Hello all,

I recently purchased a 2015 Fit EX. On the paperwork the mileage is quoted as 209 miles, whereas the actual odometer reading was 709 when we purchased it. When I complained to the dealer, they admitted that this was a mistake on their part. The only option they have given us is to return the car to them and have our trade-in vehicle back.

We noticed the mileage just as we were departing from the dealership, however we had finished making the deal at 10:15pm, which was two hours after store closing time. They locked the door behind us and were not open on Sunday, so we had to wait until today to contact the dealer. It has been about 72 hours since we purchased the vehicle.

First, is 709 miles acceptable on a new vehicle? I am concerned about how the car was driven in those 700 miles.

Second, what are my options about the paperwork? Can they change the official paperwork to reflect the true odometer reading at purchase?

Third, should I return the vehicle and buy it somewhere else? I am getting a slightly better deal ($200 - $300 savings), but we will need to drive 80 miles north to return it, then 250+80 miles south to buy the new vehicle. Is this even worth it?

Fourth, should I even be worried about the mileage on this "new" vehicle, or am I just being a paranoid first-time new-vehicle owner?

Thanks for any advice that you have.

 

I wouldn't be happy although it's not something I wouldn't be overly concerned with.

But I have to ask, why is their returning your trade in the only option? Why can't they just give you another exact Fit (with matching numbers and paperwork)? That's what I would go for.

 

yah, ive bought a demo as 'new' with like 3k miles on it once. car drove fine, got a great deal on it with no wait time.


if you're happy with the car, i'd just let it go. but make sure the dealer fixes the odo record so that when it comes time for warranty work you dont get slapped for the 500mile difference.


most cars i buy show no more than 5-6miles on the odo + the test drive milage i put on. ive only bought one car used my entire life.

 

I'd demand a new Fit. You might be able to press them for a $1000 back in a check. Not in a coupon back to their store. They sound like a shandy sales team.
I'd demand something from them. They have already admitted to guilt. Or report them to the DMV for fraud.

They can not just swap the car or the numbers out. The vins and everything have to match. And if you have a note on the car all that will also need fixed.

Sometimes the car you test drive is not the same as the one you get. The sales manager will swap the bad car into the deal as you are signing the paperwork. Most the time this happens on night sales. Where your to excited to look the car over a second time. If they have a damaged car in the back that is the same color you test drove. They will swap it out to get it off their lot. And there is no laws to stop them. Other than you catching them in the act and not buying the car from them.

 

It just sounds like an honest mistake on their part (and not necessarily anything shady). Obviously someone wasn't really paying close attention to the odometer reading, but I can kind of see how it happened. The sales associate probably documented the mileage, and maybe their writing was a little sloppy, and 709 looked like 209.


I wouldn't be happy about it if it were me (but it wouldn't happen to me either, since I'd have checked that first), but what's done is done, and I don't think it's worth it to go out of your way to return the vehicle. It's still a new car and with a full warranty, and I wouldn't worry too much about how the car was driven. First of all, it's not like it's a sports car where people might beat on it or really push the car. Secondly, with that mileage for a new car, it was likely all highway mileage anyway; perhaps it was a dealer trade and they drove the car far, or maybe a manager tested the car on their own and took it home for the weekend.


But maybe at least see if you can get the dealership to make up for it somehow. I don't see them just mailing you a check, but maybe see if they can give you free maintenance for some interval (perhaps 30k miles?) or an extended warranty.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. The dealer agreed to swap it for the same model with less mileage.

 

Wow, that's pretty unexpected but very cool of them.

 

Good on the dealer to trade. I've seen people with bad handwriting write 7's like a 2 - they leave a streak on the bottom writing it fast so it shows like a 2, so it's an understandable mistake imo.