# Certified pre-owned Toyota

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 13, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089 "2011-08-13T20:38:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kirk7466](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kirk7466](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kirk7466)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089/1 "2011-08-13T20:38:20Z")

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Does anyone know if a welded/repaired frame would make it through the certification process for Toyota CPO? I bought my 2007 Avalon 2 and a half years ago, and although there have always been hints of body damage (runs in the clearcoat, trunk not closing easily, etc.) I just now found 2 weld spots on the frame/unibody. Is this something that would normally make it through CPO? Is there anything I can do? I would think this will impact my resale.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089/2 "2011-08-13T21:33:02Z")

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From the Toyota CPO site:

FRAME, STRUCTURE & UNDERBODY  
Frame/Unibody check  
Inspect body surface  
Inspect panel alignment and fit  
Inspect lower body and underbody for damage  
Check exhaust systems and hangers

EXTERIOR CONDITION & APPEARANCE  
Exterior is clean and free of road residue  
No cracked or broken lenses of exterior lights  
Outside rearview mirror operates/lens is good  
Glass free of cracks, stars and large chips  
Glass is free of improper repairs  
Bumpers are free of cuts, gouges and scratches  
Body is free of all dents  
Body is reasonably free of dings  
Paint is reasonably free of scratches and chips  
Vehicle is free of improper paint repairs or mismatched color  
Hood and trunk latches working  
Free of water spots  
Paint is free of swirl marks  
Paint has even, high luster  
Paint is free of buffable scratches  
Free of wax residue  
Wheelwells are clean  
Acceptable aftermarket items checked  
Removal of unacceptable aftermarket items

They don’t say that they will not sell a vehicle that has been in an accident, only that it is safe to drive, there is no unfixed damage, and that all repairs were done properly. If it had been in an accident, it might be in the Carfax report you got when you bought the car. Maybe not, but it could be. You did get a Carax report, correct?

Anyway, I’d be surprised if Toyota used a previously damaged vehicle as a CPO. But tha depends on how much damage there was.

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**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089/3 "2011-08-13T22:08:43Z")

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I think like JT says carfax is your recourse. Hopefully the provided the report to you on purchase (they should) and you still have it. I am not sure if a “clean” carfax is part of the CPO requirements. Another way is to claim that the accident and repairs are such to make the car unsafe. I am thinking you would have to make a visit to said dealership and express your concern/PO state to the manager and calmly imply that you are going to pursue this and create some bad publicity. Knowing car dealers I doubt that their heart rate would go up at all but who knows. I think carfax is only covering you for $5K which is nothing nowadays esp for an Avalon. Have a bodyshop give you a written description of the damage and then talk to a lawyer.

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**Author:** ![Kirk7466](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kirk7466](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kirk7466)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/certified-pre-owned-toyota/67089/4 "2011-08-14T01:56:34Z")

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Thanks both. I set up time with the dealer next week. I’ll let you know what happens.
