DON’T RELY ON A CARFAX REPORT TO TELL YOU THE FULL HISTORY OF ANY USED CAR!!!

On October 27, 2023, I got an email alert from CARFAX about my 2006 Honda Accord EX V-6 that showed what it knew and did not know about my car, with an estimated value of $1680.

Later, I got a notice that I was due for an oil change. This was in August. That seemed odd to me, since I had just gotten one not long ago. I did a little clicking on links and discovered that this was based on my last oil change done by my nearby Honda dealer, Metro Honda. They had indeed done an oil changrs and based on their estimate of how long oil changes last, I could see how it would seem that I was due for another. I decided I wanted CARFAX to get the full story about my car and I filed a request for them to review the work done on my car by non-Honda dealer mechanics. I sent photocopies of the invoices for the non-Honda dealer work that had been done on the car.

They responded to my appeal, promising to look into it and get back to me. From time to time I would get email updates saying they were still investigating. Then, on the 10th of September, I got this:

Pretty scarey, huh? Gosh, I must be a very neglectful car owner who doesn’t care about his car!

PROBLEM: I don’t always get my car serviced at Metro Honda. Especially not for oil changes, which cost an arm and two legs at a Honda dealer and are much less expensive when done by an indepement autocare center or mechanic. In fact, my Honda’s info display showed that I still had 70% service life with the oil now in my crankcase.

And here’s the icing on the cake, from CARFAX:

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Dear Gregory,

CARFAX received your case. Use this reference number for follow up:  #16772054.

To: Gregory Zerovnik <gzerovnik@verizon.net>

Good afternoon Gregory,

Thank you for contacting CARFAX.

The service location does not report their information to CARFAX, so we are unable to add the record to the Report.

Unfortunately not all service locations report information to CARFAX. If services were performed at locations that do not report their data to us, then we will not have those records on the Vehicle History Report. If you would like, you can invite service shops you’ve visited to report their records to us. From within CARFAX Car Care, choose a vehicle from the Garage and select the Service History tab. Next, select Invite Shop, search for the shop you’d like to invite, and choose the shop from the list.

If you need further assistance with your Car Care application, please contact our Consumer Affairs department at webhelp@carfax.com.

Kind regards,
Kevin
Resolution Manager
CARFAX Inc.

Thank you for your patience.

_______________________

All their “help” is nothing but a SCAM! They want to have a monopoly position as THE ONLY TRUSTED SOURCE FOR THE CONDITION OF A USED CAR AND ESTIMATE OF ITS VALUE. THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE VALIDITY OF THE INVOICES I SENT THEM, WHICH THEY ASKED ME TO SEND. WHY SEND THEM WHEN THEY JUST GET IGNORED?

Here’s why this is a BIG problem. Early next year I will be getting a newer used car. I will either trade in or sell my Honda to a private party. In either case, they will probably look up my CARFAX report to see how much my Honda is worth. And CARFAX does not have any record of most of the work I’ve had done on the car over the past year+. New motor mounts, new transmission mount, new front suspension, timing belt replacement done just after 200,000 miles (car now has 207,000+ miles), complete rouitine maintenace with new plugs, etc., new driver’s seat leather seat cover, new front tires and front end alignment, new head gaskets, recent oil change…and more!

Mechanically speaking, my Honda is a lot younger than its year and mileage say it is. But CARFAX says my car is worth only $1680. Looking at various used car listings, I would put the value at $1000 more.

And CARFAX wants ME to promote their service to independent service centers and mechanics? For free? As if I think this is all a great idea? Never going to happen.

The End.

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Postscript:

I called Metro Honda and wanted to speak to their manager. I was transferred to the extension for their Used Car Manager. No answer, so I left a voicemail about my problem and asked for a call back. I didn’t get one. I will now be using a different Honda dealer if I need work only a dealer can do.