I have a 2018 CHR with 37k miles. I started hearing a whining noise coming from the front end. So I replaced both front tires thinking maybe they were the problem. When it didn't work I scheduled an appointment to have the transmission inspected (as I suspected that was the problem). Sure enough. The guy said "You're getting half of a new car".
Transmission needed to be replaced.
1 - 20 of 87 Posts
Hello Everyone! I just joined the forum because I felt compelled to add my experience to this group. I have a 2018 C-HR XLE purchased new in mid-2017. I bought the prepaid maintenance plan as well, and have religiously brought my car in to the dealer at every 5,000 miles for scheduled maintenance.
I have had issues and alerts with the EPB (parking brake) system since the car was new. The first maintenance on this issue was at 4,000 miles but has continued throughout its life and I just hit 65,000 miles. I have never even used the parking brake! These EPB issues have always caused other systems to malfunction as well because they work together. The main one is the cruise control. When I took the car in for its 60,000 mile service a few months back, I complained that I was receiving EPB alerts and that it needed action...yet again. It was also making a noise that I was unfamiliar with and I thought might also be related to the EPB system and the work that they have performed on it.
The noise was directly related to TIRE speed, not engine speed. It starts at about 10 mph and its frequency increases as the tires go faster. I would sometimes put the thing in neutral while travelling down the highway and the noise frequency wouldn't change even though the engine speed dropped to idle, so I had ruled out anything related to the engine/transmission. Perhaps it was just the tires getting worn even though I could find no cord exposed and still have plenty of tread on them. I almost went and bought a set of 4 tires to cure this maddening noise!
Yesterday I took the car in for its 65,000 mile service. On top of the normal scheduled maintenance, I asked them to check the noise that I have been listening to for at least the last 5,000 miles. I told them that I suspected that it was somehow related to the EPB work that had done because it seemed to get worse as soon as I got it back from the shop last time. Nope! After a day of troubleshooting, they call to inform me that it is the transmission, fluid smells burnt, and it's toast. And they told me about this forum and that it's a "known issue". My car is now out of warranty. I had never heard of any problems until I read this forum last night. The dealer is working with Toyota to try to get it covered, as I was having this issue while it was under warranty. I just didn't know what it was. I never dreamed it would be the CVT.
I will find out on Monday what Toyota decides. It will definitely have an impact on my purchases in the future. If I have to pay out of pocket for this, I just don't see it being worth it based on the value of the vehicle. I've always thought that I would be able to get like 300,000+ miles on my Toyota.
I have had issues and alerts with the EPB (parking brake) system since the car was new. The first maintenance on this issue was at 4,000 miles but has continued throughout its life and I just hit 65,000 miles. I have never even used the parking brake! These EPB issues have always caused other systems to malfunction as well because they work together. The main one is the cruise control. When I took the car in for its 60,000 mile service a few months back, I complained that I was receiving EPB alerts and that it needed action...yet again. It was also making a noise that I was unfamiliar with and I thought might also be related to the EPB system and the work that they have performed on it.
The noise was directly related to TIRE speed, not engine speed. It starts at about 10 mph and its frequency increases as the tires go faster. I would sometimes put the thing in neutral while travelling down the highway and the noise frequency wouldn't change even though the engine speed dropped to idle, so I had ruled out anything related to the engine/transmission. Perhaps it was just the tires getting worn even though I could find no cord exposed and still have plenty of tread on them. I almost went and bought a set of 4 tires to cure this maddening noise!
Yesterday I took the car in for its 65,000 mile service. On top of the normal scheduled maintenance, I asked them to check the noise that I have been listening to for at least the last 5,000 miles. I told them that I suspected that it was somehow related to the EPB work that had done because it seemed to get worse as soon as I got it back from the shop last time. Nope! After a day of troubleshooting, they call to inform me that it is the transmission, fluid smells burnt, and it's toast. And they told me about this forum and that it's a "known issue". My car is now out of warranty. I had never heard of any problems until I read this forum last night. The dealer is working with Toyota to try to get it covered, as I was having this issue while it was under warranty. I just didn't know what it was. I never dreamed it would be the CVT.
I will find out on Monday what Toyota decides. It will definitely have an impact on my purchases in the future. If I have to pay out of pocket for this, I just don't see it being worth it based on the value of the vehicle. I've always thought that I would be able to get like 300,000+ miles on my Toyota.
