed. Because of the low mileage, we felt completely safe driving the car on long trips -- and had the transmission completely failed when we were on the highway, the situation would have been extremely dangerous for us and surrounding drivers. When the garage ordered the new transmission, the supplier commented that failure of the transmission in the 2018 C-HR is a “known issue” because “the bearings were too small.” And we found that there are many, many instances of low-mileage transmission failure in this model year. We were already concerned about our individual incident, but this definitely seems like a larger safety issue.

I was driving and heard a whirring noise and thought that my wheel bearing was going. The mileage was 66000 miles. I called Toyota and was told warranty ended at 60000. I took it to my mechanic and he told me it was the transmission. I then took it to a transmission shop and they told me the transmission had to be replaced as they couldn't be rebuilt. The cost was 9400. The shop called Toyota to see if I had a warranty. They were told no so they replaced. I went to the dealer to lodge a complaint and they told me I did have a certified pre-owned warranty. I tried to get reimbursement from regional and national and they denied me. Now I have to trade this car in because I am afraid the transmission will go again and I no longer would have a warranty. I could have been in big trouble if I had continued to drive this vehicle as when the transmission would have gone it could have been anywhere. Plus for the cost of that transmission you could almost buy anothet car.

While driving in June 2023 I was suddenly unable to turn my steering wheel and I had issues bring the vehicle to a stop. The vehicle warning notice was "abnormal voltage steering power low". Once I was able to stop the vehicle stopped altogether. I towed the vehicle to my Toyota dealership and the description on the repair is Learn Value Reset and R&R CV Valve Lift Con. I am still having this issue which presents a safety concern as I can't steer and stop the vehicle.

I was driving down the high way with my cruise control set. When all of a sudden my dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree and the engine revs up. As I slow I can hear a grinding sound. The CVT transmission in my car went, it's the only 5 years old I've had every service done on time by Toyota. 90% of the miles on the car are highway miles, lots of straight line driving. I have seen Toyota has already made a recall on their Corolla that also has the CVT transmission. Other manufacturers that use the CVT transmission have also had it recalled.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.