Toyota C-HR common problems & fixes (Mk1 2017–2023, Mk2 2024–)
Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-08.
30-second verdict
The C-HR is one of the safer used crossover buys. Most UK cars are 1.8 or 2.0 self-charging hybrids that use Toyota's long-proven power-split system, and owner satisfaction surveys have rated it highly. Its weak points are small: a 12-volt battery that can go flat on cars that sit unused, windscreens that crack easily, wind noise, and brakes that corrode because the hybrid system does so much of the slowing down. The most important job is making sure every recall has been done, because the C-HR has had a fair number, including fuel pump and fuel tank campaigns.
Generations at a glance
| Generation | UK years | Powertrains | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mk1 | 2017–2023 (facelift late 2019) | 1.2T petrol (2017–2019), 1.8 hybrid (122PS), 2.0 hybrid (184PS, from late 2019) | 6-speed manual or CVT (1.2T); e-CVT on hybrids |
| Mk2 | 2024– | 1.8 and 2.0 hybrid, 2.0 plug-in hybrid | e-CVT |
The hybrid's "e-CVT" is a planetary power-split device with no belt or pulleys, so it is a different mechanism from the belt CVTs that cause trouble in other brands.
Known issues
1. Flat 12-volt battery
Label: Reported by owners
- What you notice: the car will not go into "Ready" mode, the dashboard flickers, or the doors will not unlock with the fob.
- Which cars: hybrids, especially those that sit for a week or more or only do short trips.
- Why: the small auxiliary battery runs the electronics and has a lot of standby load.
- Fix and typical cost: a replacement AGM 12V battery is roughly £150–£300 fitted. A trickle charger helps cars that are seldom used. Typical UK independent garage, 2026.
- DIY difficulty: 2/5.
- Check when buying: ask when the 12V battery was last replaced; any slow wake-up is a clue.
2. Cracked windscreen
Label: Reported by owners and noted in UK used-car reviews
- What you notice: cracks spreading from the edge of the glass, often in the upper corners.
- Fix and typical cost: a replacement screen with camera recalibration is roughly £350–£700. Many insurers cover this, minus the excess. Typical UK independent garage, 2026.
- Check when buying: inspect the whole screen. A crack in the driver's view can mean an MOT failure.
3. Corroded brake discs on hybrids
Label: Reported by owners
- What you notice: grinding, a pulsing pedal, or an MOT advisory for corroded discs, particularly at the rear.
- Why: regenerative braking means the friction brakes are used lightly, so rust builds up.
- Fix and typical cost: discs and pads per axle, roughly £180–£350. Typical UK independent garage, 2026.
- Check when buying: look through the wheels at the disc faces. Heavy lipping or a rusty band is a bargaining point.
4. Wind noise and seals
Label: Reported by owners and noted in UK used-car reviews Owners mention wind noise at motorway speeds from door or window seals. A dealer can sometimes adjust or replace seals. Listen at 60–70mph on the test drive.
5. Slow early infotainment and driver-aid warnings
Label: Reported by owners Pre-facelift cars have a slow touchscreen without smartphone mirroring. Some early hybrids threw occasional blind-spot or pre-collision system warnings, which were often cleared with software updates. A radar-sensor recall also exists (R/2022/055, see below).
6. Petrol 1.2T with CVT
Label: Characteristic The rare 1.2T automatic uses a conventional CVT. Make sure it pulls away smoothly. The 1.2T manual is the simplest version mechanically.
