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Toyota extends warranty on hybrid cable to 8 years/160 000 km on seven models
APA | May 2, 2023
Toyota made an astonishing turnabout during the Superior Court hearing in Montreal to certify the class action. Read More.
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Big EVs dominate the New York Auto Show
George Iny - APA | April 28, 2023
Vehicle supersizing was an obvious trend at this year’s New York International Auto Show which ran from April 7-16. Read More
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APA at the 2023 Toronto and Montreal Auto Shows
Ron Corbett - APA | February 28, 2023
Both the Toronto and Montreal auto shows could have been hampered by the absence of several major auto manufacturers, but journalists and the public weren't dissuaded, as both events were very well attended. Read More.
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Car retailing in 2022: a barrel of rotten apples
APA | January 31, 2023
The 2022 model year shaped up to be the worst year in decades to buy a new car. Here’s a round-up of some of the complaints the APA received. Read More
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Remembering Phil Edmonston
George Iny - APA | December 22, 2022
The family of Phil Edmonston announced his death in December at the age of 78, at his home in Panama after a battle with cancer. Phil had a long career as a consumer advocate on behalf of car owners. In 1969, he founded the Automobile Protection Association and was the author of the best-selling Lemon-Aid and Roulez-sans-vous-faire-rouler car guides for over four decades. Read More.
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APA investigating expensive turbocharger wastegate failures on VW and Audi models
APA | December 21, 2022
The APA has accumulated 80 complaints from owners of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles concerning a malfunction of the turbocharger on four-cylinder engines from the 2015-2018 model years. Read More
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A dealer is trying to charge me thousands more than the advertised price of an SUV. Is that legal?
Jason Tchir - The Globe and Mail | November 27, 2022
In Alberta and four other provinces, the price you see on the dealer’s website should be the real deal. Read More.
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Forced Financing - ‘Greed has taken over‘
Anne Drewa - Global News | November 21, 2022
Why forced financing has some consumers driving away from buying a vehicle. Read More
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APA at the Automobile Journalists Association TestFest 2022
Ron Corbett - APA | October, 2022
The Auto Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) car of the year TestFest took place at Mosport Raceway, in Ontario, on October 12th and 13th, 2022. Read More.
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Toyota RAV4 hybrid and Prime update
APA | October 21, 2022
Last week, Toyota Canada informed dealers that they are approved to replace the power cable to the rear motor on RAV4 hybrid and Prime models at no charge, even for customers who had already agreed to contribute an amount toward the repair. Read More
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Lorraine Explains: The new 'normal' average prices of vehicles
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca| September 5, 2022
Have used-car prices peaked? Some experts suggest they have, but the market may take a while to get back to sane. Read More.
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APA update on Nissan CVT Transmission Failures
APA | September, 2022
The APA is looking for owners of the following vehicles in Ontario to support a class action in Ontario and other provinces to double the factory’s warranty coverage to 10 years or 200,000 km. Read More
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2006-2014 Corrosion Recall for Ridgeline sees return of Honda buyback program
APA | September, 2022
Honda Canada has instructed owners to bring their vehicles in for an inspection. Read More.
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APA Update on Kia and Hyundai Engine Reliability Issues
APA | August 30, 2022
The APA is currently the plaintiff in a class action with Kia Motors in Quebec over piston scuffing related to the 1.8 and 2L engines in the 2010-2015 Forte compact car. Read More.
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Volkswagen and Audi Turbocharger Wastegate Failures
APA | August, 2022
APA is collecting information regarding Volkswagen and Audi turbo vehicles that have experienced wastegate failures.
If you have an affected vehicle, please take our survey.
Find more information in this MoneySense article.
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APA Member wins vs Subaru
APA | August 10, 2022
APA Member wins cancellation of sale and $20,000 in damages over a Subaru with a defective engine. Read More
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My insurance company wants to write off my car. With used car prices soaring, can I make them repair it?
