A safety-related defect is a problem that affects the safe operation or functioning of a vehicle, tire or child car seat. In order for a defect to be considered safety-related, it must have originated at the design, manufacturing or assembly stage, and 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, 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.
To file a safety-related defect complaint, you can complete this on-line form, or you can telephone us at 1 800 333 0510 or 819 420 4300 to speak with a defect investigator.
Your defect complaint will be entered into Transport Canada’s Defect Complaints database and reviewed by an experienced analyst. If you give us your permission, the manufacturer will have access to the details of your complaint. If warranted, an investigation will be initiated, and we may contact you at a later date to further document your safety-related defect complaint. Because of the large number of complaints that we receive annually, complainants are not usually contacted unless additional information is required.
The information that you will be providing is collected under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and will be used by Transport Canada for the purpose of enforcing the Act. This information will be retained in the Personal Information Bank entitled Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Equipment Safety - Related Defect Complaints (DOT PPU 003). Under the provisions of the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act, individuals have the right to the protection of and access to their personal information. Instructions for obtaining personal information are provided in Info Source, a copy of which may be consulted in all federal government offices and public libraries.
