Misrepresented Mileage
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Misrepresented Mileage
Folks -
I am not sure this is the appropriate spot for this but it does concern a 928.
In 2019 I bought an '82 928 from a dealership that specializes in used specialty cars. They represented it to have "44k Original Miles" on it and the odometer said that. Fast forward to this week, I discovered on the door jam where the VIN is a sticker that says, "The odometer on this vehicle has been reset to zero from..." and I can't read the miles, or who did it or on what date. I never even noticed it before. This dealer keeps a web page on their home page listing sold vehicles. My 928 is still on that page and sure enough there is a picture on that page of that sticker and it is no more legible than it is now.
I thought I got a decent deal on this car ($20K) but now I don't think so. I put new lower ball joints on it as it had the aluminum ones on it and the alignment shop said it needed new tie rods. I told them how is that possible, it only has 44k on it. I got it up on my lift and sure enough, they are loose.
My question to you all is what should I do if anything. I feel I was taken advantage of but I realize that the dealer might not have seen the sticker.
What would you all do?
Thanks -
Mark
I am not sure this is the appropriate spot for this but it does concern a 928.
In 2019 I bought an '82 928 from a dealership that specializes in used specialty cars. They represented it to have "44k Original Miles" on it and the odometer said that. Fast forward to this week, I discovered on the door jam where the VIN is a sticker that says, "The odometer on this vehicle has been reset to zero from..." and I can't read the miles, or who did it or on what date. I never even noticed it before. This dealer keeps a web page on their home page listing sold vehicles. My 928 is still on that page and sure enough there is a picture on that page of that sticker and it is no more legible than it is now.
I thought I got a decent deal on this car ($20K) but now I don't think so. I put new lower ball joints on it as it had the aluminum ones on it and the alignment shop said it needed new tie rods. I told them how is that possible, it only has 44k on it. I got it up on my lift and sure enough, they are loose.
My question to you all is what should I do if anything. I feel I was taken advantage of but I realize that the dealer might not have seen the sticker.
What would you all do?
Thanks -
Mark
Last edited by librarymark; May 26, 2025 at 10:37 PM.
RL Community Team
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28,544
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From: Clemson, SC
I'd run a Carfax and see what the mileage entries look like for the various registration renewals throughout its life. That may give you some indication as to when it was reset and how many additional miles are on it
Racer
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 257
Likes: 173
From: France
I would start by asking the dealer how they can post an ad for a car that has "44k original miles", and in the same ad, show a sticker mentioning a zero'd odometer.
Do you have any written / photographic evidence the car was advertised with original miles? If yes, you have some of your work cut out for you. Though the fact it happened 6 years ago probably doesn't help !
Do you have any written / photographic evidence the car was advertised with original miles? If yes, you have some of your work cut out for you. Though the fact it happened 6 years ago probably doesn't help !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 927
Likes: 470
From: Virginia Beach
If it took you six years to notice the sticker, perhaps the dealer never noticed it... granted, they claimed "original" miles when, in fact, they clearly were not sure of that.
Last edited by Range Rover; May 27, 2025 at 08:53 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,179
Likes: 4,172
From: Philly PA
Its good you replaced the lower BJs and the tie rods.
This is a good indicator that the car did not get regular servicing at the dealer.
The car is much safer for you to drive now.
NOTE the fact you have a sticker on the door thats giving you consternation spells,
I suggest to spray it with PB Blaster then peel it off,
and go wash the car and go for a drive and enjoy your investment.
This is a good indicator that the car did not get regular servicing at the dealer.
The car is much safer for you to drive now.
NOTE the fact you have a sticker on the door thats giving you consternation spells,
I suggest to spray it with PB Blaster then peel it off,
and go wash the car and go for a drive and enjoy your investment.
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From: Grapevine, TX
I would put new tie rods on it, then drive it.
It is unlikely that you will get anything back from the dealer at this stage, so decide if you want to keep it or sell it for what you can get, but no point in dwelling on if it was a good deal or not when you bought it 6 years ago.
It is unlikely that you will get anything back from the dealer at this stage, so decide if you want to keep it or sell it for what you can get, but no point in dwelling on if it was a good deal or not when you bought it 6 years ago.
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Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Thanks to all who have chimed in on this.
As it so happens, the car is still listed on their website, under the category of "Sold Collection" with the words "44k Original Miles" and the image of the sticker is still there. I have made a copy of all of the web files. I know that 6 years is a stretch, but nearly all of that time this car has set in my barn under cover. Carfax mentions only "Exempt from odometer reporting" when I bought it. Nothing else about miles. I hold out no hope that the dealer is going to lift a finger, but you never know. It's a large organization with a really good reputation so I would imagine that they just might want to talk about it. My real worry is that when buying the thing, I probably signed away any rights to argue about this.