Jason Tchir - Globe & Mail | August 7, 2022
...insurance companies will typically write off a car if the cost of repairs is 70 to 80 per cent of the market value. “Most consumers are happy with the decision [to write it off] when repairs are that extensive...” Read More
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Lorraine Explains: Why does buying a car suck?
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | May 30, 2022
Purchasing a vehicle is an emotional experience, and nobody wants to be taken advantage of. Read More
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Car prices are through the roof. Here’s how to get one without going broke
Leah Golob - Toronto Star | May 23, 2022
Prices and financing rates are up, and supply is scarce. Here’s what to look for — and what to steer clear of. Read More
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New Cars for 2023 and 2024
Ron Corbett - APA | May 10, 2022
While the Covid pandemic caused the cancellation of auto show Press Days where many vehicles are introduced, the vehicles, planned before the troubles of the last few years, keep coming. Read More
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APA asks Toyota Canada to extend the warranty on the RAV4 Hybrid and Prime
APA | May 3, 2022
The APA has received a small number of troubling complaints on 2019-2020 RAV4 Hybrid SUVs. Read More
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Forced financing: a new upsell that might send you walking away from a car
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | May 2, 2022
An Oshawa Subaru shopper is far from the first bitten by this unsavoury practice. Read More
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Car parts backordered, not available -- now what?
George Iny - MoneySense | March 14, 2022
My 2021 Kia Seltos was involved in an accident. It has been at a repair centre for almost two months waiting for replacement parts and they recently contacted me to say it will take another two months. Read More
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Returning a leased vehicle? There could be some money coming your way
George Iny - APA | March 11, 2022
Your leased vehicle could be worth significantly more in today's seller's market than the residual value set by the automaker 3-4 years ago.
Read More
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What you need to know to navigate today's murky used vehicle market
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | March 3, 2022
...“The APA is recommending consumers wait out the market if they are able to until supply improves a bit... but most people are not interested... says APA Read More
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Vacation travellers may face higher car rental prices
George Iny - APA | February 22, 2022
Today, the supply of new cars is tight and car rental companies aren't getting the great deals they once did from the factories. Read More
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Transport Canada promised to fix 'phantom vehicles'... have they?
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | September 9, 2021
Effective September 2021... all new vehicles... will have to be properly lit, front and back. Yay, right? Hold your confetti. We’re getting no such thing... “Backlighting the gauges and the gradual conversion to electronic displays in the years that followed resulted in unintended consequences,” explains George Iny with the APA. Read More
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Smart Buys: Nine vehicles that have the best value in Canada
Mark Toljagic - Toronto Star | August 28, 2021
Thanks to a shortage of new vehicles right now, Canada is being strip-mined of its used cars and trucks to help alleviate demand in the United States. And that means Canadian consumers will pay more for their next used vehicle. Read More
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Car prices soar as demand for cars remains high
Rob Lurie - CTV News Montreal | August 20, 2021
Car dealer Izzy Hutman says the moment he posts a used car on his website, his phone starts ringing. In all his years in car sales, he’s never seen anything like it. Read More
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What's the cause of sudden acceleration in a Subaru Legacy?
George Iny - Ask Moneysense | August 18, 2021
Despite multiple attempts to diagnose the problem, the dealership has turned up no clues. Experts offer some options and background for the car’s owner to consider. Read More
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APA's class action over trouble-prone Nissan CVT transmissions is certified in Quebec
APA | May 2021
The Quebec Superior Court authorised a class action against Nissan Canada over defective CVT automatic transmissions. Read More
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Why do we allow money laundering in the auto industry?
