The 2021 Toyota C-HR exhibits a concerning reliability profile due to a significant number of complaints, particularly related to the forward collision avoidance system. With a recall addressing potentially inoperative radar sensors, owners should remain vigilant regarding the effectiveness of safety features.
Key Factor:Forward collision avoidance issues
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Standard Safety Record
The 2021 C-HR maintains a standard safety record for TOYOTA, with 1 recall documented.
1 recall for this vehicle1.5 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
📋Why This Matters
The presence of a recall for the forward collision avoidance system is noteworthy. This system is crucial for maintaining driver and passenger safety as it aids in preventing potential collisions. A malfunction could lead to increased risk during driving, particularly in high-traffic situations where timely braking is essential.
Focus Area:Safety Profile
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Expert Analysis
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Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
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Primary Risk Area:Warning
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Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.5)
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Summary: The year-over-year safety trend for the Toyota C-HR has demonstrated some level of decline when compared to earlier models, primarily due to specific concerns raised by owners. While the overall brand reputation remains strong, the volume of complaints indicates an area that requires scrutiny from both current and prospective vehicle owners.
Safety & Reliability Score
91/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1.05
Investigation Impact-0
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2021 TOYOTA C-HR
Model Year2021
MakeTOYOTA
ModelC-HR
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Mar21
ISSUEFirst Report
Consumer Complaint Analysis
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Most Reported Issue
5 complaints (24% of total)
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Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
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Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 21 consumer complaints by severity level.
🟠High
1(5%)
🟡Medium
5(24%)
🟢Low
15(71%)
Mileage Failure Analysis
⚙️Engineering Insight
With peak failure occurring between 20k and 40k miles, it suggests that issues may surface shortly after reaching that threshold. Owners should monitor their vehicle's performance closely during this period and address any alerts or unusual behaviors promptly to mitigate risks.
📊 Mileage data extracted from 8 of 21 complaints (38% coverage)
0-20k
1 reports (13%)
20k-40k
3 reports (38%)
40k-60k
1 reports (13%)
60k-80k
2 reports (25%)
80k-100k
1 reports (13%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.
🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Forward Collision Avoidance System
Issue: Radar sensor may be inoperative, compromising the pre-collision system.
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Verify radar sensor functionality through dealership service before further use.
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Ensure the vehicle has been inspected for compliance with recall requirements and confirm radar sensor operation.
Campaign:21V123
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your TOYOTA dealer to verify recall completion status.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Investigations
0 investigations
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No active investigations for this vehicle.
Consumer Complaints
21 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 C-HR.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Warning24%
Noise14%
Accident14%
Crash/Accident10%
Display5%
Brake Failure5%
Stuck5%
Injury5%
Acceleration Issues5%
Shatter5%
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN
Electrical failure of the transmission. No inciting incident. Confirmed by the dealership who has done all maintenance on the vehicle. Vehicle suddenly cannot go above 25mph and will not shift gears. Vehicle has approx 60k miles on it.
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN
Bought car December 2024 with 54,557 miles and had it inspected at time of purchase; inspection was fine. Car started making odd noise last week, so I took it in for an oil change and they ran diagnostics and determined it needs the transmission replaced, having 67,764 miles. Mechanic told me this is a "known issue" that Toyota is aware of this and won't recall the affected cars. It's going to cost me $12k to fix. Toyota Canada has already acknowledged there is a problem with the cars.
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN
Transmission went out at 40 thousand miles.this car has been serviced and maintaned as directed. No rough use what so every.
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN
Original owner. Vehicle has internal failure of transaxle at exactly 60,000 miles. All routine services for the life of the car has been completed by a Toyota dealer.
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failure. Required service visits always on time with no indication of any problems. After a noticeable change in the vehicle drive and noise from the engine, the vehicle was immediately brought to the dealer service center for inspection. The dealer confirmed transmission malfunction. The dealer refused to extend the warranty which would cover a good portion of the cost. Instead they suggested full out of pocket replacement or trade and buy. Despite all this, the monthly car payment is still my responsibility. Unfortunately being a one income household, I am unable to replace or buy a replacement vehicle. After some online investigation, the transmission issue is common and documented issues in the US and CAN. In my opinion, Toyota has done nothing to remedy the known transmission issues and has total disregard for the customer. At this point, all I need is a reliable car before I return to my job as a teacher's assistance..... before school is back in session. Thank you for your time and support. I look forward to hearing from you!
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the message "Service Vehicle Now" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On 09/12/2024 Ran over a small sharp object in the road and popped the rear drivers side tire and the tire sensor light came on. Two days later on 09/14/2024 we took the car to the dealership and had them change all four tires. We were told the mechanic found a broken off sensor in one of the tires. It was not in the blown out tire, it was in a tire that had no damage to the tire or rim. I talked to the service manager about how the sensor could have broken off the stem in side the tire. He said the mechanic was sure he didn't break the sensor off the stem when changing the tire, that it happens, the sensor can break off the stem and he has seen this before. I asked if they had saved the defected part and he said that he didn't have it and the mechanic had probably thrown it out in the trash. I asked if the manufacturer knows that sensors are just breaking off in side tires. He said he didn't see any recalls for sensors at this time. I would think the manufacturer would want to see the defected TPMS to determine why the TPMS broke off the stem and if a recall is necessary. At this point I'm feeling uneasy about having three other original TPMS's that can break off at any time and having an unbalanced tire situation. I would like to know if this is a safety issue, having a TPMS break off and leaving a tire unbalanced, especially in a front tire when going up to 85 miles an hour on some roads in this country?
Brakes🔶 Medium
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, while depressing the brake pedal the failed to stop and the vehicle and crashed into a brick mailbox. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. No air bags deployed, and the front driver side seat belt failed to retract. The contact sustained injuries on his neck and back and sought medical attention at a nearby hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed impound lot. The contact was informed by the impound lot, that the cause of the brake failure was due to the bolt being loose on the A-frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front passenger air bag wire harness and the Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
For several weeks my car was calling 911 on its own. I took it to the dealer and they originally took a plastic cover off of the Toyota Saftey Connect System. But the car continued to call 911. So I took it back again and they decided to disconnect the system is what I was told. After that for the past 2 weeks the system has been turning off audio and stating there was a connection failure. The dealer said don't worry about that when I contacted them once more. Yesterday evening the car call emergency services again and this time since the dealer had disconnected my microphone I couldn't answer them back. I was close to the dealer and went there immediately. As sirens were blaring heading to where the car was pin pointed to be I was able to get on the phone with Toyota Saftey Connect. They informed me the airbags were showing as being deployed. I was told not to get back in the car because they could deploy at any moment. The car is at the dealership now for the 3rd time for this issue. The dealership is saying they know of no issues with these cars. That is a lie.
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about the recall on the 2021 Toyota C-HR?
The recall involves an issue with the radar sensor linked to the forward collision avoidance system. If not activated properly during production, this could render the pre-collision system inoperative, heightening collision risks. Current owners should confirm repairs have been executed before extensive use.
How reliable is the safety feature on a used Toyota C-HR?
While generally considered safe, recent reports highlight concerns specifically around the forward collision avoidance system's reliability due to increased complaint volumes. This highlights a need for thorough checks on used models before purchase.
📊Year-over-Year Context
➡️Stable Pattern
Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.
🧭What This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
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If You Own This Vehicle
Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified TOYOTA service center—repairs are performed at no cost to you.
Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
Proactive tip: Enroll in TOYOTA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
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If You're Buying Used
Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
This specific C-HR year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.