Ontario man seals his sunroof shut after mechanic quotes him $22,520 for a repair — what you can learn from his experience

Vehicle sunroofs often conjure up relaxing summer memories — times when you or your children were enjoying the warm breeze flowing into the vehicle during long road trips. But for the Hilts family from Newmarket, their now-sealed sunroof reminds them of the inflated costs to repair a vehicle.

Mark Hilts’s wife was driving their 2020 Toyota Camry XLE in October and opened the sunroof, but then realized it wouldn't close when prompted to. They took the vehicle to a Toyota dealership and the sunroof assembly was inspected. A staff member explained that the whole roof needed to be replaced, as the glass frame was “twisting” due to the assembly “binding up on the driver’s side," Hilts told CTV News (1)

The cost to fix the broken assembly was a whopping $22,520.

“I thought for sure that the decimal place was in the wrong spot,” Hilts told the news outlet. Instead of paying the massive bill, the family chose to seal in the sunroof so it can no longer be used. This repair set them back only $576, but took away an enjoyable experience for the rest of the car’s life.

The rising costs of vehicle repairs

The Hilts family aren’t the only Canadian family dumbfounded by the rising costs to keep their vehicle in good condition. Data from car warranty company A-Protect Warranty Corporation shows a major difference in prices between 2020 and 2024–25. For instance, overhauling a brake system averaged about $500 in 2020, but now ranges between $800 to $1,200 (2). A transmission replacement used to cost $3,500 on average, but would now set someone back nearly $6,500.

When scrutinizing the industry as a whole, the cost to maintain vehicles has been climbing steadily since before the pandemic. From December 2019 to December 2024, the inflation rate for passenger vehicle parts, maintenance and repair rose 22.3%, according to data from Statistics Canada (3). While shutdowns in 2020 and onwards contributed to this price increase, current factors are still keeping prices high.

According to The Insurance Institute, over 70% of vehicle parts used for repairs in Canada are imported from other countries (4). Challenges stemming from the tariff war between the U.S. and Canada and other geopolitical issues, has resulted in the Canadian auto industry battling deep uncertainty this year (5), which puts upward pressure on how auto parts are priced. The harder it is to source or ship a part, the more suppliers may charge for it.

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How to determine the total cost of a vehicle

The Hilts' massive repair bill and rising maintenance fees might make you question if buying a vehicle will lead to into debt. Thankfully, there are ways to estimate how much a vehicle purchase could really cost you — repairs included.

Annual maintenance fees for Canadian vehicles are approximately $1,500 when driven 20,000 kilometres per year (6), notes car marketplace Canada Drives. Newer vehicles may only cost $500 per year to maintain, for instance, but once a vehicle hits the decade mark, expect it to hover around $1,500 a year to prolong its functionality.

That said, there are variances in what a consumer may have to pay in order to keep their vehicle in working condition. The Alberta Motor Association suggests that for each kilometre driven in a compact vehicle that is regularly maintained, you can expect to shill out 3.5 cents in operating costs (7). Using this formula, if you drove a Honda Civic for 20,000 kilometre this year, you could expect to pay $700 in upkeep costs. However, that figure will fluctuate depending on the age and condition of the vehicle as well.

Keep in mind that models with advanced technology like complex sensors may require additional maintenance fees. If you’re on the lookout for a new vehicle, weigh the benefit a feature gives versus the price to maintain or replace that feature. For example, automatic folding running boards might be an interesting add on, but they don’t necessarily increase the value of a vehicle.

Conversely, tire pressure sensors might be a more valuable upgrade. Driving with a deflated tire for an extended period could seriously damage a vehicle, leading to higher maintenance fees. This can justify the cost of sensors on a new vehicle.

How to prepare for an unexpected vehicle repair

While making the right choice when buying a vehicle is important, it’s also critical to be prepared for the unexpected — especially with repair costs as high as they are. Here are some tips you can implement right away.

• Beef up your emergency fund. Continually contributing to an emergency fund, especially one stored in a solvent high-interest savings account, will minimize the sticker shock when paying for a maintenance.
• Increase your budget for upkeep costs. As your vehicle ages, your budget for vehicle repairs should increase as well.
• Consider extended warranty. Especially for vehicles that have high maintenance fees due to expensive technology, purchasing extended warranty can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if a part fails during the warranty period.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

CTV News (1); A-Warranty Corporation (2); Statistics Canada (3); The Insurance Institute (4); Automotive Manufacturing Solutions (5); Canada Drives (6); Alberta Motor Association (7)