ToyotaC2021Overview/toyota/c/2021/base/
HR platform

2021 Toyota C

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 C.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2021 Toyota C is built on the HR platform and features an engine that requires 4.4 quarts of oil, with acceptable viscosities of 0W‑20, 5W‑20, or 5W‑30. Power is routed through an Automatic AV‑S7 transmission, and the vehicle achieves EPA‑rated fuel economy of 27 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. In terms of reliability, owners have filed 32 complaints, with the Power Train identified as the top complaint area, and the model year carries one recorded recall.

Model year20222021202020192018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20 / 5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy27/31/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 345 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 345 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFLCYOEM · verified
Tire size215/60R17 96HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1 alt 9043020018
Engine air filter1780177050
Spark plug9091901275
Battery2880025010
Front wiper blades8522210281 alt 85212F4011
Serpentine belt90916A2024 alt 90916W2046
Thermostat90916A3004 alt 163250T030
Cabin air filter871390R030 alt 8713958010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.9 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height50.8 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight2758 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined27 / 31 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 / 5W-30 engine oil, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidToyota Genuine CVT Fluid FE.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.1 qt
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3 · SAE J1704 · Dot 4
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity6.1 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · 5W-20 · 5W-30 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs20.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Flex or Driveplate BoltsDrive Plate to Crankshaft: 65.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts65.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)Transaxle in Park or Neutral: 760 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeSC16HR11
Spark Plug GapNew: 0.0394-0.0433; Used: 0.0512 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2, 7 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMTransaxle in Park or Neutral rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant CapacityR-1234yf
Oil TypeDenso: ND-12
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance345 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumStandard: 50.0 psi
Residual Pressure21.0
Engine Compression142
Engine Oil PressureMinimum 3.6 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM22-58 psi @ 3,000 rpm

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.0394; Rear: 0.0394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
136.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 45°36 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°30 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miBrake Power Booster Unit (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota C dominate in one area — the power train, 13 of 32 reports (41%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the power train, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 3 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
106
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
32
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train13
Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Steering,Lane Departure,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Engine1
Electrical System,Engine1
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Service Brakes1
Forward Collision Avoidance1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V107000Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: RadarReported 24/02/2022

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. 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 106 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0106-22 Rev22026-01-30Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0001-262026-01-28Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic…
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-TT-0780-252025-04-02Electrical SystemTo assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may…
T-TT-0780-252025-04-02Electrical SystemTo assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific C. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 C take?

4.4 qt of Canister Pump Moduel: 0W-20; Without Canister Pump Module: 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 C have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the C get?

EPA figures are 27 city / 31 highway / 29 combined mpg.