Recalls of motor vehicles, tires, and child car seats

From Transport Canada

A recall notice (Notice of Defect or Notice of Non-Compliance) is issued by manufacturers when a safety problem is found in a model of motor vehicle, tire, or child car seat. Safety notices are also issued by manufacturers of child car seats.

Search the Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database to see if your vehicle, child car seat or tires are subject to a safety recall. You can search by make, model and year or range of years.

See Takata recalls in Canada to check if your vehicle is affected by the Takata airbag recall and to obtain additional information.

See Safety recalls, notices and testing for child car seats for more information about safety notices issued for child car seats and booster seats.

Transport Canada ensures the scope of recalls is correct, documents recall campaigns and updates the online recalls database and monitors recall completion rates.

On this page

• Stay informed about recalls of vehicles, tires, and child car seats
• About safety recall notices
• Legal and regulatory information about safety recalls
• Contact us for more information on recalls

Stay informed about recalls of vehicles, tires, and child car seats

To make sure you are aware of possible defects affecting your vehicle, tires, or child car seat:

• Search the Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database to find any recall notices.
• Search your auto manufacturer's web site to find out, by using your vehicle's 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), if your vehicle is affected by a safety recall.
• Call your auto manufacturer's 1-800 number and speak with the customer service department if you have more questions.
• Register with manufacturers and update your information if you move so you can receive recall notices directly:
  • child car seat manufacturers
  • tire manufacturers
  • auto manufacturers (the manufacturer may not have your address if you bought a used vehicle)
• Subscribe to Transport Canada's web feed Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls (news releases).
• Register to receive the Healthy Canadians’Recalls and Safety Alerts widget and Recalls and Safety Alerts mobile application.

About safety recall notices

Manufacturers must inform owners if a safety-related defect is found in a model of vehicle, tire, or child car seat. Manufacturers issue a Notice of Defect or Notice of Non-compliance (safety recall notice).

A safety recall notice includes directions on how to correct the defect. Usually, the defect is corrected free of charge by the manufacturer.

• For more information on recalls, read The Importance of Having Recalled Vehicles Repaired.
• For information on what is considered a safety-related defect, read General information about motor vehicle defects and recalls.
• For information on checking recalls for a vehicle you want to import, read Recall clearance (Registrar of Imported Vehicles).

Legal and regulatory information about safety recalls

The following links provide legal information on safety defects and recalls.

• Section 10 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act
• Section 15 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations
• Section 13 of the Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations
• Section 110 of the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seat Safety Regulations
• Guidelines on Enforcement and Compliance Policy (Motor Vehicle Safety Oversight Program)

Contact us for more information on defect investigations

If you think your vehicle, tires or child car seat are subject to a recall and you need more information, contact:

Transport Canada
Defect Investigations and Recalls Division

Telephone:
1-800-333-0510 (toll-free in Canada)
819-994-3328 (Gatineau-Ottawa area, or internationally)

Related links:

• Open Government Portal (access data from the Recalls Database)
• Service Standards - Defect Investigations and Recalls Division (Transport Canada)
• General information on defects and complaints