​​What to Do When Dealing with an Odometer Rollback?​

When you are looking for a used vehicle, you want to make sure that everything is in order. Is it mechanically sound? How has the interior’s condition been held up? What about the condition of the body? Should I anticipate any issues after I take delivery? There is one more thing to consider when looking at a used vehicle – the odometer.

The odometer is the best indicator of a vehicle’s life. It shows how many miles the vehicle has traveled. It is also one of the most vulnerable parts of the automobile, susceptible to alteration.

As odometers moved from mechanical to digital devices, they are more easily manipulated than before. A device can plug into the OBD-II port to change the mileage of that vehicle. That enables the user of that device to reduce the number of miles recorded on the odometer, thereby helping sell the vehicle at a higher price.

The consequences of odometer tampering affect the consumer’s wallet. Maintenance and repairs became more sudden and unexpected. For example, if a vehicle showed 50,000 miles on the odometer but actually had 70,000 miles, there would have been four oil changes missed and possibly a major service sooner than anticipated. Imagine the cost of repairs you would have to pay for because of lost maintenance.

How do you protect yourself from an incorrect and altered odometer? You can get a CARFAX report on the vehicle that states the actual odometer reading, along with its ownership and registration history. You can inspect the vehicle’s condition for any unusual wear and tear that may not match up with the odometer reading. Request maintenance records for the vehicle. These days, the dealership service department has a record of that. Get a mechanic to scan the vehicle. Today’s automobiles will reveal much more about themselves.

You do have some recourse when you purchase a vehicle whose odometer was rolled back. You can report the fraud to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, the Federal Trade Commission, and your state’s Attorney General’s office. The seller of the vehicle will bear the brunt of any penalties if it is proven that the odometer was tampered with.

At Michael Hohl Subaru, we make sure that every used vehicle we sell has an honest odometer reading. Every vehicle in our inventory comes with a CARFAX report you can review while viewing the vehicle you are interested in. This is the peace of mind you need when making such an important purchase.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at Michael Hohl Subaru. We are here to guide you through getting the right vehicle for you.