Caveat Emptor!! Run that Carfax!!
Well I encountered something today for the first time. Background: the man who's basically my father-in-law wants a used Sequoia for grandchild duty and he found a 2005 (SR5, 2wd) with 94,000mi for...
Forum Discussion
mowermech wrote:
I have purchased vehicles with "Odometer error". Often,the error was due to speedometer replacement. One of those vehicles actually had a sticker on the door jam stating what the mileage was on the original odometer, and what the mileage was on the replacement odometer (required by law in some states).
I have seen vehicles in which the airbags deployed due to hitting a parking bolster too hard, and in which the airbag deployed due to an electrical malfunction.
My "toy truck" has the dreaded "odometer error" because the speedometer doesn't work. However, it is old enough that nobody cares, not even Carfax!
My son once bought two vehicles that had been totaled, and were in wrecking yards. He had a Carfax account at the time, and ran the VINs of the two cars. Nothing! Turns out, they weren't totaled by any insurance company, the previous owners just gave up on them! No reports!
I'm glad Carfax worked for the OP. Personally, I would have checked the vehicle thoroughly, and then made up my mine if I wanted it, based purely on condition and price, just as I have done on every used vehicle I have ever purchased.
I get what you're saying, but in this case I suggested to my FIL to pass altogether.
If he were looking for a $4000 beater then the odo issues wouldn't be a problem; he's spending around $10000 and there are just too many other vehicles on the market to settle for one with a kinky past. We've already moved on and I'm taking him to look at another Sequoia either tonight or Tuesday evening.
