Buying a car in Canada isn’t just about horsepower or fuel economy—it’s about reliability, comfort and how well a vehicle stands up to winter, potholes, long highways and everyday life. Some vehicles repeatedly show up in complaint lists not because they’re worthless, but because real owners have experienced persistent issues. In 2025, surveys, service data and owner feedback still highlight specific models that frustrate Canadian drivers more than most. Here are twelve cars that generate the most complaints—and what those problems tend to be.
Ford Bronco Sport
Enthusiasm was high when the Bronco Sport arrived, but many owners reported chronic transmission hesitation, rough shifting and “gear hunting” in stop-and-go traffic. Winter starts also proved problematic for some, with electronics misbehaving in extreme cold. The rugged styling drew buyers in, but long term ownership stories often center on driveline tech aggravation.
Hyundai Kona (Electric and Gas)
The Kona suffers complaints on two fronts. Gas versions are plagued by Turbo system issues and jerky acceleration, while electric models face battery management glitches that reduce range unpredictably. Canadian owners also cite significant depreciation, amplifier failures and intermittent infotainment bugs.
Nissan Kicks
Low pricing made the Kicks tempting, but Canadian buyers soon expressed widespread dissatisfaction with its weak acceleration and underwhelming all-weather traction. Lack of available all-wheel drive and a minimalist interior only amplified complaints during winter commuting.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Recent Model Years)
Generational changes brought tech upgrades, but also complaints about electrical gremlins, camera failures and air suspension problems. Heated seat wiring faults and touch screen freezes show up repeatedly. The truck itself can tow and haul, but owners report nagging nuisances that take weeks in the shop to fix.
Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler’s off road chops are legendary, but everyday reliability appears less impressive. Owners report issues with body rattles, water leaks during washouts, and electrical sensor faults that trigger warning lights randomly. CN heavy winters seem to aggravate these symptoms further.
Toyota Corolla (Certain Generations)
Reliable in most respects, certain recent Corolla lineups have still drawn complaints about CVT transmission noise, rough low speed driving dynamics and weak climate control heaters in winter. Canadians expect big dependability from Toyota, so when an entry-level sedan falls short in comfort or refinement, owners take notice.
Honda Civic (Recent Years)
Canadian drivers still love the Civic, but some recent models have earned complaints about suspension noise over potholes, premature brake wear and clutch shudder in CVT equipped cars. While not catastrophic flaws, these annoyances show up often enough to make lists of persistent complaints.
Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 rides beautifully, but owners report frequent infotainment freezes, misbehaving rain sensors and sudden lane departure alerts that feel over-aggressive. Cargo space also feels limited compared to competitors, leading buyers to question the trade-offs between style and everyday usefulness.
Tesla Model Y
Range and tech are strong points, yet Canadian owners regularly lodge complaints about build quality inconsistency, panel gaps, intermittent touchscreen issues and unexpected software behaviour. Winter range losses are also a particular gripe in cold provinces, where temperatures can drastically reduce expected battery output.
Kia Sportage
Recent Sportage models face criticism for jerky gear transitions, laggy throttle response and undue wear on brake components. Complaints also touch on cabin electronics that don’t respond reliably and tire wear that seems accelerated compared to competitors.
Ford Escape
The Escape’s notable issues revolve around transmission hesitation, turbocharger concerns on smaller engines, and electronic glitches affecting the steering assist and infotainment systems. Owners report visits to service centers for intermittent complaints that can take multiple visits to resolve.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Tiguan’s aluminum suspension and tight steering make it fun to drive, but Canadian owners cite persistent water ingress issues in some years, sunroof leaks, and DSG gearbox judder in cold starts. These build concerns, combined with pricey German parts, keep it on complaint lists.
What This Means for Canadian Drivers
These models do not necessarily represent every owner’s experience, but they are the cars that keep showing up in provincial complaint boards, service bulletin threads and recall data. Often the issues are not catastrophic, yet recurring problems with transmissions, electronics, climate systems and winter performance can become expensive or frustrating over years of ownership.
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