Canadians who bought or leased a new vehicle between 1998 and 2017 may still be eligible for a share of roughly $50 million tied to car parts claims. The deadline to file a claim is May 12, 2026, and the final payout round is now open to consumers who were not previously eligible. The settlement stems from allegations of price-fixing involving key automotive components and affects an estimated one million vehicles in Canada.
Who Can Still Apply for Car Parts Payments
The claims cover Canadians who purchased or leased a new passenger car, sport utility vehicle, van, or light pick-up truck of up to 10, 000 pounds during the relevant period. The settlement includes two groups: people with newly included vehicles who were not previously able to apply, and people with previously included vehicles who may now be added in the final round if they meet the consent requirements tied to their information.
Courts in Toronto, Vancouver, and Quebec approved settlements totaling approximately $78 million in June 2023 after an earlier $26 million round had already been issued in March 2021. Those earlier funds have already been distributed, leaving this third and final distribution as the remaining opportunity for eligible consumers to claim a share of the remaining car parts funds.
What the Settlement Covers
The underlying cases involve allegations that manufacturers conspired to fix the price of certain automotive parts, including air conditioning systems, door latches, braking systems, and shock absorbers. The cases affected some of the world’s largest automakers and led to class actions and criminal investigations globally, while the automakers themselves were not accused of wrongdoing and are not defendants in the cases.
In the final round, the distribution is expected to be proportional, with payments based on the value of each approved claim compared with the total value of all approved claims. That means the amount any individual receives will depend on the size of the claim and how many other claims are accepted.
Immediate Reactions and Legal Context
David Jones, a partner at Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP in Vancouver, said price-fixing conspiracies are prohibited by the Competition Act and are harmful to the Canadian marketplace because they cause businesses and consumers to pay too much for goods and services. His remarks highlight the broader public-interest concern surrounding the car parts litigation and the reason these settlements were pursued in the first place.
Siskinds LLP said the final distribution includes about $50 million in settlement funds, in addition to roughly $104 million that had already been distributed in earlier rounds. The firm also said some previously included vehicle owners may be automatically included if they consented to use of their information in later distributions or if they now consent by responding to the claims administrator’s email.
What Happens Next
Eligible Canadians still have time to submit a claim, but the May 12, 2026 deadline is approaching quickly. Anyone who believes their vehicle may fall within the car parts settlement should review whether they were part of the relevant ownership or lease period and whether they fit the final-round categories. With the deadline closing in, this car parts distribution is the last major chance for consumers to receive a share of the settlement funds.
