Fanir

Hey guys,

Im kinda frustrated about my recent car purchase and I am hoping someone might have some answers for me.

About a little over 2 weeks ago I bought a 1996 Acura TL 2.5L from a private seller.

Anyways, soo far I love the car. But this morning I decided to run a Carfax for the hell of it. (I know I should of done it before i bought the damm thing )

The car as of now has a little over 150k miles on it.

When I ran the car fax I got the message Potential Odometer Rollback Indicated.

Everything else checks out good, no accidents, salvage, flood, etc.

When I went to study where it said Odometer Rollback I came across this part.

<table id="recordTable1" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="oddrow" id="detailsHeaderRow1"><th id="dateHeader1" width="13%">Date:</th><th id="mileageHeader1" class="mileage" width="13%">Mileage:</th><th id="sourceHeader1" width="24%">Source:</th><th id="commentsHeader1" width="50%">Comments:</th></tr> <tr id="record1" class="evenrow"><td valign="top"> 12/15/1996 </td><td class="mileage"> </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Miami, FL </td><td valign="top"> Registered as personal lease vehicle </td> </tr> <tr id="record2" class="oddrow"><td valign="top"> 01/02/1997 </td><td class="mileage"> 75 </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Miami, FL </td><td valign="top"> Odometer reading reported </td> </tr> <tr id="record3" class="evenrow"><td valign="top"> 01/21/1997 </td><td class="mileage"> </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Miami, FL
Title #72229291 </td><td valign="top"> Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Loan or lien reported </td> </tr> <tr id="record4" class="oddrow"><td valign="top"> 05/29/1997 </td><td class="mileage"> 41,000 </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL </td><td valign="top"> Passed emissions inspection </td> </tr> <tr id="record5" class="evenrow"><td valign="top"> 06/03/1998 </td><td class="mileage"> 85,000 </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL </td><td valign="top"> Passed emissions inspection </td> </tr> <tr id="record6" class="oddrow"><td valign="top"> 05/26/1999 </td><td class="mileage"> 20,000 </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Inspection Station
Miami, FL </td><td valign="top"> Passed emissions inspection
POTENTIAL ODOMETER ROLLBACK </td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td colspan="4" class="xpertrow"> <table class="xpertLarge" width="100%" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;" valign="bottom" width="62"> </td><td width="100%">

• There are signs of potential odometer rollback here, so verify the mileage with the seller. I know I would.

</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr id="record7" class="evenrow"><td valign="top"> 07/20/2000 </td><td class="mileage"> </td><td valign="top"> Florida
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Miami, FL
Title #0072229291 </td><td valign="top"> Title issued or updated
Loan or lien reported </td> </tr> <tr id="record8" class="oddrow"><td valign="top"> 04/24/2001 </td><td class="mileage"> 40,303 </td><td valign="top"> Auto Auction
Southeast Region </td><td valign="top"> Listed as a fleet vehicle
Sold at auction </td> </tr> <tr id="record9" class="evenrow"><td valign="top"> 04/25/2001 </td><td class="mileage"> </td><td valign="top"> Jenkins Hyundai of Bradenton
Bradenton, FL
941-747-9262
www.bradentonhyundai
.com </td><td valign="top"> Washed/detailed
Pre-delivery inspection completed
VIN glass etching
Four tires mounted and balanced </td> </tr> <tr id="record10" class="oddrow"><td valign="top"> 05/20/2001 </td><td class="mileage"> 40,504 </td><td valign="top"> Jenkins Hyundai of Bradenton
Bradenton, FL
941-747-9262
www.bradentonhyundai
.com </td><td valign="top"> Vehicle sold












It looks to me like someone rolled the Odometer 65000 Miles?! Im hoping it was a clerical error or someone wrote the wrong miles. cause it looks to me like someone rolled it from 85k to 20k miles.
</td></tr></tbody></table>

Scrib

Well, there's not much you can do about it now. If you're that concerned, perhaps ask a trusted dealer if they can verify?