I would start by asking the dealer how they can post an ad for a car that has "44k original miles", and in the same ad, show a sticker mentioning a zero'd odometer.
Do you have any written / photographic evidence the car was advertised with original miles? If yes, you have some of your work cut out for you. Though the fact it happened 6 years ago probably doesn't help !
Do you have any written / photographic evidence the car was advertised with original miles? If yes, you have some of your work cut out for you. Though the fact it happened 6 years ago probably doesn't help !
Last edited by librarymark; May 27, 2025 at 01:49 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 2,955
From: CT & FL
If your car happens to be a euro or canadian the speedo may have been federalized from KM to Miles... the way they were supposed to do it (with said sticker) was to calculate the existing KM into miles, then apply the sticker with information to be able to calculate known miles. Often it was a new "zero miles" MPH speedo/odometer put in. ..and just as often (more often? ) a used 928 MPH speedo/ odo with random miles was put in. there was also usually some documentation of the work that theoretically should stay with the car.
treat it like TMU... service it and drive it.
treat it like TMU... service it and drive it.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 312
Likes: 112
From: Denver, CO
There was a photo in the ad, and a sticker on the car, and you didn't notice either for 6 years. You have no leg to stand on with the seller.
However, if that's the only issue with the car, and you thought it was truly a 44,000 mile car by condition, and you replaced the ball joints already, you probably have a Great Shark. Just keep driving it and loving it and forget about the past.
And - post photos here, bc we love photos!!!!!
However, if that's the only issue with the car, and you thought it was truly a 44,000 mile car by condition, and you replaced the ball joints already, you probably have a Great Shark. Just keep driving it and loving it and forget about the past.
And - post photos here, bc we love photos!!!!!
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 10
Unfortunately the 6 years elapsed could be your undoing due to statutes of limitations.
I'm not a lawyer but I had a similar situation on a low original mileage 928 sold to me by a reputable MA Porsche dealer back in 1990. This was pre- carfax or other computerized VIN checking systems.
The onus falls on the seller/dealer as the subject-matter-expert to determine if the odo has been tampered with.
I caught my issue less than 4 months post-purchase. When confronted and the odo swap confirmed, the dealer bent over backwards to avoid litigation.
Rollbacks or odometer tampering (replacement without disclosing falls under tampering) is a federal crime with treble damages or10K fines imposed on the seller (whichever is greater).
Interesting read here. https://legalclarity.org/dealer-sold...legal-options/
I'm not a lawyer but I had a similar situation on a low original mileage 928 sold to me by a reputable MA Porsche dealer back in 1990. This was pre- carfax or other computerized VIN checking systems.
The onus falls on the seller/dealer as the subject-matter-expert to determine if the odo has been tampered with.
I caught my issue less than 4 months post-purchase. When confronted and the odo swap confirmed, the dealer bent over backwards to avoid litigation.
Rollbacks or odometer tampering (replacement without disclosing falls under tampering) is a federal crime with treble damages or10K fines imposed on the seller (whichever is greater).
Interesting read here. https://legalclarity.org/dealer-sold...legal-options/
Last edited by tbruz; May 28, 2025 at 06:57 PM. Reason: typo
Administrator
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,401
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From: Up Nort
https://www.tomahawkleader.com/stori...r-fraud,272283
Unfortunately the 6 years elapsed could be your undoing due to statutes of limitations.
I'm not a lawyer but I had a similar situation on a low original mileage 928 sold to me by a reputable MA Porsche dealer back in 1990. This was pre- carfax or other computerized VIN checking systems.
The onus falls on the seller/dealer as the subject-matter-expert to determine if the odo has been tampered with.
I caught my issue less than 4 months post-purchase. When confronted and the odo swap confirmed, the dealer bent over backwards to avoid litigation.
Rollbacks or odometer tampering (replacement falls under tapering) is a federal crime with treble damages or10K fines imposed on the seller (whichever is greater).
Interesting read here. https://legalclarity.org/dealer-sold...legal-options/
I'm not a lawyer but I had a similar situation on a low original mileage 928 sold to me by a reputable MA Porsche dealer back in 1990. This was pre- carfax or other computerized VIN checking systems.
The onus falls on the seller/dealer as the subject-matter-expert to determine if the odo has been tampered with.
I caught my issue less than 4 months post-purchase. When confronted and the odo swap confirmed, the dealer bent over backwards to avoid litigation.
Rollbacks or odometer tampering (replacement falls under tapering) is a federal crime with treble damages or10K fines imposed on the seller (whichever is greater).
Interesting read here. https://legalclarity.org/dealer-sold...legal-options/
This appears to be the 928 in question:
https://www.garagekeptmotors.com/use...che-928-c-289/
