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Defect Investigations and Recalls

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An important part of Transport Canada's responsibilities is the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which includes investigating suspected safety-related manufacturing defects. In order for a defect to be considered safety-related, it must have originated at the design, manufacturing or assembly stage, or it must interfere with the safe functioning of the vehicle, tire or child car seat. The defect must also be present in a group of similar vehicles, tires or child car seats, and it must directly endanger the safety of a person, which includes drivers, passengers, the occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Finally, the problem caused by the defect must occur with little or no warning and not be due to everyday wear and tear, a lack of proper maintenance, or negligence on the part of the owner.

When someone believes that a safety-related defect may be affecting the operation of a vehicle, tire or child car seat, the problem can be reported to the Defect Investigations and Recalls Division. The Defect Investigations Section of the Division documents reported defect complaints and launches investigations, when warranted. The Recalls Section documents recall campaigns, updates the on-line recalls database and monitors recall completion rates.

 

Did You Know?

Your used vehicle could be a danger to you, your passengers, and other road users because of recall repairs that have not been made. Do not assume that the previous owner of your vehicle had all the applicable recall repairs done.

  • Check the Road Safety Recalls Database to see if your vehicle was ever subject to a recall.
     
  • If there are any recalls for your vehicle model, contact an authorized dealer, who will verify whether your particular vehicle is subject to any outstanding repairs by entering your vehicle identification number (VIN) into the manufacturer’s database of recalls.

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Safety Advisories

Contact Us

To report a suspected safety-related defect or to obtain information about a recall or an investigation, call:

  • 1-800-333-0510 (toll-free in Canada)
  • 819-994-3328 (in the Gatineau-Ottawa area or internationally) 

Our telephone service is available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time, as applicable. After hours, please leave a message and we will return your call the next business day.

To report a suspected safety-related defect electronically, you may also fill in our on-line Defect Complaint Form.

 

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Date modified:
2012-05-04