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | May 10, 2021
Canada has a money laundering problem....George Iny of the APA notes that dealerships see the scenario through a different lens. “Dealers want to sell cars. A cash buyer is welcome.” Read More
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Some Honda owners stuck with cars with faulty heating
CBC Go Public | March 29, 2021
Automaker says it's taken steps to fix heating, but won't say how many times it didn't work. Read More
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Auto Parts Class Action Settlement Distribution
APA | March 2, 2021
If you are part of the Auto Parts Class Action settlement, you may be receiving an Interac E-Transfer. This is not Spam or Phishing! Read More
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COVID-19 complications from the car-seller's side
Lorraine Sommerfeld - driving.ca | October 6, 2020
The pandemic completely changed how the car-buying process worked—but new-car purchasers say dealers have done a good job adapting. Read More
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BMW MINI fire highlights need to report to regulators
Ross McLaughlin - CTV Vancouver | September 14, 2020
..."In Canada, one of the issues we’ve seen is a failure to report these incidents,” Iny says... Often vehicle fires get reported to insurance but don’t get reported to Transport Canada regulators, which can investigate to determine if there’s a bigger problem. Read More
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Toyota's paint-peeling problem to be covered under 'unprecedented' extended warranty for certain models
Yvonne Colbert - CBC News | February 13, 2020
Toyota has announced details of a plan to fix vehicles with peeling white paint, a problem that has plagued the automaker for years.Toyota... said its "warranty enhancement program" will cover several models of vehicles with blizzard pearl or super white paint manufactured as far back as 2008. Read More
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Your car-loan payment may be way too high. Here's what's happening
Erica Alini - Global News | October 26, 2019
Behind the gargantuan loans are ever longer auto loans, early trade-ins, and negative equity, an issue that's been long known to insiders but remains poorly understood by many consumers, according to Iny...
Read More
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Are used parts OK in insurance claims?
Ross McLaughlin - CTV Vancouver | September 10, 2019
The engine... seized 15 minutes after getting an oil change at a Mr. Lube in Richmond.. Read More
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If the car dealer starts calling you a VIP, be wary
Lorraine Sommerfeld - driving.ca | September 9, 2019
Dealerships offering "pull-ahead" schemes want your car for the same reasons you shouldn't sell it to them... Read More
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Toyota tight-lipped as Canada-wide parts snafu leaves customers fuming
Yvonne Colbert - CBC News | August 29, 2019
It's been 57 days and counting since Halifax resident Catrina Brown took her leased Toyota Rav4 to a collision centre after it was damaged in a highway accident... Read More Podcast
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Can Car Dealers Add Fees to Advertised Prices? The Majority of Ontarians Don’t Know the Answer
OMVIC | April 16, 2019
According to OMVIC, only 47 per cent of Ontario’s car buyers know that if a dealer advertises a price for a new or used vehicle, that price must include all fees and charges the dealer intends to collect, with the exception of HST and licensing... Read More
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When Honda refuses to fix a recalled CR-V, it gets to decide how much it's worth
Yvonne Colbert - CBC News | April 8, 2019
A Rothesay, N.B., woman whose Honda CR-V has been recalled says she's caught in a battle with the automaker after it refused to repair her vehicle and instead "pressured" her to sell it back for less than she believes it's worth. Read More
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2018 APA Secret Shopper Investigation of Vancouver New Car Dealerships with CTV's W5
APA - W5 | April 14, 2018
Secret shoppers from the Automobile Protection Association visited 16 car dealerships in Greater Vancouver to shop for new vehicles. Visits were recorded on W5’s hidden cameras. The W5 report on the investigation airs on Saturday April 14, 2018 and is available online. Overall, just three (about 20%) of the 16 dealerships visited earned a Pass. Read More
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The Sometimes Risky Business of Extended Term Car Loans
OMVIC | November 4, 2017
A cautionary tale about the 8-year loan from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. Be aware of the potential drawbacks when you decide to finance your next vehicle over a longer term. [PDF] Read More.
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Subaru Extends Warranty for High Oil Consumption
Subaru Canada
Subaru Canada recently extended the warranty for engines that experience high oil consumption to 8 years/160,000 km. If you already paid for a repair, the deadline for reimbursement is November 30, 2017. Read More.
