INSIDE

ODOMETER FRAUD: TRAFFIC

SAFETY TIPS

Traffic Safety

Tips

Auto Safety

Hotline

National Highway

Traffic Safety

Administration

U.S. Department

of Transportation

The odometer indicates the

number of miles a vehicle has

been driven. Odometer fraud

occurs when an odometer is rolled

back or disconnected. Fraud also

occurs when incorrect information

is given about the accuracy of the

odometer reading.

The Problem

Odometer fraud is a major

problem for consumers. Some late

model used cars have odometers

that have been turned back. Any

vehicle that has been driven a

high number of miles but is only a

few years old is a candidate for

odometer fraud, especially

odometer rollback.

A federal law prohibits odometer

rollbacks and requires correct

reporting of mileage when selling

a used car, but a cautious buyer is

the best defense against this form

of consumer fraud.

Odometer Fraud is

Costly

Because car value goes down as miles

driven goes up, you could pay an

extra $2,000 over the true value for a

used car with a rolled back

odometer--and you could pay much

more.

Federal Odometer

Law

The federal odometer law is

intended to protect you from

odometer fraud. It makes

odometer tampering a felony.

The federal law requires that the

seller of a vehicle state in writing

on the title whether the odometer reading is the true mileage,

the mileage is in excess of 99,999

(i.e., the odometer has turned

over); or is not the true mileage.

S U M M E R 1 9 9 6

FACTS

When an Odometer

Breaks

When an odometer breaks and is

repaired or replaced and cannot

be adjusted to the true mileage,

the odometer must be set at zero.

A sticker indicating the true

mileage before service and the

date of service must be attached to

the left door frame. When the

vehicle is sold, the disclosure

statement must indicate the

odometer error.

How Can You Tell

Whether an Odometer

Has Been Altered?

You can check the vehicle for

evidence of tampering (marks on

the odometer or misaligned

numbers) and check the mileage

entered on oil stickers, inspection

stickers, and tire warranty cards.

Also, the overall condition of the

vehicle may provide a clue.

The odometer reading must be

entered on the vehicle title. Check

the reading on previous titles to

determine if and when any alterations occurred. Your department

of motor vehicles should have

previous titles on file.

Try to contact former owners if you

suspect tampering. To find out if

the vehicle was owned by a resident

of your state, your department of

motor vehicles should have the

name and address.

29937 6
ABOUTODOMETER FRAUD TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS

U.S. Department

of Transportation

National Highway

Traffic Safety

Administration

Page 2

IF YOU THINK YOUR VEHICLE HAS A

SAFETY PROBLEM, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE

(800) 424-9393

If you think that your vehicle has a

safety problem, you can assist the

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) by completing and mailing back the Vehicle

Owner's Questionnaire (VOQ)

included with this fact sheet, or

calling the Auto Safety Hotline.

The toll-free Hotline number, (800)

424-9393, can be reached from

anywhere in the United States. If you

are calling from the Washington, D.C.

metropolitan area, the number is

(202) 366-0123. A Spanish-speaking

operator is available weekdays from

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time. The

Hotline is available to the hearing

impaired through a teleprinter (TTY)

number, (800) 424-9153. In the

Washington, D.C. area the TTY

number is (202) 366-7800.

If it is determined that a safety

defect exists, the manufacturer has

to fix the problem at no cost to the

owner.

If there are any documents relevant

to your case, including copies of

repair bills and letters to the manufacturer, attach them to your

completed VOQ.

If you are not sure of any information requested in the VOQ, leave

the box blank. But we must have

the Vehicle Identification Number

(VIN) to process your questionnaire. The VIN is a 17-digit number

that can be seen through the front

windshield on the driver's side of

the dashboard. When reporting a

tire problem, the DOT identification

(located on the sidewall) is needed.

The VOQ asks if you authorize

NHTSA to provide a copy of your

report to the manufacturer. If so,

check YES on the VOQ and sign

and date it. When we send the

report to the manufacturer, it often

results in a satisfactory solution of

individual problems. But NHTSA

cannot order corrective action unless

the vehicle or item of equipment is

determined to have a defect and a

safety recall campaign is conducted.

When Buying a Used

Car

Be sure the seller has certified the

odometer reading in writing. Be

careful if the seller tells you the

odometer reading is incorrect. If

you have any concern, it might be

wise to have the car inspected by an

impartial auto mechanic. In fact,

this is a good practice when buying

any used car. Also, beware of

buying a vehicle with low mileage

that was formerly a leased vehicle.

Leased vehicles are driven an

average of 30,000 miles a year, and a

high percentage have their odometers rolled back when they enter

the used car market.