If it can be proved, what would you do? I am guessing you signed a bill of sale, AS IS?

combat mediC

iTrader: (1)

Yikes. People usually carfax a car before they purchase it. If you saw this to begin with would you still have purchased the car?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Why would you check the carfax after you bought the car?

combat mediC

iTrader: (1)

Thats what Im saying...

Let me sleep with this hooker, then put the condom on.

YZ450

I don't think it was a clerical error as in 99 the car had 20k miles and then in 01 had $40k miles which is consistent with 2 years of usage.

Fanir

I know, its soo stupid what I did. I was never going to check it until my friend told me his uncle had the Carfax unlimited plan and I should give him my VIN number for him to check.
Yes, there is nothing I can do now, car is sold and registered in my name.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

5 or 6 digit OD? I have also know for DMV to screw up mileage by forgetting a 1 after 100K miles.

Fanir

I do love this car though, its runs great and looks good for its age. Im just always going to have the feeling that this thing may have 65k more miles then it says on the odometer.

Fanir

It has a 6 digit odometer.

dallison

I think it was a keystroke error at the dmv. Most likely it should say 120,000 miles. look at the mileage from 97-98 and you will see that 120k might make sense. keep it until it dies.

Fanir

Well that would be nice, but then it jumps to 40k miles, then further down 65k miles, then 77k miles, then eventually it is not reported to DMV because of Odometer exempt status. Im guessing because its over 100k miles at that point.

I do plan on keeping it until it dies, thankfully I have a second vehicle at least.

BigPZ

^This...

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

how many miles does the car says it has on the odo now?

Fanir

It says 150366 as of now in the driveway.

phee

iTrader: (5)

i wouldnt worry about it if you are going to keep it till it dies. as long as its in good shape and you like it then there is no concern. contact the previous owner and ask about it.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Looks like OD rollback to me. But if it runs like a champ, I wouldn't worry about it.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

yes, just forget it and enjoy!

Fanir

Ok guys thanks for the positive input. It is a Honda, so hopefully even if it has over 200k miles I can still get some more life out of it. Ive done all basic maintenance and tuneups on it so far. Only things is it does have a small valve cover gasket leak which I am going to fix today.
Probably after that a new timing belt and water pump would be due ASAP since I do not know when or IF it has been done.

Ive owned a few hondas in the past, one Integra and 2 civics before and this was before Carfax became well known, so it probably was very possible that they all had more miles then I thought. But they were all good high mileage cars.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

dude old honda and acura cars last forever.

charliemike

And it wasn't even the DMV. It was emissions inspections which employs people that are functionally retarded. If it was title work at the DMV that would be completely different.

I wouldn't worry about it ... Like DAllison said, it's probably user error.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

In FL any car over 10 years old get OD exempt.
FL did away with emissions in 00-01 so it's likely a retard typed in the miles wrong.

speedemon90

I guess the only thing you got jipped on was the price, but now that you have it, hopefully it lasts you a while

achenator

Maybe the cluster went out and they had it replaced with one from a salvage yard or something.

Bdog

It's crazy they put 41,000 mile on it in 4 months, then it leveled out, ended with maybe 140,000 in 2001 and you bought it 10 years later with on 10,000 being driven in 10 years.

fsttyms1

Im with some of the others, most likely a clerical error

silver3.5

Actually, in addition to my local emission testing place, my local DMV are full of retards too! Last time when I went there, they had to re-issued my driver's license 3x because they keep entering in the wrong address. Of course, I had to retake my picture 3x as well, as I was explained that the system won't allow them to use a previous pic. Retards!!

As others have said it, I'm sure some retard entered in the number incorrectly.

stogie1020

Does it transform?

combat mediC

iTrader: (1)

^yup

stogie1020

Hey.... That's not a TL...

TampaJim

IF he recorded the odometer as "correct" on the title transfer, it is a crime in Florida. You have the right to full recourse.

Fanir

I dont know if that would work. Because the title says EXEMPT for odometer and my current title when registering it also says EXEMPT. From studying the carfax the last reported mileage was at around 77k miles before it was EXEMPT, until now.