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$17M settlement reached in lawsuit targeting Eastern Townships gas 'cartel'
CBC News | May 19, 2017
A 10-year legal battle has resulted in a $17-million out-of-court settlement between a group of Eastern Township motorists and a number of gas retailers in the area. Read More
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Another customer claims Winnipeg car dealership owes her money for trade-in
CBC News | April 17, 2017
Another customer has come forward claiming a Winnipeg car dealership owes her money following a CBC News story about a Brandon couple who claim to be owed more than $28,000. Read More.
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Even Ford Motor Co. is concerned about Canadians’ car loan debt
Maclean's | March 31, 2017
Ford Motor Co. has joined financial regulators in raising concerns over Canadians’ appetites for longer-term loans to finance the purchase of new vehicles. Read More
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APA's Annual Undercover Investigation with W5
CTV W5 & APA | March 18, 2017
The APA teamed up with W5 to go shopping for new cars. In LET'S MAKE A DEAL the APA's secret shoppers dropped in on car dealerships in Calgary. Read More.
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Exploding Sunroofs: What can cause it, and who's to blame?
Mark Toljagic - Wheels.ca | Jan 16, 2017
Car owners who complain to their dealership about their shattered sunroof are almost always told that it was a flying stone that broke the glass and are advised to make an insurance claim. Read More
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Millions of Vehicles with Potentially Dangerous Recalls Still on Road - Joanne Levasseur and Katie Nicholson - CBC News | Dec 7, 2016
"It's just this complete circle of finger-pointing that's going on, and nobody's taking responsibility for the issue," said Kevin MacDonald, an Ottawa car dealer who is fed up with government and manufacturer inaction. Read More
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Ford owner fears for her safety after serious car malfunction
Ross McLaughlin and Sandra Hermiston - CTV | November 7, 2016
Kristen Chafe bought her 2014 Ford Edge because she thought it would be a dependable, sturdy vehicle. But the car only had about 23,000 kilometres on it... Read More
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APA & CTV W5 Undercover Investigation
CTV W5 & APA | April 9, 2016
Sticker Shock! Secret shoppers from the APA visited 20 new car dealerships in Vancouver. See the full report.
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New Sask. laws will help car buyers avoid hidden fees
CBC News | February 2, 2016
Automobile Protection Association says hidden fees can total more than $1K. Read More
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Is your used car actually safe? Soon, it’ll be easier to tell
Lorraine Sommerfeld - Driving.ca | January 25, 2016
Mechanics and used car dealers may be up in arms, but Ontario's overhaul of its safety certificate program is long overdue. Read More
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Nova Scotia urged to adopt all-in pricing on vehicle sales
Yvonne Colbert - CBC | January 19, 2016
A Halifax man annoyed about what he calls "hidden" car fees is calling on the Nova Scotia government to follow the lead of several other provinces and implement all-in pricing for vehicle purchases. Read More
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Report Warns Auto Financing Going Overboard
APA | August 7, 2015
Seven years now the norm for vehicle loans. Full Article
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Dealer, Toyota kept Montreal widow on the hook for husband's lease
CBC News - Raffy Boudjikanian | May 19, 2015
Situation to be rectified after questions by CBC. Read More
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APA's Annual Review of the Auto Industry on CTV W5
March 28, 2015
The Real Deal - APA mystery shoppers visit 22 Calgary car dealerships. Read the APA Report
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APA's Investigation of Used Car Dealers in Toronto
CTV W5 | April 2014
Accompanied by an expert mechanic, APA mystery shoppers embarked once again on a hair-raising quset for a used car in the GTA.
Read the full report | Visit CTV W5's Website
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APA's Investigation of Used Car Dealers in Vancouver
CTV W5 | March 2013
APA mystery shoppers visited 18 used car dealers and two curbsiders in the Greater Vancouver area looking for a good used car.
Read More
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Shops Unable to Pass the Latest APA Auto Repair Investigation
April 2011
The APA visited 31 repair shops in Toronto and Calgary for the correction of a simple problem, with mixed results.
Read More
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