This page covers 2 recalls, 29 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Toyota C-Hr.
29 mpg combined
8.1 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate the 2021 Toyota C-HR owner reports, making up a large share of the total complaints filed. Owners consistently describe a whining or growling noise that develops during driving, with mechanics diagnosing the source as a failing bearing inside the CVT. Several owners say the noise started around 60,000 miles and progressively worsened, with some reporting the transmission eventually failed entirely. Repair quotes owners mention run into the thousands of dollars. A smaller cluster of complaints involves the forward collision avoidance system, where owners describe unexpected or unwanted braking activations. Engine complaints appear in a couple of reports but don't form a clear pattern at this volume. The CVT bearing noise is the most consistent thread across the 2021 C-HR complaint set, with multiple owners describing the same progression from an initial whir to outright transmission failure.
29
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Toyota C-HR has two recalls, both addressing the same issue: the radar sensor for the pre-collision system may not have been activated during production, leaving the automatic emergency braking and collision warnings non-functional without any warning to the driver.
Because the system fails silently, drivers have no way of knowing the feature is inactive, and the vehicle will not automatically apply braking assistance or alert the driver when approaching another vehicle too quickly.
At a glance
What can fail
The radar sensor that detects vehicles ahead may malfunction, preventing the pre-collision system from warning you or automatically braking if another vehicle is in front of yours.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealer, who will inspect the radar sensor and reinitialize it if needed.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The radar sensor that powers the pre-collision system may not have been activated during manufacturing, leaving the system unable to function.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the radar sensor and activate it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
