The Irving Police Department said its Auto Theft Unit worked with the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and Irving Code Enforcement.
While executing a search warrant at a local automobile dealership, investigators discovered more than 75 vehicles with rolled-back mileage readings, according to the department.
Irving police did not identify the dealership in its public announcement, name any suspects or announce arrests or criminal charges. The department also did not say whether any of the vehicles had already been sold. T
hose omissions are important because this remains an investigation, and the information released so far does not establish that any particular person or business has been convicted of wrongdoing.
Even with those unanswered questions, the numbers are remarkable. Dividing 6.2 million miles among 75 vehicles would equal an average reduction of more than 82,000 miles per vehicle, although police said the investigation involved more than 75 vehicles, so the actual average would be somewhat lower.
Why mileage fraud costs buyers
Mileage is one of the major factors used to estimate a used vehicle’s value, remaining useful life and likely maintenance needs.
A vehicle represented as having 60,000 miles ordinarily commands more money than the same model with 140,000 miles. The lower reading can also leave a buyer believing major maintenance is years away when the vehicle may already be overdue for expensive service or repairs.
Odometer fraud did not disappear when mechanical odometers were replaced by digital displays. NHTSA says altered digital odometers can be harder for consumers to detect because there are no visible moving parts that may reveal tampering.
The agency estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold in the United States each year with false odometer readings.
How shoppers can spot a rollback
Used-car shoppers should compare the mileage displayed in the vehicle with the mileage recorded on the title, inspection reports and maintenance records. NHTSA also recommends looking for oil-change and service stickers on windows, door frames, inside the glove box or under the hood.
Wear on the gas, brake and clutch pedals should appear consistent with the advertised mileage, and buyers should obtain a vehicle history report using the vehicle identification number.
Do not rely exclusively on a history report supplied by the seller. Obtain your own report and examine the mileage recorded over time. The numbers should generally move steadily upward. If a vehicle had 145,000 miles during a previous service visit and now shows 62,000 miles, you have not found the Fountain of Youth on four wheels.
You have found a reason to stop the transaction and demand an explanation.
Texas titles may carry warnings
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles says vehicle titles may carry an odometer brand when the mileage is known or suspected to be inaccurate.
Depending on the circumstances, the title may be marked “Not Actual Mileage.” TxDMV also advises buyers to check the title history through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and have a trusted mechanic inspect a used vehicle before signing documents or paying money.
Consumers outside Texas should contact their own state motor vehicle or law-enforcement agency if they suspect odometer fraud. NHTSA directs individual complaints to state enforcement agencies and asks people who suspect a large-scale odometer fraud operation to call its Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
The Irving investigation should serve as a national warning. A low-mileage used vehicle can be attractive, but the number glowing on the dashboard should never be accepted on faith alone. Check the title, study the vehicle history, inspect the condition and verify the seller.
The miles may have disappeared from the odometers, but they did not disappear from the cars.
Jerry Reynolds is the host of The Car Pro Show, president of the Car Pro Radio Network, and is heard locally on WBAP and KRLD. A former Ford dealer, he now helps consumers navigate car buying and ownership. Read more at CarPro.com
Provided by Dallas Express
