Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 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 | 15 | 44% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
There was a sound that the car was making. Took in to the Toyota of Ashland dealership they could not repair it. The CVT bearing needs replaced.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
It will not drive forward and only in reverse. There is a known bearing issue but unfortunately this is past the 60k and no recall.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
On May 26, 2026 I was driving on the highway at around 50mph and the vehicle swerved to the right on its own causing me to swerve back and forth between two lanes for about 10 seconds. The wheel moved on its own causing
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota CH-R. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that progressively became louder. The vehicle was t
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The car has developed a growl/whine from the transmission. A trip to the mechanic determined that it sounded as if a bearing inside the transmission is failing. A check online showed multiple complaints regarding the t
NHTSA complaint: Power train
unusual noises, unexpected slipping, deacceleration. According to mechanics is a CVT bearing failure
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The transmission has failed. Started making a whirring noise at 60000 and got worse from there. Toyota wants to charge 13k to fix issue.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
My transmission went out on my 2021 C-HR. The problem is, Toyota continued making and selling the car after they knew there was an issue. The 2018 and 19 models had transmission recalls, but they failed to fix the issue
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 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 2021 C-HR vehicles. The radar sensor may not have been activated during production, making the pre-collision system (PCS) inoperative.
Risk: An inoperative PCS that does not provide a malfunction indicator to the driver, or braking assist as expected, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and activate the radar sensor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
| Reliability raw | 92 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 89 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 15 of them (44%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 92/100 (excellent) 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 89/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. 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.