Odometer tampered with?

Question

I just bought a car on Sunday and after looking at some of the paperwork found out that the odometer had been turned back 100,000 miles. What course of action can I take against this person? Is it worth it to try to get my money back plus what I've already paid for registration/title/insurance?

Answer 1

It is agaist the law to tamper with an odometer. If you can prove it you are entitled to your money back and any costs incurred. The person who did the tampering could be prosecuted. The sale was fraudulent.

Answer 2

First you need to check the title. If it says "Mileage Unknown", then there is nothing you can do. The seller should have told you it was a rebuilt/salvage/ or mileage unknown vehicle, however if you already finished the paperwork, then it becomes your word against the sellers.

If you feel they rolled back the odometer, I would suggest getting service records as well as a Carfax or AutoChek report because a receipt from tire installation will not prove your case. You need more reliable data to build a solid ground for an investigation. Good luck and I hope you resolve your concern.

Answer 3

call the better business bureau you hav been ripped off tell them where you bought it.  its against  the law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

its a federal law to tamper with an odometer. they can go to jail for a long time. it a car is considered tmu (true mileage unknown) then it has to be disclosed at the time of sale. if they turned the clock back and got caught they would be prosocuted. go after them. the mileage should have been on the title from when the last person bought the car. if the mileage was less when you bought it then you have a tmu car.

Answer 5

Did you buy it from a private owner or a dealership? You can sue them for selling  a tampered odometer. Even if it's an 'as-is', it's still should of been acknowledged to you before buying.

There could also be that the engine has been swapped with another and therefore the difference in mileage.

Either way, they should of told you.

Answer 6

If you can prove the odometer has been tampered with, you are entitled to a full refund of everything from the person you bought the vehicle with.

I would contact them in writing and make them aware of the situation.  I would also give them a specific amount of time to respond.  Send it certified mail so you have proof they received it.  

I wouldn't let this go at all.  You were sold a car under false pretenses.....you definitely have at least a civil case against them, maybe criminal.

Answer 7

absolutely, it's worth trying to get your money back.

Let me ask you, how do you know the odometer has been tampered with?  Being as you bought the car on Sunday I know you didn't buy it in the state of PA which is where I know the law but it's still a crime to sell a vehicle by fraud.  I would contact your local police and file a formal complaint.  Just make sure you have solid proof before you take that route.

Good luck.

Answer 8

If you have confirmed evidence that the odometer has been tempered with, you can institute charges of fraud and deceit. Not only can you get all your money back alongwith all costs etc., you are also eligible to claim damages as well. This charge carries other punishments apart from the aforementioned.