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Watch your mileage: digital odometer fraud rising

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Got a used car with a digital odometer or thinking about buying one? You might want to take it to a trusted mechanic to confirm the mileage.

Car dealers and consumer advocates alike are warning consumers that crooks are reprogramming digital odometers to lower mileage. Because it's easy, and legal, to obtain odometer software online for legitimate purposes, used car buyers should beware. "Clocking an odometer" happens when the a vehicle's odometer and/or mileage documentation have been changed without the buyer's knowledge. Despite being illegal in every state, Consumer Federation of America estimates that 1 in 10 cars has their odometer rolled back.

Odometer tampering can happen to any used car, but the problem is most prevalent among late-model vehicles that have accumulated high mileage in a short time, such as formerly leased cars or those used in a business fleet.

If you are thinking about buying a used car with a digital odometer, have a mechanic inspect it first to see if there are any discrepancies between the wear of the car and the mileage. Also, check the car for any oil change reminder stickers left on the car - they may that note mileage. Many auto databases, like Carfax, offer a way for used car buyers to check current odometer readings against online car records.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration works with state and federal prosecutors to protect consumers from odometer fraud.

To report odometer crime or to learn more, visit the NHTSA's Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation