Carfax Reports Aren't Always Accurate or Up to Date

Carfax markets itself as a quick and easy way for a car buyer to get all of the information about a used car that they are considering for purchase. While Carfax may claim to be an authority on the repair and title history of the cars that it reports on, the reality is that there are several common situations where Carfax records can be incomplete and leave buyers at risk to become victims of auto fraud.

Carfax Report Mistakes or Omissions That Can Indicate Auto Fraud

Odometer Rollbacks -- Carfax reports commonly list mileage recorded at dealer service intervals and at changes of ownership. Resellers who intentionally perpetrate auto fraud can roll back or even replace odometers in advance of recording a change of ownership. When this happens, the Carfax record will show the fraudulent mileage rather than the true mileage of the vehicle.

Unrecorded Collision Repairs -- When vehicle damage is repaired, even major repairs may not be recorded on a Carfax report. This can happen when the vehicle owner chooses to pay for the repair out of pocket, or when an unscrupulous car dealer with in-house repair facilities buys a heavily damaged car and fixes it themselves. In either case, the repairs may not be up to acceptable standards and nevertheless go undetected by buyers who depend on the Carfax to reveal accident damage.

Under-reported Damage -- Severely damaged vehicles can still hold clear titles, even when an accident is noted on a Carfax report. This can happen if the car was self-insured, such as is commonly the case with fleet vehicles or rental cars. Another instance where serious damage does not trigger a salvage title listing is when a car sustained damages that fell under the price limit required to be considered a total loss.

How a Consumer Fraud Attorney Can Advocate for You

With years of experience in the field, a consumer fraud attorney that practices extensively in cases of auto fraud can be a strong advocate for your rights as a consumer. In instances where serious collision damage was repaired and subsequently misrepresented by a car dealer, or in cases where car mileage was fraudulently rolled back before a car was resold, the services of an experienced consumer fraud attorney can be a critical advantage when pursuing claims against perpetrators of auto fraud.