Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Toyota C-HR Reliability Report
The 2021 Toyota C-HR rates well above average for 2021 SUVs, but owners report costly transmission failures around 60,000 miles.
Recalls
1
Complaints
32
Complaint Rate
9per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$441
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,050
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rates well above average among 2021 SUVs and stronger than most C-HR years, with a forward collision recall and transmission failures reported near 60,000 miles.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (14)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)
- AIR BAGS (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is 1 year after the facelift refresh.
- Year 4 in the First generation (AX10/AX50) (2018–2022).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 1st generation C-HR (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2018: First generation (AX10/AX50) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is 1 year after the facelift refresh.
Should You Buy the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
Buy with care, but this is a solid pick. Reliability is good, well above average among 2021 SUVs, and it ranks among the stronger of the five scored C-HR years. It earns 5 of 5 federal crash-test stars. The 2020 model rates about the same but has more complaints. The 2022 rates better, though its very short complaint list partly reflects less time on the road.
The transmission is the big worry. Owners describe a whine, growl, or whistle that gets louder, then slipping, lost speed, or a car that will not go above 25 mph. Failures cluster around 60,000 miles, even on cars with full dealer service records. Quotes of $11,000 to $13k are reported, and dealers rarely help. Some owners also report the forward collision system braking hard with nothing ahead. One federal recall covers forward collision avoidance.
Ask for proof that the recall work was done. On a test drive, listen for transmission noise. If the car had a new windshield, check that no driver-assist warning lights are on.
Compared to the 2022 Toyota C-HR, which scored 3 points higher. See also the 2020 Toyota C-HR for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Low recall count
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
Cons
- −POWER TRAIN: Transmission failure dominates these reports (14 complaints)
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Driver-assist faults are the main pattern (5 complaints)
Compare 2021 Toyota C-HR With

