- Transport Canada has amended its regulations on vehicle recalls
- Automakers will now have to provide a “VIN lookup” on their sites for owners to check for recalls
- The amendment is in place, but automakers have until mid-2026 to comply
No one wants a vehicle recall, but if one is issued, owners need to know. The Canadian government has amended the regulations around recalls, requiring automakers to make their recall information available online. Auto manufacturers have always been required to mail recall notices to owners of affected vehicles, which doesn’t change. Some already put recall information on their websites; but the new amendment makes it mandatory for all of them to do so.
Designated vehicle manufacturers will be required to have a new “lookup tool” on their websites, where owners can enter a Vehicle Information Number (VIN) and check if any recalls apply to their vehicle. The regulation came into force on January 1, 2025, and manufacturers must be in compliance with them by mid-2026.
In 2024, there were 785 safety recalls issued by 116 companies, which affected more than eight million vehicles in Canada. Transport Canada estimates that more than one in five vehicles on Canadian roads have an unresolved safety recall.
While recalls are only for safety-related issues, they’re not always worst-case scenarios. While many recalls are for potentially serious problems, they can also be triggered by something that doesn’t mesh with Transport Canada’s safety regulations — which could involve something as minor as a warning label that isn’t in both French and English. Transport Canada also issues recalls for tires and child car-seats, as needed, along with such items as trailers, motor homes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and other vehicles.
And even if your neighbour has the same make and model as yours, both might not be affected by the recall. In some cases, the problem might have been with a component or manufacturing process that was changed between the time the two vehicles were built. That’s why it’s important to look up the VIN to ensure that the recall applies.
But even though your vehicle’s recall may not seem all that dramatic, it’s important to get it repaired once you receive your recall notice in the mail. Dealers have to perform repairs free of charge, although you may need to make an appointment or, in some cases, wait for the parts to be available. Because the notices are mailed, you should contact your brand’s customer service department if you move or buy a used vehicle, to be sure your current address is on file.
Your vehicle’s VIN is the 17-digit mix of letters and numbers that’s on the ownership, or visible on the driver’s side of the dash through the windshield. You can look up recalls by vehicle make and model on Transport Canada’s website, or if your vehicle’s automaker is one of those already with a VIN lookup, on the recall page of its consumer website (and if it doesn’t have one, call the automaker’s customer service line, or the service department of its local dealership).
If you believe your vehicle has a safety issue that isn’t covered by an active recall, you can report it to Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0510, or report it on the defect complaint form. Transport Canada analyzes the reports it receives, including from the public; and if necessary, it will launch a formal investigation that could lead to additional action, such as issuing a recall.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.