2018–2019 Toyota C-HR: CVT whine or grinding noise
Likely causes, ranked
- Internal CVT/transaxle wear (transaxle and torque converter replaced if eligible)$0–$0Shop
Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.
DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section
Parts to check
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Symptom: A whine or grinding noise around 15–30 mph that can get worse over time.
Likely causes
- CVT. Toyota's bulletin and support program replace the transaxle and torque converter on eligible cars.
DIY or shop?
Dealer.
Useful steps
- Ask the dealer to verify the noise under the program.
- Record the noise.
Vehicle focus: 2018–2019 Toyota C-HR.
Safety / mechanic note
A failing transmission can leave you stranded.
Recalls & service bulletins
Technical service bulletins
- Toyota C-HR CVT program Toyota customer support program covering CVT replacement for verified abnormal whine on eligible 2018–2019 C-HR (secondary coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles). Details
NHTSA complaints: 184 complaints mention the CVT or transmission together with whine, grind, hum, howl, rattle, clunk or noise (of 436 unique complaints filed under NHTSA model name C-HR, 2018–2019; NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-15).
Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Sources
What actually fixed it?
Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.