Why "carfax" and similar are crap.( Always buy the car for what is, inspect it!)
 

Car fax and others are basically a shake down of car dealers by convincing the consumer that if a dealer does not subscribe and provide a free report, they are hiding something.

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Why you should NEVER TRUST a Carfax or VIN History Report (When Buying Clean or Salvage Cars)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjw5Rkau4JM

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Pay attention to 5:50 and 7:40

The Problems With Carfax - Lehto's Law Ep. 2.45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qzqUiInFpI

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Here is a real life example of why carfax and others should not be trusted for anything other than a sort of accurate mileage trail. Always buy a car for what it is.

https://www.copart.com/lot/39993958/Photos

Found this Ranger while doing a nation wide search. It has a clean MI title and is for sale in PA. It isn't being sold by an insurance co making it more suspect.

It was on a major front hit and someone hung panels on it but fit is very poor. This isn't an issue of a poor install, it is an issue of very bent basic structure. Modern cars need very little body panel adjustment and as a result, don't have much room for a bent structure.

The damage is listed as " Minor dents and scratches ". It is qualified as a engine start program. This means if you turn the key, the engine runs at idle. It does not mean the engine is good.

The next step up from a start is runs and drives, something that this truck does not do. Run and drive means the engine runs and car moved fwd and rev a few feet.

Adding this from my post 19 at

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/394667-my-new-me-%241-500-05-e320-cdi-2.html

As a side note, if buying from a salvage auction ( like Copart ) pretty much never buy from a seller that isn't an insurance company or maybe a new car dealer. Some brokers buy wrecks at salvage auction, quickly hang a few parts on the car to make it look like a light hit then flip it.

Have a look here, this guy isn't a professional body guy but does make some very valid points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLoojHPXWzE

Unless its someone I know -always going to look and touch the vehicle. That being said this is a good FREE site https://www.nicb.org/how-we-help/vincheck I am always looking at CL and MP listings so you never know. A car last week was a too good to be true $$ and sure enough, even though it had a clean MS title it came back on the site with a past Salvage (Totaled) Title from LA

Thanks, I just ran the 01 Ranger 1FTZR15E31TA79834 it comes up clean.

I also found this site https://www.vehiclehistory.gov/

It even helps to run the VIN on Google as this truck shows up at the salvage auction.


As for the truck, note how the grille / header is pushed towards the drivers side.

Also look at RF fender where is is sticking out past the door and there are not any pics underhood.

Carfax is fine for what it is...the problem is people who have unreasonable expectations of it. It's like when a preschool teacher passes all the background checks but still turns out to be a kid-diddler.

Recently had a car in for a purchase inspection. It had been in previously with transmission problems and a replacement was recommended. It was not repaired.

Current Carfax shows that visit as having had a "transmision service"

Did the car show up for trans service at your independent shop or a new car dealer?

I've looked at cf reports that show new car dealer service records, I'm guessing reporting in is part of the dealer cf subscription.

Weird I've never had a problem with Carfax. I can usually get the reports for free on Reddit.

I've seen indy shop services show up on Carfax too. I had an E46 3 series that was subject to a rear subframe cracking issue. The PO had his indy shop install a reinforcement kit and that work was reported on Carfax.

How about running the VIN for the Ranger in post 5 1FTZR15E31TA79834

https://www.reddit.com/r/carfax/
You're welcome.

I was looking for you to have your first problem with carfax first hand. This Ranger was obviously heavily damaged then had some parts thrown on it.