Have you found a good deal on a used pickup at an auction or private sale recently? If so, do you know if are there any manufacturer recalls outstanding on it that should be addressed?
Up until the end of last year, manufacturers were only required to notify the initial purchaser of record when the truck left the dealer’s lot of any safety recalls. But as of Jan. 1, that has changed. Brands will now have to make it easier for all vehicle owners to find that information.
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It was always possible to stop in at the appropriate brand dealership and have the service department check for outstanding recall notices on any particular vehicle, but now it’s possible to do a quick online search using a truck or car’s 17-digit VIN number.
A new federal regulation which came into force on Jan. 1 requires all manufacturers have an online webpage owners can use to search for recall information on their vehicles. The regulation requires all brands must be in compliance with that law by mid-2026. Some already are.
Ford now has its page up and running. General Motors, too, now makes the information available through its online search engine.
Ram’s online search site can be found here.
According to a Transport Canada announcement early this year, there are an estimated five million vehicles driving around on Canadian roads with outstanding safety recalls. In 2024 alone, there were 785 recalls announced, affecting roughly eight million vehicles.
In a press release, Canada’s then-transport minister Anita Anand said “easy access to recall information online is an obvious step to ensure the safety of Canadians.”
