TV Unit’s Probe Finds Major Odometer Rollback Problem

When was the last time you heard of a car dealer hauled before the courts for rolling back odometers? Did you hear anything just now? That’s right; the silence was deafening. The reason was that people have supposed since digital odometers came along almost 30 years ago that they were tamper-proof.

Odometer Rollback Problem Still Endemic

It turns out though, according to an investigative report by NBC12, Richmond, Va., that the problem of odometer rollbacks is still with us. The idea that there was such an item as a tamper-proof odometer is a myth.

Why is this important? The odometer is the key gauge on your instrument panel. It is used to determine:

• The number of miles on a vehicle when it is sold or traded.
• The value a dealer will put on a vehicle turned in as a trade.

Digital Odometers Viewed Closely

The NBC investigative unit looked specifically at digital odometers that have been part of most vehicles since the early 1990s. The investigators found that as many as 1.6 million vehicles that used digital odos have been affected by fraud. The finding is quite unexpected as most had believed that digital odometers are safe from that long-time auto problem, mileage rollback. 1.6 Million Vehicles Have Doctored Odometers

Based on the information provided by Carfax, one of the leading anti-fraud authorities on the automotive market, the television investigators used, as a basis for their probe, a 2006 Chevy Silverado, which started the exercise with 230,323 miles. Based on the mileage and condition the truck carried a value of $3,700 in Richmond, Va.

The video probe then showed a device that was purchased by a participating technician that quickly changed the mileage from 230,323 to 130,483. By only making this change, the value of the vehicle rose at least $8,000. Of course, there was no history around the changed mileage so the fraudsters would have had to create one. And, this brings us to another problem with handling a vehicle like this, fraud. It is against federal law to do this, as well as state law, in most jurisdictions.

Probers Discussed Rollback With Victim

The television investigative unit talked at length with the victim of a rollback. She bought a 2008 BMW with what was claimed to be 136,507 on the odometer; the price was $9,500. The owner said the vehicle had had many issues. The number of problems caused her to check the VIN (vehicle identification number). On checking the VIN, she found the vehicle had 218,486 miles on the odometer, not the 136,507 advertised. The owner found out about the 87,722-mile difference after she had purchased the car. She was stunned. “I would never think a digital odometer could actually have a rollback,” the owner insisted. Chevy Silverado Used As An Example.

The sequence of events should have raised a red flag. The owner said she purchased the luxury car and then noticed the problems. It was at this time that she looked at the VIN (vehicle identification number).

This is the wrong method of buying a car. You should always check out the vehicle first by looking at the VIN. Then, when you are sure of things, you should proceed with the deal. If anything looks funny about it, you should reject the vehicle and walk away. Indeed, the owner could have avoided all her problems had she looked at the VIN and the history. It would have exposed the issues with the vehicleHow To Detect Odometer Fraud.

Sources: Research, NBC12 Richmond, Va.,Autoblog., Carfax