NHTSA Complaint #10537972 — 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA

UPON PURCHASE OF A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM LITHIA TOYOTA OF MISSOULA, MONTANA I WAS PRESENTED WITH AN ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT STATING THE VEHICLE HAD 168,143 MILES. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE EARLIER ON PAVED HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE ODOMETER READ 168,000 AND SOMETHING MILES, SO SIGNED THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN GOOD FAITH OF THE DEALER. I ALSO HAD REQUESTED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT. AFTER THE TEST DRIVE, THE SALESMAN HANDED ME AN AUTOCHECK VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT. HE DID NOT EXPLAIN DETAILS OF THE REPORT TO ME, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. HEADING THE ODOMETERCHECK SECTION, IN BOLD LETTERS IT STATED "YOUR VEHICLE CHECKS OUT!" IT CONTINUED BY STATING "AUTOCHECK EXAMINED THE REPORTED ODOMETER READINGS REPORTED TO AUTOCHECK FOR THIS 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5(VIN#) AND NO INDICATION OF AN ODOMETER ROLLBACK OR TAMPERING WAS FOUND." BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WARNED ABOUT USED VEHICLES AND ACCIDENTS I FOCUSED ON THE ACCIDENTCHECK AND TITLE AND PROBLEMCHECK IN THE REPORT. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE ODOMETER WENT OUT DRIVING ON GRAVEL A WEEK LATER THAT I REALIZED THE ODOMETER WAS FLAWED. AND IT DOESN'T RECORD THE MILEAGE WHEN IT IS OUT. ON CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, THERE ARE SIX REPORTS UNDERNEATH THE ODOMETERCHECK SECTION. THE SUSPECT MILEAGE IS BETWEEN THE 2ND AND 3RD MILEAGE REPORTS. THE 2ND MILEAGE REPORTS 15,000 MILES 10/09/98 WITH A NOTATION STATING: "NOT INCLUDED IN ROLLBACK CALCULATION." THE 3RD MILEAGE REPORTS 10,038 12/10/1998. THAT IS A DIFFERENCE OF -4,962 MILES LOST ON THE ODOMETER. I PHONED, THEN BROUGHT THE TACOMA BACK TO LITHIA 8/6/13. THE MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BOARD AT MY EXPENSE. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, HE REPEATED. I WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA CORP. 8/9/13 AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE BY PHONE 8/20/13. THE ANALYST STOOD BY LITHIA'S DECISION 8/23/13.