Close to one million vehicles for sale in Canada had an open or unfixed recall in 2025. One million. And that’s just vehicles being put up for sale.

That’s the news from CARFAX Canada which generated millions of Vehicle History Reports on vehicles for sale in Canada last year. Data on these reports reveals that close to one million of these vehicles had open or unfixed recalls putting drivers at higher risk of accidents, injury and legal implications.

Unfixed recalls are very common and can range from malfunctioning airbags to electrical issues that can cause fire, leaks or issues with fuel pumps, seatbelts and brakes, and other components.

“Unfortunately, too many Canadians are unaware that the vehicle they want to buy has a safety defect that puts them at risk. Checking for open recalls when buying a used vehicle is as critical as test driving it and knowing about past accidents,” said Shawn Vording, President at CARFAX Canada.

1 in 4 Vehicles Searched had at Least One Recall

In 2025, 25 percent of ehicles searched had at least one unfixed issue on CARFAX Canada reports, with most of the recalls found for vehicles registered in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.

Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Sedans and Crew Cab Pickups top the list for the type of vehicles with the most recalls reported last year.

The Risks

Recalls can greatly affect the safety and the value of the vehicle. Many recalls relate to components that could fail while driving, including airbags, fuel systems and brakes.

CARFAX says that for owners a vehicle with unfixed issues may take longer to sell or trade-in and in some cases, it could reduce the value of the vehicle, or lead to insurance implications and legal liability.

Open recalls are usually fixed by the manufacturer free of charge. Vehicle owners can stay on top of recalls by signing up for the free CARFAX Canada Car Care app, which will send them notifications if their vehicle has a new recall and helps them track service history, maintenance and more.

Beyond Accidents

According to CARFAX Canada, past accidents and damage continue to be a determining factor when purchasing a used vehicle – 1 in 4 vehicles searched by CARFAX Canada have damage or accident history – and in some cases future accidents can be prevented when open recalls are fixed promptly.

Vording adds “A recall or accident doesn’t automatically make a used vehicle a bad choice. What’s important is that used car buyers know about it to make a confident investment, negotiate fairly and avoid unexpected surprises down the road.”

Consumers are encouraged to get a value range from CARFAX Canada and a Vehicle History Report with VIN Fraud Check before buying a used car to find out about past accidents, recalls and potential VIN fraud. Used car buyers are reminded to check for outstanding liens to avoid purchasing a vehicle with unpaid debt.

CARFAX Canada searches billions of data records across North America and provides comprehensive vehicle history, market insights and vehicle valuation data to help millions of people make decisions about cars.

About CARFAX Canada
CARFAX Canada, a part of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), is Canada’s definitive source of automotive information, delivering vehicle history, valuation and service solutions. Drawing on billions of data records from thousands of sources, its products enable used vehicle buyers, sellers and vehicle service providers to make informed decisions. CARFAX Canada is dedicated to transparency and is trusted to provide vehicle history, valuation and service information to dealerships, vehicle manufacturers, consumers, service shops, major auctions, governments, insurance providers and police agencies.