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 

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. 

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 

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. 

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 

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. 

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 

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. 

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 

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. 

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. 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COVID-19 complications from the car-seller's side

The pandemic completely changed how the car-buying process worked—but new-car purchasers say dealers have done a good job adapting. Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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

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.

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.

$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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Report Warns Auto Financing Going Overboard
APA | August 7, 2015

Seven years now the norm for vehicle loans. Full Article

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

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

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

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

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