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Reliability: 63/100

2021 Jeep Renegade
Reliability: 75/100

2021 Buick Encore GX
Reliability: 74/100

2021 Buick Encore
Reliability: 80/100

2021 Kia Seltos
Reliability: 59/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (14)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2021 Toyota C-HR carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
9
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Toyota C-HR Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Toyota C-HR. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA02.
Buying a used 2021 Toyota C-HR? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota C-HR, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Toyota C-HR NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 14.3%
Safety Technologies
Toyota C-HRRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$441
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
29 MPG
Running cost: $2,650/yr
Fuel + repair
27 city / 31 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-HR 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 27 | 31 | 29 | $2,050 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Toyota C-HR.
Accelerate steadily at highway speed and listen for a whine, growl, or whirring from the transmission that grows with throttle.
Ask for transmission records and any noise diagnosis, especially on cars near 60,000 miles.
Confirm the car shifts normally and pulls past 25 mph without slipping or losing power.
Drive on a busy road and watch for false automatic braking or lane keeping that steers toward oncoming traffic.
If the windshield was replaced, confirm the driver-assist cameras were recalibrated and no warning lights stay on.
Check the dash for warning lights or a "Service Vehicle Now" message during a full test drive.
Ask whether the Safety Connect system has ever called 911 on its own, and test the SOS microphone.
Tug the driver's seat belt and check that the seat locks in place and the hood latches firmly.
2021 Toyota C-HR Common Problems by Component
32 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
14 complaintsTransmission failure dominates these reports. The usual first sign is a whine, growl, whirring, or whistling noise that gets louder over time. Some cars then slip, lose speed, refuse to drive forward, or stop shifting and won't go above 25 mph. Mechanics often blame a failing internal bearing and recommend replacing the transmission instead of repairing it. Most failures come around 60,000 miles, many on cars with full dealer service records. Owners report repair quotes of $11,000 to $13k, and dealers rarely help with the cost.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5 complaintsDriver-assist faults are the main pattern. The forward collision system brakes hard with nothing ahead, and some cars keep giving false warnings after that. Lane keeping assist is described steering the car toward oncoming traffic. After windshield replacement, the lane tracing, rear traffic alert, and pre-collision systems may not recalibrate, and their warning lights stay on. Other reports cover warning lights with a "Service Vehicle Now" message that a mechanic could not trace, high fuel use, and a computer programmed with the wrong trim level.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsThese reports cover unrelated problems. The Safety Connect system places 911 calls by itself, and the dealer fixes reported so far have not stopped it. One car needs a new transmission at a little over 100k miles, despite full maintenance. Other reports describe a tire pressure sensor that broke off its valve stem inside an undamaged tire, and a rear window that shattered while the car sat parked in the sun. The false emergency calls are the most disruptive of these problems.
AIR BAGS (2 complaints)
AIR BAGS
2 complaintsSafety-relatedBoth reports in this category involve crashes, and one caused an injury. In the first, the brakes failed at 35 mph, the car hit a mailbox, no air bags deployed, and the driver's seat belt did not retract. The impound lot blamed a loose bolt on the A-frame. In the second, the car surged forward and then backward under light throttle in a parking garage and hit a wall and another car. Neither report describes an air bag deploying.
SEAT BELTS (2 complaints)
SEAT BELTS
2 complaintsThe driver's seat belt locks up when it shouldn't, and owners call this a safety hazard. These reports also list other problems: a hood latch that comes loose at highway speed, front seats that slide forward on their own, and wipers that stop partway across the glass. Owners also mention faulty USB ports, Bluetooth, and radio, plus brake noise and loose rear carpet. A sliding driver's seat and a hood latch that opens at speed are the biggest crash risks here.
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintOn 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 me to use force to try to get the car back in control. Thankfully no one was next to me but if that had not been the case, it would have a caused a serious and life threatening accident. Had I been going any faster or on the regular streets, I am certain the vehicle would have flipped or ran off the road. It was EXTREMELY scary, especially as I am a mother and my baby is frequently in the car. I have contacted two separate Toyota dealerships neither one of them giving any concern to my safety or well-being and are charging me $100+ to run a diagnostics. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle, I no longer believe that Toyota cares about their clients and will no longer be recommending Toyota for their lack of concern of their drivers safety. There were no warning messages or notifications before, during, or after the incident.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintMy 2021 CHR, that I purchased in March 2021 with 11 miles on it, started making a noise when driving in December 2025 so I took it in to Street Toyota in Amarillo, TX on 12-27-2025. It was confirmed that the automatic transaxle needed to be replaced and it would cost $15,653.58 to replace. The cost of my car brand new was $21,000.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaintSafety-relatedThe contact owned a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, she collided with a deer attempting to cross the freeway. The contact stated that the collision was the result of the pre-collision avoidance system failing to activate. Both driver-side and passenger-side air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a tow yard, where it remained. The contact reported that two individuals were treated for injuries following the accident. The driver sustained whiplash, two herniated discs, a torn meniscus, and a torn retina. The passenger sustained whiplash and various other unspecified injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired and was deemed a total loss as a result of the collision. After investigating the issue, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V107000 (Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 30,000.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintthis 21 chr has developed low idell at a signal light just like my 2019 corolla and the dealership said nothing was wrong with it after 4 visits, now it has a recall on it and i know longer have it after it died at a signal light.does the 21 chr have the same low pressure fuel pump.
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in inclement weather, the driver's and passenger's side front and rear windows became foggy. The contact activated the defroster; however, she was not able to see through the windows. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the vehicle performed as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
When Do 2021 Toyota C-HR Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Toyota C-HR Years
Best Toyota C-HR Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2022
2021
(Current Model)
2020
Toyota C-HR Years to Avoid
Toyota C-HR Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent |
Toyota C-HR Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Toyota C-HR reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
Does the 2021 Toyota C-HR have transmission problems?
Has the 2021 Toyota C-HR been recalled?
Is the 2022 Toyota C-HR better than the 2021?
Don’t buy a 2021 Toyota C-HR without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Toyota C-HR
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Toyota C-HR does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (66/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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