Car Dealership Owner Arrested for Odometer Tampering
Purchasing used cars is often nasty business. Used car dealerships are notorious for ripping off customers. There are many honest used car dealerships out there, but dealership horror stories are widespread. Once you sign on that dotted line, you could be stuck with a lemon. One Florida dealership owner’s recent arrest is proof that the used car business is just as shady as ever.
Dealership owner messes with mileage
Mileage is one of the biggest factors when considering a used car for purchase. Why? Mileage has a lot to do with how much longer a vehicle could last. A vehicle with mileage under 100,000 miles usually still has at least a few years left before parts start going bad. A vehicle with high mileage above 100,000 miles is often past its prime.
While more experienced car owners that know how to maintain vehicles may be interested in vehicles with high mileage, many new buyers tend to stay away from used vehicles with higher mileage. According to Local10.com, a news outlet for Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a car dealership owner was recently arrested for odometer tampering. Odometer tampering is when a person intentionally manipulates information displayed on the odometer to mislead potential buyers.
This is a huge offense because tampering with the odometer then selling that vehicle is selling a vehicle under false pretenses. In this particular case, the dealership owner reduced the odometer mileage display from 180,000 miles driven to around 100,000 miles. This amount of mileage difference is the equivalent to at least four to five years of driving on average.
Used car buyers beware
A buyer purchased a 2010 Mazda CX9 for $9,148.80. Shortly after the purchase, the vehicle began to have many issues that alerted the buyer that something about their CX9 was seriously off. The 2010 Mazda CX9 is a reliable SUV and shouldn’t have serious mechanical issues until it has racked up some major mileage.
The Mazda CX9 owner had a hunch that something about the SUV was suspicious. They took it to CarMax to get a full inspection done and get to the bottom of what exactly was wrong with the vehicle. The folks at CarMax made the shocking discovery that the odometer had been tampered with.
The buyer confronted the dealership owner over the phone, and the owner admitted to tampering with the odometer. The dealership owner then attempted to purchase the vehicle back, and the buyer promptly contacted the authorities. The dealership owner is currently under arrest for intent to defraud and tampering with a motor vehicle’s odometer.
What to do if you suspect that you have been defrauded
Unfortunately, cases of consumers being defrauded are all too common in the used vehicle industry. Many used car dealerships intentionally aim to fool consumers into paying exorbitant prices for vehicles that have major defects. The best thing to do to avoid being defrauded is to read reviews and make sure that the dealership you are visiting is trustworthy.
Buying a used car can be a great experience when both the dealership and vehicle are well-researched. Buying a used car on a whim can be an absolute nightmare. Odometer tampering is a serious offense as a car dealer, but many used car dealerships are bold enough to try it. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
RELATED: The Truth About Used Car Dealers
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