Joined
·
262 Posts
Sorry guys, unfortunately, you aren't alone...
www.toyotachrforum.com
Transmission failure/replacement 2018 C-HR XLE
FYI, the transmission in my 2018 C-HR XLE has failed and was replaced (under warranty) in February 2020 with just over 36,000 miles. First indication that something was wrong was hearing a whining noise coming from the front end. If anyone else is or has experienced this problem, please let me...
www.toyotachrforum.com
I just got my C-HR back from Toyota after 5 days in the shop. I've got a brand new transmission and torque converter compliments of Toyota. I was very pleased that they stepped up and covered this even though the car is out of warranty. Kuddos to Toyota for taking care of their customers. FYI, the parts and labor costs for the job was $8,339.85.
Joined
·
6 Posts
Bought my daughter a 2018 in 2017 and at 91,000 miles recently developed humming noise which increased with speed. Dealer said needs transmission and quoted almost $9,000.
Took it to transmission place I use for my Chevy trucks and they found it was a carrier bearing (in the CVS transmission unit).
5 weeks later after parts shipments from Turkey and Hong Kong, car is running great. Paid $3,500 with 1 yr. 12,000 mile warranty.
Took it to transmission place I use for my Chevy trucks and they found it was a carrier bearing (in the CVS transmission unit).
5 weeks later after parts shipments from Turkey and Hong Kong, car is running great. Paid $3,500 with 1 yr. 12,000 mile warranty.
Joined
·
7 Posts
How did you get them to cover this even though the car was out of warranty?
2019Raven,
I had explained to my Service Advisor when I brought the car in for it’s scheduled 65,000 mile service that I had been listening to this noise for “at least” the last 5,000 miles, even while the car was within warranty. I simply didn’t know it was the transmission. It had gotten substantially worse after the tweeking they had done with the EPB. After it was revealed to be the transmission, he did some research and discovered that it was a “known issue” with that particular model. Not a recall, but a known issue inside Toyota and my VIN was in the affected group. He said he would work to have it covered by Toyota and they came through. New transmission and torque converter totally paid for, perhaps in an attempt to avoid a later class action lawsuit.
On a side note, I live on the beach in Mississippi and about two weeks after the transmission replacement we suffered a devastating hurricane (Zeta). My CHR went under 4 feet of salt water and was a total loss. The timing of it all still bugs me as I wish it had happened BEFORE all of that money was spent to fix my car, but that was out of my control.
I had explained to my Service Advisor when I brought the car in for it’s scheduled 65,000 mile service that I had been listening to this noise for “at least” the last 5,000 miles, even while the car was within warranty. I simply didn’t know it was the transmission. It had gotten substantially worse after the tweeking they had done with the EPB. After it was revealed to be the transmission, he did some research and discovered that it was a “known issue” with that particular model. Not a recall, but a known issue inside Toyota and my VIN was in the affected group. He said he would work to have it covered by Toyota and they came through. New transmission and torque converter totally paid for, perhaps in an attempt to avoid a later class action lawsuit.
On a side note, I live on the beach in Mississippi and about two weeks after the transmission replacement we suffered a devastating hurricane (Zeta). My CHR went under 4 feet of salt water and was a total loss. The timing of it all still bugs me as I wish it had happened BEFORE all of that money was spent to fix my car, but that was out of my control.
Joined
·
215 Posts
I would really like to know what that "known issue" was. My local dealer/shop has not seen any issues like this...yet.
Perhaps that "known issue" was for that particular transmission model.
Perhaps that "known issue" was for that particular transmission model.
Joined
·
2 Posts
I had the same issue with the humming and they said my tires needed to be replaced. I got all new tires a week later then the humming sound changed to a loud grinding, whining, jet engine sound. The next morning I took it to Toyota service and they called me 3 hrs later saying I needed a new transmission on Nov 28th. It would be $9,000!!! My 2018 Ch-r has 80,326 miles on it and I purchased it August of 2017. Toyota only covered 60% and thankfully I have Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance because they covered the rest. I will be trading in this vehicle next month. Worst purchase I made. Also, they don't even cover for a rental which is mind blowing to me. I had to wait a whole week between waiting for the claim to be accepted and then the car being fixed. I argued with the service manager about why they only covered 60% and he just claimed he did everything he could.