Recalls (DVSA data)
Every entry below is a confirmed recall in the DVSA recalls database, described in our own words. "Launched" is the DVSA launch date and "Built" is the build window DVSA lists for the C-HR; not every car built in that window is affected. Check the exact car by registration on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
| DVSA ref | Launched | Built | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| R/2025/466 | 01/12/2025 | 22/09/2023 – 13/09/2025 | Parking assist ECU software could freeze or blank the rear-view camera image; ECU reprogrammed |
| R/2025/270 | 24/11/2025 | 02/05/2023 – 04/12/2024 | Instrument cluster software could wear out its memory chip so the display stays blank; cluster reprogrammed or replaced (includes plug-in hybrid) |
| R/2024/514 | 20/01/2025 | 01/05/2018 – 28/02/2022 | Follow-up check on cars from the October 2023 fuel pump campaign to confirm the right high-pressure fuel pump is fitted |
| R/2023/349 | 19/02/2024 | 23/09/2023 – 08/12/2023 | Cars with app-controlled remote parking: sonar and brake ECU software update |
| R/2023/298 | 20/11/2023 | 27/11/2017 – 04/02/2022 | High-pressure fuel pump could crack and leak fuel, with a fire risk; pump checked and replaced if needed |
| R/2023/279 | 12/10/2023 | 05/01/2022 – 13/07/2023 | Telematics module might not shut down properly, leaving the eCall emergency call system unavailable; over-the-air software fix |
| R/2022/055 | 18/04/2022 | 20/03/2020 – 26/07/2021 | Radar sensor set-up might not have been completed at the factory; sensor checked and initialised |
| R/2021/185 | 28/06/2021 | 04/12/2017 – 21/09/2019 | High-pressure fuel pump could wear internally over time; pump inspected and replaced if needed |
| R/2020/337 | 14/12/2020 | 10/06/2019 – 29/05/2020 | A brake pedal bracket bolt might not have been tightened correctly |
| R/2019/333 | 04/11/2019 | 28/09/2016 – 30/05/2019 | Badly fitted front seat covers could stop the seat-mounted side airbag deploying properly |
| R/2018/292 | 29/10/2018 | 18/06/2018 – 28/08/2018 | Rear hub bearing bolts might not be tight enough (DVSA lists 3,297 vehicles) |
| R/2018/240 | 01/10/2018 | 26/05/2016 – 08/05/2018 | Hybrids: an engine wiring harness near the hybrid power control unit could rub on a cover, wear through and create a fire risk; harness inspected and repaired |
| R/2017/310 | 01/02/2018 | 17/06/2016 – 18/10/2017 | Hybrids: skid control ECU could misread signals, which can affect the electronic parking brake (a warning light comes on); ECU reprogrammed |
| R/2017/231 | 02/01/2018 | 28/09/2016 – 18/03/2017 | Hybrids: fuel tank wall could be thinner than specified and leak fuel; tank inspected and replaced if needed |
| R/2017/286 | 04/12/2017 | 18/01/2016 – 10/12/2016 | Hybrids: a capacitor inside the inverter might not be bolted down properly; inverter replaced (a very small number of cars) |
The four 2017–2018 hybrid campaigns are listed by DVSA under "CH-R HYBRID" or "C-HR HV", so search for those names too if you are using the raw data.
MOT watch-points
What the 2024 DVSA figures say
- First-time pass rate: 86.0% from 86,515 normal Class 4 and 7 Toyota C-Hr tests.
- National comparison: 71.5% across the same 2024 dataset, so this model was 14.5 percentage points above the national first-time pass rate.
- Typical tested mileage: median 36,286 miles; mean 40,603 miles.
Most common recorded failure reasons
| DVSA failure reason | Tests | Share of this model's tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 4,052 | 4.7% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | 1,569 | 1.8% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 1,202 | 1.4% |
| Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 1,040 | 1.2% |
| Reversing lamps: inoperative | 1,002 | 1.2% |
One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.
Common advisories to check before buying
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge — recorded on 13.4% of tests.
- Tyres - condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing — recorded on 10.6% of tests.
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened — recorded on 5.8% of tests.
Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS) for normal Class 4 and 7 tests. Results are de-duplicated by test, low-volume rows are suppressed, and DVSA model labels are standardised into a model family. These figures describe tested cars as a group; they do not predict the condition of one vehicle or prove that every trim and generation performs the same way.
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.
- Brakes: corroded discs, especially at the rear.
- Windscreen: cracks in the swept area.
- Tyres: 18-inch tyres on higher trims wear faster.
- Lamps: check all the LEDs work.
Buying one? Our checklist
- Run the GOV.UK recall check; the fuel pump and fuel tank campaigns matter most.
- Make sure the car starts into "Ready" briskly and ask about the 12V battery's age.
- Inspect the windscreen edge to edge.
- Look at the brake discs through the wheels.
- Listen for wind noise at speed.
- Hybrid health: ask for Toyota hybrid health check results. Toyota's extended hybrid battery cover depends on annual servicing, so check its terms with a dealer.
- Check what safety kit the trim has; entry Icon cars miss some driver aids.
- Sit in the back. Rear space and visibility are tight, so make sure it suits your family.
Sources & further reading
- DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database (OGL v3.0)
- GOV.UK: check if a vehicle has been recalled
- Vehicle Recall UK: Toyota C-HR (DVSA data)-PLC/C-HR)
- Auto Express: used Toyota C-HR Mk1 buyer's guide
- What Car?: used C-HR 2016–2023 review
- Carbuyer: C-HR Hybrid owner reviews
- Autodoc: Toyota C-HR common problems
- Check This Car: Toyota C-HR recalls
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.