When Selling a Car

When you sell a car, you must

certify the odometer reading in

writing. If you are not sure the

odometer reading is accurate, so

indicate on the disclosure statement.

What To Do If You Are

Victimized

You can consult an attorney about

the advisability of suing for civil

damages. If you win, the court

will award you $1,500 or three

times the amount of damages,

whichever is greater, plus court

costs and reasonable attorney fees.

But, you must be able to prove

that the odometer mileage was

misrepresented, who was responsible for the misrepresentation,

and that there was intent to

defraud.

You can also inform your state

attorney general who can bring civil

actions on behalf of consumers.

You can report suspected

odometer tampering to the

federal government by calling the

Auto Safety Hotline and

completing the enclosed Vehicle

Owners Questionnaire. (See

details below.) The federal

government is prohibited from

undertaking legal action for

individual consumers, but may

follow your lead to start a criminal

investigation. ■

Check out our home page for information on a variety of vehicle safety topics.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Auto Safety Hotline

Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire

NATIONWIDE 1-800-424-9393

DC METRO AREA (202) 366-0123

FOR AGENCY USE ONLY

Reference No.

Od-or ___ ___

rt-dt ___ ___

od-rt ___ ___

up-ltr ___ ___

Date Received

Day Time Telephone Number

( )

OWNER INFORMATION (Type or Print)

VEHICLE INFORMATION

Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Vehicle Year Current Odometer Reading

Turbo

Diesel

Gas

Fuel Injection

Engine Size

(CID/CC/L) ______

No. Cylinders ______

Purchase Date

 New Used

Transmission Type

Manual

Automatic

Vehicle Ident. No. (VIN.) (Located at bottom of

windshield on driver's side)

Do you authorize NHTSA to provide a copy of this report to the manufacturer of your vehicle? YES NO

In the absence of an authorization, NHTSA WILL NOT provide your name and address to the vehicle manufacturer.

Signature of Owner _________________________________________________________________________ Date _____/ _____/ _____

Name _____________________________________________________________________

Street No. ______________________________________________ Apt. No. ___________

City __________________________________ State _______ Zip Code _______________

Dealer's Name _____________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ State _____ Zip Code _____________

Yes

No

Antilock Brakes Restraint System

Driverside Airbag Motorbelt

Passengerside Airbag 2-Point Belt

3-Point Belt

Yes

No

Cruise Control

Front

Rear

4-Wheel

Drivetrain Body Style

Stawag

4-Door

2-Door

Hatch Back

Van

Pick Up Truck

Other _________________

________________________

FAILED COMPONENT(S)/PART(S) INFORMATION

Location

Original

Replacement

Failed Part(s)

Left

Front

Right

Rear

Component Part Name(s)

No. of Failures Date(s) of Failure(s) ______________________________________________________

Mileage at Failure(s) ________________________________________________________

Vehicle Speed at Failure(s) ___________________________________________________ Yes No Yes No

Manufacturer

Contacted?

NHTSA Previously

Contacted?

APPLICABLE ACCIDENT INFORMATION

(Use reverse side for more detailed information)

Accident

Yes No

Fire

Yes No

Reported to Police

Yes No

Number Persons Injured Number of Fatalities Estimated Property Damage

$ __________________

To report defective or failed tires provide the following: DOT Number, Tire Manufacturer, Tire Name, Tire Size (include all numbers and letters).

Note: This information not required for normal operation tires.

Manufacturer Tire Name Size

INFORMATION ON TIRE FAILURE(S) (IF APPLICABLE)

D O T

The Privacy Act of 1974–Public Law 93-579 This information is requested pursuant to authority vested in the National Highway Traffic Safety Act and

subsequent amendments. You are under no obligation to respond to this questionnaire. Your response may be used to assist the NHTSA in determining whether a

manufacturer should take appropriate action to correct a safety defect. If the NHTSA proceeds with administrative enforcement or litigation against a manufacturer, your

response, or a statistical summary thereof, may be used in support of the agency's action.

U.S. Department

of Transportation

National Highway

Traffic Safety

Administration

TIRE SIZE

TIRE NAME

U.S. DOT safety standard code

The number may be on the inner side

of the tire and have up to 11 letters

and numbers. Usually located near

rim flange on side opposite whitewall

or on either side of blackwall tire.

TIRE

MANUFACTURER
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Fold to show Return Address (no stamp needed) Fasten with tape or staple and mail

NO POSTAGE

NECESSARY

IF MAILED

IN THE

UNITED STATES

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY NATL. HWY. TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN.

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL

FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO 73173 WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Auto Safety Hotline, NEF-11 HL

400 7th St., S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20590

U.S. Department

of Transportation

National Highway

Traffic Safety

Administration

400 Seventh St., S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20590

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300