Just got hosed on a 1st Gen Tundra (HELP!)

Hey guys, new member here. I just bought what I thought was a 2006 Tundra with 150,000 miles. When I ran the Carfax, it turns out it’s a 2005 with 270,000. Before chiming in to tell me what a dumbass I am, I’m my own worst critic. Let’s not go there. I’m freaked out right now. Good news is the truck was not stolen or a salvage. I have not turned in the paperwork to DMV yet. Seller is not answering my calls or emails. What would you recommend I do to resolve the situation?

 

Depending on what your title says, you may very well have a good case with the DMV.

IF your cluster has been tampered with it’s a federal offense

 

What state are you in? I’m guessing California by what I think is LA in the Craigslist title?

That would be helpful information for anyone on here that could help. As the previous poster said, changing mileage is a felony and they don’t mess around with prosecuting for that.

 

Sucks but like I teach my kids caveat emptor. Pull a carfax before you buy. Save yourself a lot of headache. Good luck. I doubt it will be an easy solution unless seller just does the right thing. Or maybe seller didn’t even know.

 

What does the title say the year is? He had the title, right? He had to sign the title over.

 

Like others - we need to see the title. Either it matches the advertised info (year, mileage) or it doesn’t. Could be a fake title too.

 

Check the title and all that, sounds like you'd definitely have a case. Sorry this happened man, people suck sometimes.

 

The good news is that even if you're stuck with it you paid fair value for a 2005 Double Cab with 270k miles according to KBB. That would have been a steal these days for a '06 DC with 150k miles.

 

I would double check all the vin numbers you can get to and notify DMV. Also talk to the governing law enforcement agency.

 

Notice how the description stated, "Driven 150,xxx miles? They knew what they were doing. He may have purchased it with 121,xxx. On the title did he leave the mileage blank or put the mileage as 271,xxx. I may have missed it but what did the odometer read? Don't expect a call back or answer from this guy. His address could be on the title. Even if you make contact with him, he might tell you, " Hey...it's clearly on the odometer, I wrote how much mileage I put on the truck. We made a deal. Again...devil's advocate, and I'm assuming alot, but your description lacks detail. Good luck.

Retired Cal Leo.

 

The next email or text should read something along the lines of:
This is my last text that I'm sending in order to give you a chance to rectify this situation. If I don't hear from you in x amount of time, I will be contacting the authorities. Checkmate his ass.

 

Where did the OP go?

 

Info coming guys. I’m glad I got so many responses. It was a long night. I’ll post pics of all the details shortly.

 

That is fraud, jailtime. Document everything you do, all contact attempts and get the law involved.

 

Don't leave us hanging!

 

The paperwork is at my office, so I can’t share the details of the title or bill of sale. This was in chatsworth California. I live in long beach. This was definitely a conscious fraud on the seller’s part. When I get ahold of the title and bill of sale I will share. The seller definitely tampered with the odometer. You can see from the carfax the car was smogged 4/20 this year. That’s where the 270,xxx miles comes from. The instrument cluster shows 150,xxx

 

I’ll share the detailed carfax info

 

So, did first owner cheat the odo before selling or did the second owner buy it, cheat it, and then flip it?

 

From previous reply:

 

What can you do? Who knows. Best bet would be if you’re happy with it run it. F you’re unhappy with it sell it disclosing the discrepancy. It looks clean I’m sure it’ll sell. Moral is to spend the $$ on the carfax before. But the bigger moral is that to fight it is just throwing good money at bad. Either keep it and move on or sell it and move on. No one will fight this for you for free and the stress and time commitment to fight it on your own is hardly worth it.

stupid side story but somewhat relevant. I got screwed by a customer who didn’t pay me many years ago. Owed me about $5k. I thought hell yeah I’m right I’ll take him to court and win. And yes I did. Almost $7600 to get a favorable judgment. So that $5k cost me $2600. I learned then throwing good money at bad is a waste or time and money. Just move on.

and personally I’d rather watch for another ad to pop up by him…contact from your buddies phone and go look at it and break both his kneecaps.

 

Here is the smog. Notice the seller deliberately obscured the mileage on the paperwork. Rubbing out the printed total from the smog station. I guess I could go to them and find if he ran a credit card.

 

Man that’s sucks. My friend sold his Tacoma with 330k+ miles, with work needed. He got a call a few days later from a kid that was stoked he got such a low mileage Tacoma at 113k but was wondering the history and needed fixes. The first buyer never registered it and flipped it. Don’t know how they do it. people suck. Best of luck. Keep at it.

 

Op got the carfax AFTER he completed the deal.

 

The truck actually runs really well. I’m not going to waste energy tracking this guy down to break his kneecaps. I’ve lost more than the difference in money on stupid gambles in Vegas. I’m more concerned about the headaches with the DMV and reselling the truck.

 

Bring up the fact you believe the odometer was messed with when at the DMV. No clue how cali is, but indiana it becomes a mileage discrepancy but they may go after the guy