How dependable is Carfax?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
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How dependable is Carfax?
Does anyone else question a clear Carfax report? I recently bought a 2005 Eddie Bauer Expedition from a Ford dealer. They acknowledge that they bought it from a local auction, which the Carfax report verifies. But other than showing the original lease date, it really doesn't show any other info, and it results in a clear report. I was happy with this until I bought the vehicle, and started finding small things.
Like the front passenger door doesn't shut tight, so much so that when you look in the mirror you can see the body lines are off. And when you are going down the road the wind noise drives you crazy. (We didn't notice this in the test drive because unfortunately we test drove at night with the heater on high.)
Also there is something weird about the shifter and shiftlock, which I just posted about.
Has anyone else experienced inconsistent reporting?
Like the front passenger door doesn't shut tight, so much so that when you look in the mirror you can see the body lines are off. And when you are going down the road the wind noise drives you crazy. (We didn't notice this in the test drive because unfortunately we test drove at night with the heater on high.)
Also there is something weird about the shifter and shiftlock, which I just posted about.
Has anyone else experienced inconsistent reporting?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Well... some things won't show up on a carfax. For instance, I once bought a car which I knew for a fact had been wrecked. I know because I looked at it at the dealership a few days before the salesman wrecked it. I passed on the car obviously but another salesman bought the car and had it repaired. I bought it from him at a pretty good price and I was the first to title the car so it had a clear title. I have before and after pics even, it was pretty tore up. Slid sideways around a bend, curb checked it, then over the curb and thorugh a chain link fence coming to rest on a highway sign.
Also, minor fender benders which do not get a police report do not get reported.
Also, minor fender benders which do not get a police report do not get reported.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 6
From: Eastern PA
Carfax only knows what is reported to them.
Any accidents not reported to the insurance company for a claim will not show up.
Unless they actually check the miles at inspection/etc, it's not going to show up.
Here's a couple samples:
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
Unless involved in a major insurance claim, it's not going to show fire/flood/hail damage, or pretty much any of the other categories. It's mostly reliable for seeing if the miles are accurate, and if it's been traded around excessively(usually means lack of maintenance).
Any accidents not reported to the insurance company for a claim will not show up.
Unless they actually check the miles at inspection/etc, it's not going to show up.
Here's a couple samples:
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN
Unless involved in a major insurance claim, it's not going to show fire/flood/hail damage, or pretty much any of the other categories. It's mostly reliable for seeing if the miles are accurate, and if it's been traded around excessively(usually means lack of maintenance).
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 2kcrewcab
Well... some things won't show up on a carfax. For instance, I once bought a car which I knew for a fact had been wrecked. I know because I looked at it at the dealership a few days before the salesman wrecked it. I passed on the car obviously but another salesman bought the car and had it repaired. I bought it from him at a pretty good price and I was the first to title the car so it had a clear title. I have before and after pics even, it was pretty tore up. Slid sideways around a bend, curb checked it, then over the curb and through a chain link fence coming to rest on a highway sign.
Also, minor fender benders which do not get a police report do not get reported.
Also, minor fender benders which do not get a police report do not get reported.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,768
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Originally Posted by Bob4RTI
Does anyone else question a clear Carfax report? I recently bought a 2005 Eddie Bauer Expedition from a Ford dealer. They acknowledge that they bought it from a local auction, which the Carfax report verifies. But other than showing the original lease date, it really doesn't show any other info, and it results in a clear report. I was happy with this until I bought the vehicle, and started finding small things.
Like the front passenger door doesn't shut tight, so much so that when you look in the mirror you can see the body lines are off. And when you are going down the road the wind noise drives you crazy. (We didn't notice this in the test drive because unfortunately we test drove at night with the heater on high.)
Also there is something weird about the shifter and shiftlock, which I just posted about.
Has anyone else experienced inconsistent reporting?
Like the front passenger door doesn't shut tight, so much so that when you look in the mirror you can see the body lines are off. And when you are going down the road the wind noise drives you crazy. (We didn't notice this in the test drive because unfortunately we test drove at night with the heater on high.)
Also there is something weird about the shifter and shiftlock, which I just posted about.
Has anyone else experienced inconsistent reporting?
It's simply a title reporting service that takes available registration data from the states and reports title, mileage, and other major activities (limited accident reporting) that must be reported to the individual states' registration bureaus.
It in no way reports minor stuff that may have been done (or not) by any dealer, whether a Ford dealer or not.
You can request from your dealer an OASIS report for your VIN. It will show all activity reported by Ford dealerships, any recalls (whether open or closed), along with other vehicle service data including it's in-service date and original selling dealer.
You can really benefit from having both reports in-hand.
If the vehicle is still in warranty, return it to the dealer for warranty repairs and be done with it. If out of warranty, you're on your own.
Steve
