Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 319 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota C-HR, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 190 | 60% |
| Unknown or other | 28 | 9% |
| Engine | 13 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 3% |
| Power train | 6 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2% |
| Air bags | 5 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2% |
| Power train | 4 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The cvt transmission completely failed making the car undriveable
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Purchased vehicle in Costa Mesa, CA. Mileage on vehicle when taken to auto repair shop: 70,037. Request for transmission fluid replacement and diagnostic on front end noise. Notes from Auto Repair Shop: Performed t
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The car suddenly started shaking and making a weird noise and it turns out the transmission went out. I know I’m not the only one with this issue.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
My 2018 Toyota CH-R started with a whining noise that sounded like a cat. I didn't get any lights on my dash that could pin point the problem. I took it to the dealership to get it diagnosed and they couldn't tell which
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota C-HR. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,433 and at the time of
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The Toyota CVT transmission has failed and is incredibly expensive to replace. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS! I will never buy a Toyota again!
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated that while shifting gears or while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The transmission failure I a known issue for this year make and model. It has been recalled in Canada and is being honored there with extended warranty’s. It is not honored here in the US even though they know it is an
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Toyota C-HR. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota CH-R vehicles. The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not operate properly, possibly causing the parking brake not to disengage after it is applied or prevent it from being applied. As such, these vehicles fail to c
Risk: If the EPB cannot be applied, there is an increased risk of a vehicle rollaway if the vehicle is parked on a hill without being placed into "Park."
Fix: Toyota has notified owners, and dealers will update the programming of the skid control ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-33
| Reliability raw | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
| Safety | 61 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 319 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 190 of them (60%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2018 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.