We went digging to see if that widely shared class-action lawsuit accusing Tesla of odometer fraud had any real-world backing. Honestly, we expected it to be overblown. Odometer lawsuits aren’t exactly everyday news, the last one I can remember was a branding disaster for Ferrari. To our surprise, Tesla drivers have been publicly posting about […]
A Tesla influencer randomly caught his odometer double-counting mileage on video. Wild.
This is misleading, it is illegal in Germany, if it is about changing the odometer to a wrong record, and only legal to correct it, if it was broken or is replaced.
When I lived in Germany I found that the people were far more self-policing than Americans. There just seemed to be a general attitude of, “we know we’re not supposed to do that, so we don’t.”
Fully anecdotal, sure, and that was 15 years ago, but nonetheless it’s hard for me to imagine “ze Germans” tampering with odometers to sell cars.
They are recorded in multiple different events (repairs at a professional service, oil change, inspections, etc.), but as a buyer you would have to become active, ask for and check the papers, contact past owners, inspect the car, etc.
Because changing the odometer is easy and cheap, and can raise the price at an average of 3000€ per car, it is done rather often and not discovered in many cases.
While there are laws against it, the implementation of more manipulation resistant odometers by the car vendors is still not there yet broadly.
This is misleading, it is illegal in Germany, if it is about changing the odometer to a wrong record, and only legal to correct it, if it was broken or is replaced.
Yes you’re right. However it seems that around 30% of the used cars sold from Germany are concerned. A law that is not enforced is a fake law.
What do you mean with “not enforced”? Do you mean that people that find manipulated odometers with proof go to court and then nothing is done?
When I lived in Germany I found that the people were far more self-policing than Americans. There just seemed to be a general attitude of, “we know we’re not supposed to do that, so we don’t.”
Fully anecdotal, sure, and that was 15 years ago, but nonetheless it’s hard for me to imagine “ze Germans” tampering with odometers to sell cars.
Is the odometer not recorded when having yearly inspections? Or do people cheat it before those as well?
They are recorded in multiple different events (repairs at a professional service, oil change, inspections, etc.), but as a buyer you would have to become active, ask for and check the papers, contact past owners, inspect the car, etc.
Because changing the odometer is easy and cheap, and can raise the price at an average of 3000€ per car, it is done rather often and not discovered in many cases.
While there are laws against it, the implementation of more manipulation resistant odometers by the car vendors is still not there yet broadly.
Source: https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/auto-kaufen-verkaufen/gebrauchtwagenkauf/tacho-manipulation/