AZuser

Too late now to worry about it.

Just keep up on maintenance and enjoy the car.

No sense in worrying about something that can't be fixed.

Just take this as a lesson and in the future do a Carfax or AutoCheck before buying car.

TampaJim

The "exempt" statement on the title is the telling tale. It WAS reported as incorrect/defective/replaced in the past. You missed that fine point during the purchase. Do as others have indicated, enjoy the car. I would recommend that you have a "top to bottom" done by a competent Honda/Acura mechanic to ensure that everything is in good working order ... fluids, belts, etc. IF you aren't positive on the water pump and timing belt service mileage, you should consider having it done ... then you KNOW you are good for another 100k.

Street Spirit

Has the engine or dash been replaced? That would be a simple explanation of the huge drop in mileage. Call the seller to at least get his story. Whether or not it can be trusted is a different issue - but at least see what he comes up with. If he stumbles in his explanation, you know there's something fishy, and although that won't help you much now, at least you'll have a better idea of if there's anything else you should be worried about re: the condition/legitimacy of the car.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Agree on the clerical error... I bet it shoulda said 120k instead of 20k

Monkey69

clerical... happens all the time. No worries. Drive it until you don't want to anymore.

Shoofin

I would agree with you on this, but look 2 years later, an auction sold it with 40k miles. You think the DMV AND the auction would both make keystroke errors? Unlikely, IMO.

Did you buy it from a private seller or from a dealer?

OP, PM me the VIN and I'll check Autocheck for you.

Fanir

Ok thanks. PM sent.

Shoofin

Autocheck tells a different story. But I still think that the Odometer's been rolled back:

Vehicle: 1996 Acura TL (JH4UA2657XXXXXXXX)



Event date - Location - Odometer reading - Data Source - Details

01/02/1997 - FL - 75 - Motor Vehicle Dept. - ODOMETER READING FROM DMV

01/16/1997 - FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:1)(Leased Vehicle)(Lien Reported)

01/16/1997 - MIAMI, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL(Leased Vehicle)

01/16/1997 - FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - FLEET

01/21/1997 - FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:0091)(Leased Vehicle)(Lien Reported)

05/29/1997 - FL - 41,000 - State Agency - PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION

06/12/1997 - MIAMI, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

06/16/1998 - MIAMI, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL(Leased Vehicle)

06/18/1999 - MIAMI, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL(Leased Vehicle)

04/23/2001 - SOUTHEASTERN REGION - 40,303 - Auto Auction - REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION

04/24/2001 - SOUTHEASTERN REGION - 40,303 - Auto Auction - AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS FLEET/LEASE

05/20/2001 - FL - 40,504 - Motor Vehicle Dept. - ODOMETER READING FROM DMV

07/10/2001 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:0071)

07/10/2001 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

04/12/2002 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

05/13/2003 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

04/18/2004 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

12/08/2004 - FL - 77,100 - Motor Vehicle Dept. - ODOMETER READING FROM DMV

12/09/2004 - FL - 77,069 - Auto Auction - REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION

12/22/2004 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:00291) DUPLICATE TITLE

03/14/2005 - FL - 77,311 - Motor Vehicle Dept. - ODOMETER READING FROM DMV

03/14/2005 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

03/16/2005 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:007291)(Lien Reported)

12/15/2005 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

11/13/2006 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

10/30/2007 - BRADENTON, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

05/28/2008 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:00921)
EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

10/06/2008 - KISSIMMEE, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:0072229291)

10/06/2008 - KISSIMMEE, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL- EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

11/28/2009 - GAINESVILLE, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

01/26/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

02/03/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL- EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

02/19/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:001)(Lien Reported)- EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

08/14/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

08/14/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

09/08/2010 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:00)
EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

05/24/2011 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

07/27/2011 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #

07/27/2011 - TAMPA, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

08/26/2011 SPRING HILL, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT

08/31/2011 - SPRING HILL, FL - Motor Vehicle Dept. - TITLE (Title #:XXXX) - EXCLUDED/EXEMPT