Joined
·
8 Posts
So very disappointed!!! I have a 2019 CHR with 128,000km. I do daily highway driving. I had my transmission fluid serviced in October 2020. I just had my latest service which included a road test. Tech reported a whining noise of concern. This wasn’t something I picked up independently...although I hear it now. Assessment is that I require a new transmission. I’m waiting to hear back from Toyota Canada as to whether they will step up and replace it at no cost. Go figure...I’m just over the 100,000 km warranty. This is my first Toyota. I love this car but am seriously second guessing Toyota quality. Hoping their commitment to service stands up! Buyer beware!
Joined
·
8 Posts
The saga continues. All the dealer service manager has offered me is a quote for a used transmission....which they haven’t been able to find (no kidding...the car is two). It’s been close to two weeks....and that is the the extent of the support they have offered me.
Joined
·
8 Posts
Hi there....I’m in the same boat. Any advice for me with respect to getting Toyota to agree to replacement? My 2019 has 128,000km. The warranty ended at 100,000 km. All I do is highway driving will little stress on the transmission.
Joined
·
3 Posts
Is there a VIN range that are having this issue or production dates that we can check our vehicles? I just got a used C-HR and when I start driving at low speed I hear a noise like two metal plates slapping or driving over a steel plate on the road where this is none. I hear it most in a parking garage or in a quiet spot going from a complete stop and slowing accelerating.
Joined
·
3 Posts
Dealer said that metal 'clack' sound is a "C-HR brake noise thing" and brakes are normal, CVT is normal. One of my coworkers is a former Toyota brake Engineer. I played her the sound the "brakes" are making and told her the dealers answer. She said "That is a Bu115h!it answer."
Update: The other Toyota dealer I took it to, found and fixed the issue. The TPMS had broken off inside the tire / wheel and was bouncing around at lower speeds. Tech heard it right away and put a new one in. I have the broken one and there is glue / epoxy residue on it meaning that another tech somewhere broke it when changing a tire and 'fixed' it with jbweld or something. Not warranty repair so it was out of pocket but no more noise.
Update: The other Toyota dealer I took it to, found and fixed the issue. The TPMS had broken off inside the tire / wheel and was bouncing around at lower speeds. Tech heard it right away and put a new one in. I have the broken one and there is glue / epoxy residue on it meaning that another tech somewhere broke it when changing a tire and 'fixed' it with jbweld or something. Not warranty repair so it was out of pocket but no more noise.
Joined
·
1 Posts
UK Model. I have a 2018 c-hr icon hybrid. Recently purchased from a Toyota dealer with 10500 miles on the clock. Since picking it up I’ve had a whirring type of noise coming from the front end. Sounds very much like tyre related noise, also happens anywhere from 40mph+. Especially bad on sweeping right hand bends in the road. Over the past few days it’s got a lot worse, I can feel vibration through the wheel and accelerator. I took it into Toyota and three days later they’re still trying to diagnose it. They’ve replaced the near side front wheel bearing and removed an all season tyre which was on the front axle alongside a summer tyre. The issue still exists. They have sent off a recording of the noise to Toyota to see what else they need to look at. My guess it’s the tranny, however the vehicles so low mileage. I’ll update in due course.
Absolutely! There is a specific set of year model/VIN numbers that are affected by this particular issue. Whether or not your vehicle is included can probably be located online or from Toyota directly. The way it was described to me by the Toyota Service Center is that there was some nut on a bolt in the transmission that was not tightened to the proper torque at the factory. If it happens to vibrate loose, the transmission will ultimately fail. This will not happen to every car that falls in this faulty group, but it will to many. To some, it can happen quickly, while the vehicle is under warranty. To others, like myself, it takes a while. Now once Toyota caught on that this was a problem, it obviously was corrected and I don't believe that the later model C-HRs have any problem with this particular issue.
Well, I didn't do anything except to stress that I had been complaining about this noise since before the car went out of warranty. The true source of the noise or humming had been camouflaged because we were all so distracted with trying to get my Electric Parking Brake (EPB) issues resolved. We thought that was the source of the noise. It was also very well documented in my service invoices that I had been having issues for quite sometime before the warranty was up. Honestly, I was very surprised that they agreed to cover the cost in full.
Joined
·
7 Posts
Joined
·
11 Posts
Do you know the website? How would I find out if my VIN could be affected? Thanks.
1 - 20 of 87 Posts
