# Help! Carfax mileage clerical error? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 10, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239 "2008-01-10T15:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dusty\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dusty\_T](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dusty_T)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239/1 "2008-01-10T15:12:38Z")
Hi, I’m looking at a new-to-me truck that’s an exact match to what I am looking for. It’s from an individual seller, has 50K original miles, and looks to be in near mint condition. I carfaxed it, and it came up with a possible odometer rollback issue. See the report below. I have omitted some info, but stressing the timeline more than anything. 12/05/2001 NICB Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer 12/15/2001 Michigan Motor Vehicle Dept. MI Registered as personal vehicle 01/07/2002 8 Mi Michigan Motor Vehicle Dept. MI Title or registration issued First owner reported 05/06/2003 Michigan Motor Vehicle Dept. Registration updated when owner moved the vehicle to a new location 06/12/2003 Michigan Motor Vehicle Dept. Registration updated when owner moved the vehicle to a new location 10/29/2003 Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dept. HI Registration updated when owner moved the vehicle to a new location 11/01/2003 72,742 Mi Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dept. Title or registration issued Owner Two Vehicle History Purchased: 2004 Where: Hawaii Est. miles/year: — Est. length owned: 10/2/04 - 3/24/05 (5 months) Date: Mileage: Source: Comments: 10/02/2004 23,000 Mi Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dept. Title #NCG52804 Title or registration issued New owner reported INCONSISTENT ODOMETER READING 3/24/2005 Washington Motor Vehicle Dept. WA Title or registration issued New owner reported 02/27/2006 Washington Motor Vehicle Dept. Olympia, WA Registration issued or renewed Vehicle color noted as Silver 02/27/2007 Washington Motor Vehicle Dept. WA Registration issued or renewed Vehicle color noted as Silver So obviously there’s a mileage discrepancy. I did some digging and found that the owner has been in the same locations that this vehicle was registered. I have positively discovered that this vehicle has been in the same locations as this owner for its life. I also called the dealer where the truck was purchased, and it was serviced on 4/9/02 at 1529 Miles. So between April of '02 and November of '03 Carfax claims the truck racked up more than 70K miles. So what to do? I probably should run away from this car, however, this guy moved around alot with the vehicle, so I can see how an error could occur. Talking with him, he did transfer ownership to a friend in HI for several months, before bringing it back to the mainland which explains the transfer in ownership. At this point I am for certain having it throughly checked at a mechanic. Maintenance records would also help in verifying correct mileage, right? Also, what else can be done to prove the mileage is inconsistent and better yet, have it removed from the history report should I purchase this vehicle and decide to sell it in the future. I’ve read elsewhere that these errors have occured with other people. To me, this is a case where I’m not convinced that Carfax is being accurate this time around. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239/2 "2008-01-10T16:07:54Z")
I’m not sure why you really care what Carfax says. Error are made and looks like they just added an extra digit in HI. I’d just make sure that the VIN numbers match the dash, fenders, etc. so that it hasn’t been a stolen or reconstructed vehicle. In MN anyway, the mileage is hand written on the back of the title and then transcribed by a clerk and assume Carfax buys the info in electronic version. They are just telling you it is a flag to check out. Once it is purchased and registered it should come up with the actual mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dusty\_T](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dusty_T)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239/3 "2008-01-10T18:14:48Z")
It seems that everyone is pretty carfax happy these days, so I worry about this possible mistake on the title should I choose to sell the truck later on. I plan to keep it for the long haul, but you never know. I agree, after doing the math I think someone accidentally entered a “7” instead of a “1” when recording mileage. I’m wondering, though if this will prevent the truck from having a “clean” title, as this guy is asking above blue book (which this vehicle usually fetches). He is a physican, and has moved all over the country- not exactly the profile of a con artist but you can never know. Either way, I think a mechanic should at least be able to tell the difference between a vehicle with 50K on it, and 120K while giving it a good going over- especially since this truck looks very clean. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239/4 "2008-01-10T18:26:34Z")
It’s a toss-up. CarFax is not to be trusted, they do make mistakes. However, it’s also possible that someone could have changed the entire instrument cluster (with the speedometer/odomter) in an effort to have the vehicle show lower mileage. Someone buys and installs a low mileage cluster from a salvage or eBay for 50 bucks and that can translate into a 1000 or so additional dollars when the vehicle is sold. That little stunt has been done countless times so I would advise having it checked carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dusty\_T](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dusty_T)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-carfax-mileage-clerical-error/9239/5 "2008-01-10T20:47:44Z")
Well, I called the DMV in Hawaii, and there was an inconsistent odometer reading. From what the owner told me, he did have the vehicle transfered to a friend for about 5 months before he brought it to Washington. During that transfer in Hawaii, the inconsistent reading popped up, and according to the DMV there, it was reported by the “new owner” or friend transferred to, and was subsequently notarized. Don’t think carfax is lying, but I’m definitely getting this rig throughly inspected by a mechanic should I consider making the purchase. If it checks out fine (I’m thinking it will), then I’ll probably take it.