Infographic: Top Canadian Car Parts Recalls of 2015

With so many recent auto recall scandals, you’d think today’s car owners would be more careful than ever about ensuring their own vehicles are safe to drive. But a recent study found that 21-25 percent of drivers whose car had a part recalled between 2006 and 2010 still haven’t had it fixed yet!

Sometimes owners don’t know their car has an issue because they bought it second-hand and assume the previous owner had the recalled part fixed. In other cases, car owners don’t take recall letters seriously because they haven’t experienced any problems themselves. But, as anyone who has completed auto mechanic training knows, no car part recalls should ever be ignored.

Even when your recalled car or car part seems fine, it’s still important to consult your dealership or a certified auto mechanic. These professionals are trained to inspect your car thoroughly and fix any potential safety issues that might make it unsafe to drive.

Need a little extra motivation to make sure your car is recall-free? Here’s a grim look at some of the most recent car parts scandals to hit Canada, what went wrong, and how drivers were affected.

Over the last decade, car recalls have gone up 4%.

In 2014 alone, almost 600 recall notices were issued in Canada, making it one of the worst years for car safety.

Before 2014, the worst year for car recalls in Canada was 2010 with 468 recalls.

Why are car part recalls on the rise?

– cars are more complex than ever before

– more parts are shared across models

– strict regulators have higher safety standards

Here’s a look at some of the top recalls of 2015.

Exploding Airbags

Takata
Affecting 1.41 million vehicles in Canada

Airbags from car part maker Takata can explode on impact and send metal shrapnel into the driver’s compartment.

Sticky Window Switches

Toyota
Affecting an unknown number of vehicles in Canada

Window switches not properly lubricated during manufacturing can get sticky and build up dirt over time, creating a fire risk.

Fiery Engines

General Motors
Affecting 125,783 vehicles in Canada

With wear and tear, engines can become leaky and spray gas droplets when braking. So far this defect has caused 267 fires and 17 minor injuries.

Flyaway Windshield Wipers

Toyota
Affecting 93,652 vehicles in Canada

Due to a design problem, water build-up can corrode windshield wipers over time, and even cause them to break off – dangerously reducing visibility in stormy conditions.

Unreliable Break Lights

Hyundai
Affecting 3,378 vehicles in Canada

Problems with the ABS warning light could prevent it from illuminating when there is a brake problem, increasing the risk that breaks fail without warning and cause an accident.

Worn Out Steering Wheels