Potential Projectiles: NHTSA probe launched into 1.8 million Ford Explorers for loose trim panels
Toronto, Ontario — The U.S.’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a probe into 1.8 million Ford Explorer models following reports that traveling at highway speeds can cause windshield trim panels to detach from the vehicle, thereby putting other motorists at risk. The preliminary NHTSA evaluation will concern 2011 to 2019 model year […]
Rate Daze: Auto insurance rating systems becoming complex beyond understanding, lawyer says
Toronto, Ontario — The current Canadian auto insurance rating system is so complex, a lawyer who recently spoke at a recent insurance industry event said that “There are concerns that these systems will be so complex over time that we don’t understand them.” Carole Piovesan, co-founder of data law and consulting firms INQ Law and […]
Fee Freeze: ICBC approved for two-year rate freeze, utilities commission review to follow
Vancouver, British Columbia — Ask and you shall receive—if you happen to be ICBC, that is—as British Columbia’s crown insurer has been approved for a two-year freeze in auto insurance rates, amid rising inflation among drivers. The British Columbia Utilities Corporation (BCUC) confirmed last Tuesday that ICBC and its basic policyholders will see their insurance […]
Best of the Worst: Ont. government releases rejected vanity plate list for 2022
Toronto, Ontario — When it comes to government-sanctioned modes of self-expression, it’s hard to beat a vanity plate, and while you may think you have already seen the most ridiculous ones out on the road, the fact is that the true gems lie in the discard pile. Despite how it may seem from casual observance, […]
The Nose Knows: Toyota sued in Florida over bacteria-laden A/C vents
Toronto, Ontario — Have you ever produced a smell so awful that a class action lawsuit was filed against you? This isn’t referring to your family’s complaints about athlete’s foot (though you really should get that checked) but to a case leveled against Toyota in the state of Florida. Within a week of Jose Javier […]
Extra Charges: Little evidence to support electronic rust protection, despite high install costs, report says
Toronto, Ontario — With Canadian drivers doing all they can to keep their vehicles on the road and avoid today’s precarious buying market, many are looking to the aftermarket for products to bolster their ride’s lifespan, as a recent report from CTV News shone a light on one particularly contentious piece of equipment. Jennifer Capel […]
‘Till the Wheels Fall Off: 70 percent of B.C. drivers holding onto current cars ‘much longer,’ BCAA survey says
Burnaby, British Columbia — High costs of living are causing many British Columbia drivers to hold on to their aging vehicles just a little while longer, according to a recent survey conducted on behalf of the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA). The survey, carried out by Leger, found that 70 percent of B.C. drivers intend […]
Scale Models: MPI directed to adopt primary driver rate adjustment model following court appeal
Winnipeg, Manitoba — Good drivers will no longer subsidize bad drivers, according to a Manitoba lawyer following the recent court decision to adjust MPI insurance rates based on a primary driver model, rather than a registered owner model. “It will never account for the people who are actually driving the vehicle, and the people who […]
Crunching the Numbers: Catalytic converter theft rates higher than reflected numbers, report says
Toronto, Ontario — A new report from the U.S.’s National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program (NSVRP) gets down to brass tacks on how catalytic converter thefts are costing the insurance industry and everyday drivers, more than what initial estimates may reflect. Based on data collected by State Farm, catalytic converter thefts are up 33 percent in […]
Chip Surplus: Toyota owners Facebook group raises questions about Highlander glass quality
Toronto, Ontario — Reports have been circulating out of a Toyota owners Facebook group where many Highlander owners have been voicing their frustrations about what they consider to be especially chip-prone windshields. One group member, Joshua Redding, asked a question that many owners of the popular Toyota model seem to be asking: “How many windshields […]