A CBC investigation has uncovered inconsistencies in the provincial vehicle safety inspection program — a problem CBC has uncovered in the past. One critic says safety inspection programs with inconsistencies are worse than no program at all.Manitoba's inspection program became mandatory in 1995 for all vehicles. (CBC)

The CBC I-Team took the same 1998 Toyota Camry to four local garages over two days and paid $55 for a Certificate of Inspection at each garage. The Certificate of Inspection program became mandatory in 1995 for all used and newly registered vehicles in Manitoba.

While each garage failed the vehicle, the findings differed at each location.

Among the findings:

• Two said both front tires needed to be replaced, one said both left tires needed to be replaced and one said both front and one left tire needed to be replaced.
• Three said the rear sub frame needed work.
• Two said both side view mirrors needed to be replaced, while two said only the right mirror needed to be fixed.
• Three said the front bumper needed to be replaced.

Experts say tires are one of the most important items to focus on.

"As far as elements to focus on, (it should be) tires. They're the most likely contributor to an accident on the mechanical side," said the Automobile Protection Association’s George Iny.

Historical findings

It is the fifth time in 15 years CBC has taken a vehicle to local garages for safety inspections — and each time there have been inconsistencies in the findings.

MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley says the program needs consistency to operate effectively.

"Consistency is absolutely key and consistency can be achieved by using the vehicle inspection handbook."

MPI Minister Andrew Swan agrees.

"There's a handbook, there's the guidelines that we expect our private partners to follow when they're safetying vehicles," Swan said.

In 1998 officials shared similar sentiments.

"What's going on is the inspectors aren't following the inspection handbook," Manitoba Safety Inspection Program’s Adam Hrabinski said in 1998.

Systematic problems

Experts say the wide range of results indicates there are serious problems with the system.

George Iny of the Automobile Protection Association said no inspections are better than bad inspections, which can give consumers a false sense of security.

"People are lulled into believing the inspections are good but anyone who wants to pass off a bad vehicle can do it anywhere," Iny said.

While agreeing there’s room for improvement, Minister Swan says CBC’s inspection results weren’t so bad.

"A number of things were picked up by all four garages. Clearly there was some difference in opinion and in a perfect world we wouldn't want that to happen but when mechanics are using their judgement that can happen."

According to MPI, each inspection costs the garage that performs it $5. That covers the annual administration cost. The entire program costs $500,000 per year.

The amount earned by a garage that performs a safety is far less than what they earn for doing other work so many mechanics want nothing to do with the program.

Road safety

In April, the Winnipeg Police Service stopped 120 vehicles with visually apparent defects. Of those, 118 failed safety inspections.

MPI says no studies have ever been done in Manitoba to see if safety inspections make our roads any safer.

Swan says studies of similar programs in other locations have shown the program does work, including one study in Pennsylvania.

"That study shows these programs do work, they provide safety for those driving these vehicles and safety for all of us. A safety program is the way to go but based on the information you've provided us we still have a way to go."

The provincial government has no plans to discontinue the program.