The Government of Canada is improving road safety for Canadians.

Transport Canada is ensuring that vehicle manufacturers provide Canadians with information on vehicle defects, the nature of the safety defect, and precautions to take until repairs are completed as a way to improve safety on the road.

“Canadians deserve to get the most accurate safety information if there is a recall issued on their vehicles. Requiring manufacturers to share more details about vehicle defects will help ensure proper actions are taken to address them, so our roads are even safer for Canadians and their families,” said The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, who brought forward this amendment.

Vehicle safety defects often happen suddenly and without warning, usually because of a flaw in the design, manufacture, or functioning of the vehicle; for instance, a loss of steering or brakes that occur due to equipment failure. Currently, on average, manufacturers issue approximately 650 recalls each year, which usually affects over five million vehicles.

While some manufacturers already provide the information willingly, the new requirements will make the sharing of information mandatory for all manufacturers. It also requires that all further information – the chronology of events, warranty claims, field or service reports, and when defect and non-compliance notices are sent to owners or dealerships – will be sent to the Minister of Transport.

Since 2018, the Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act gave the Minister of Transport the ability to order a manufacturer to correct the safety defects or non-compliance, recall a vehicle, pay for the cost of repairs, to fix new vehicles before they are sold, and inform consumers of safety defects.

Transport Canada provides a list of recalls affecting vehicles, tires, and child seats in Canada on its website: tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/defects-recalls-vehicles-tires-child-car-seats.html, where Canadians can also report safety-related defects.