Hadronic transitions of χ cJ → η c π + π − (J = 0, 1, 2) are searched for using a sample of 1.06 × 10 8 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring. The η c is reconstructed with K 0 S K ± π ∓ and K + K − π 0 final states. No signals are observed in any of the three χ cJ states in either η c decay mode. At the 90% confidence level, the upper limits are determined to be B(χ c0 → η c π + π − ) < 0.07%, B(χ c1 → η c π + π − ) < 0.32%, and B(χ c2 → η c π + π − ) < 0.54%. The upper limit of B(χ c1 → η c π + π − ) is lower than the existing theoretical prediction by almost an order of magnitude. The branching fractions of χ cJ → K 0 S K ± π ∓ π + π − , K + K − π + π − π 0 , ωK + K − and φπ + π − π 0 (J = 0, 1, 2) are measured for the first time.