Home Forums Coloring How to spot hidden problems using a VIN report?

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    • #252403
      Polkerd
      Participant

      I’m thinking about buying a used 2014 Acura MDX. Looks clean, drives well, and the price is better than others in the area. Seller says no accidents, clean title, and “only one owner,” but I’m cautious. I’ve heard stories of people buying “perfect” cars that turn out to have been in serious accidents or had their mileage rolled back. Will a VIN report catch that kind of stuff? How much detail can it actually give?

    • #252412
      Helmor
      Participant

      Yes, a good VIN report can reveal a lot more than you’d expect. I had a similar situation with a Ford Escape that looked mint. Test drive was great, price fair, and the seller seemed honest. But when I ran the VIN through carfaxforsale.com, it showed the car had actually been in a rear-end collision 2 years ago, and was briefly declared a total loss before being rebuilt. The report included damage severity, airbag deployment, insurance claim records, and even photos from the salvage auction. Seller never mentioned a word about it. After that, I never buy anything without running a VIN check first. carfaxforsale is especially handy because it gives you full CARFAX data but for a lower price.

    • #252416
      Polkerd
      Participant

      That’s exactly the kind of issue I was worried about. I just pulled the VIN report and — surprise — the car had bodywork done after a side collision. Not even listed in the ad. You definitely saved me from a mess. Thanks a ton!

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