This Windsor, Ont., man is paying for a car he can't drive. He's calling for stronger consumer rights

A Windsor, Ont.,man who has spentmonths without avehicle ashis SUVsitsin the dealership'slot,awaiting parts,following an accident iscalling for stronger consumerlaws.

Mohamed Ahmed says the Marchcar accident left his then month-old vehicleundrivable. He said hewasn't offered a replacement, and was "shocked" to learn he doesn't have a legal right to one.

Ahmed financed a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan in February. He is still waiting for the arrival of two main parts a steering rack and rimsso his vehicle can be fixed.

"There is no ETA on the parts, which is causing me lots of frustration," he said.

Ahmed saidhe works for a Toronto-based companyand is supposed to be there in person at least twice a month, but he's unable to get there.

"If I want to travel, meet my clients, meet my team I'll be so much stressed with everything going up in the roof now with prices. I need to save every penny not to spend it on car rentals."

I'm paying for a car I don't have. I'm paying for a car that I don't know when it's coming back.- Mohamed Ahmed, Windsor, Ont., resident

Ahmed said he's had to rent a car a couple of times to make it to meetings in Toronto.He also said he used his wife's car and she missed work in Windsor as a result.

"I contacted Volkswagen several times. There is no response from them or there is a, 'We acknowledge that your car is there with us, but there is no ETA on the parts for now,'"Ahmed said.

"I'm paying for a car I don't have. I'm paying for a car that I don't know when it's coming back."

When reached for comment,the dealership, Volkswagen of Windsor,referred CBC News toVolkswagen Canada. The company did not respondto requests for comment by the time this article was published, but it will be updated should we receive a response.

Ahmed, a Canadian permanent resident,was hoping Volkswagen would offer compensation similar to the one he got from the companya couple of years ago when he had troubles with a pre-ownedAudi whilehe was in the Middle East.

He saidhis Audihad to be taken to be fixed for a couple of months because of a faulty spark plug, andVolkswagen compensated him by giving himanother car of the same value to use in the meantime.

"So why not here? Why Canada doesn't have this" same consumer protection?

Ahmed's insurance package doesn't cover car rentals after accidents.He said hehas upgraded his insurance to try topreventgoing through this type of situation again.

George Iny,director of the Automobile Protection Association, called for moreconsumer protection policies and said that cases such as Ahmed's, carmakers should be held accountable.

"In a more perfect world, the carmakers would step up their game," Inysaid.

The consumeradvocate says he would like to see automakersworking with dealerships and body shops to compensate customers for wait times."You know, maybe [a car rental] or $25 a day paid for by the carmaker."

"They should be providing acourtesy loaner when they cannot supply parts within a reasonable delay of time," said Iny.

'Domino effect'

Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), saida vehicle is like a jigsaw puzzle where every piece is needed.

"Those pieces come from dozens of different suppliers. Then any one supplieron any one product can hold up the production of that car, and then it has a domino effect," Volpe said.

While there are worldwide delaysoncar parts and carsfuelled by multiple factors, including a shortage of semiconductors, Volpe saidit's a waiting game "we're all in the same boat."

In the aftermath of the nearly two-weekB.C. port strike,Volpe saidcars manufactured in Canada and the U.S. needing parts from Asia will continue to have some delays.

"It's hard for me to say when we're going to go back to normal or what is normal, and maybe this is the new normal," Volpe said.

"It's no consolation to anybody who's waiting for parts or cars, but you know this is happening all over the world."

Volpe saidanyone looking to purchase a car nowshould do some research first.

"Look around what's happening lately. If that specific brand has had a lot of delays like this, then maybe hold off on that brand for now."