Car with accidents in the Carfax? Run?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Car with accidents in the Carfax? Run?

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:26:27 PM EDT

Ok, so I'm looking at a 2015 Nissan Xterra. On the dealer's website, the carfax report says it had two accidents. When I emailed the dealer for specifics, they said "It says the first accident was a single vehicle collision and that it hit a wall. The second accident occurred when the driver hit the right rear of another vehicle, no airbags deployed"

I'm waiting to hear for clarification to see if there were no airbags deployed on both or just the one. If the accidents were small enough that airbags didn't deploy, would you still go and take a look at it?

Or, run away?

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:30:48 PM EDT

[#1]

Cars are made of metal and plastic, they can be rebuilt by a qualified person. If the airbags never deployed, the damage was most likely cosmetic and easily repaired.

Inspect the vehicle thoroughly to make sure it hasn't been scabbed together. If it looks good I would still consider it, but not at full value.

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:31:57 PM EDT

[#2]

It could of been in a third accident that bent the frame and isn't reported. The information varies greatly by location, and who reports it etc for it to be on there and correct.

I would personally do some of the following from running a few dealerships, if getting it for a reduced price from what clean non accident ones are running for:

-Check tires to make sure they are wearing even if they have miles.

-Have them put it on a lift and check the frame to see if it was straightened

- Drive for extended time

- check body panels to see which ones were replaced

Example for the impact into a wall look down between radiator supports etc and look for bent/replaced parts. Check fender lines to see if any fenders were hung etc. If you don't have a good eye for the stuff take it to another mechanic/body shop to go over for you.

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:36:14 PM EDT

[#3]

Poor quality repairs are easy to spot even by a novice. Good quality repairs have their own telltale traces for a trained eye. Regardless, this is a bargaining point for you. You know the dealership beat the poor soul about the head and neck on trade in, you should return the favor.

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:49:12 PM EDT

[#4]

Honestly I'd run. Unless the vehicle is super rare why bother?

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:52:04 PM EDT

[#5]

It depends on the price. I would check the undercarriage and sight down the sides (like a piece of lumbar) to make sure its straight. Also check for uneven tire wear. Check the door seals and jams, make sure all doors and windows work right. So long as that checks out and it drived fine I wouldn't mind getting it.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:27:25 PM EDT

[#6]

I would use it as a bargaining tool.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:36:25 PM EDT

[#7]

I had a very bad accident in one of my car several years ago when another car didn't stop at stop sign. The frame was damaged and had to be repaired along with entire front part of the engine and all the body panels and hood on the front. the other party's insurance paid for the repair. Few years later when I was selling the car the dealer pulled the Carfax and the accident never came up on the report. I stopped believing the Carfax report after that.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:40:36 PM EDT

[#8]

Unless you have a trusted repair shop that will do an inspection for you I would pass. Signs of a poor repair don't take that long to find when you know what you're looking for.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:43:51 PM EDT

[#9]

How much were both claims payouts ?

Does CarFax not show the amount ?

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:47:40 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
How much were both claims payouts ?

Does CarFax not show the amount ?

View Quote

No. Usually "low speed frontal impact, vehicle needed tow"

"Air bag deployment"

Shit like that. Then it varies by state on what each term means by low speed etc.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:50:53 PM EDT

[#11]

The paint is not like factory paint, so only consider if it will be garage kept - and at a huge discount.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:50:58 PM EDT

[#12]

Carfax is very unreliable. No one is forced to do it, and in all reality would be stupid to do so as it could open them up to the owner saying "you devalued my car when you reported it, you owe me the difference". Why open yourself up like that when you have nothing to gain by turning it in?
Also, I have seen vehicles be marked as minor damage when it definitely wasn't minor. Take Carfax with a huge grain of salt. I work in the collision repair industry, every time I go looking for a car the owner touts that is has a clean Carfax I tell them I will be able to tell if it was wrecked in any meaningful way and couldn't care less that Carfax says it's clean.

Posted: 8/21/2017 6:52:27 PM EDT

[#13]

I got rear ended once at slow speed in the bumper and you can still see the slight bend in the metal. Its nothing. But guess what my carfax says? Involved in an accident. Some other cars got messed up bad in it and I got what was essentially a scratch.

Apparently that was $1500 in reduced value when I got it appraised due to my carfax.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:11:11 PM EDT

[#14]

I hate car-partial-facts....

Had a 2006 Tacoma. Two weeks in some fine young men roll into me at a red light...fuckers laughed. At said light were 10 Portland Police who didn't find it amusing.

Bottom line, $550 bumper ding. I took the cash and kept the bumper. 2014 I go to sell it. Car-fuck-bullshit-facts says it was in a rear end accident.

Fuck you car-cunt-facts.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:12:30 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

No. Usually "low speed frontal impact, vehicle needed tow"

"Air bag deployment"

Shit like that. Then it varies by state on what each term means by low speed etc.

View Quote

That's interesting.

We use CarProof here, it not only states the damage ie: Front centre collision, it also states the estimate and the actual amount paid out for repairs.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:14:19 PM EDT

[#16]

Offer them $5

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:28:02 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's interesting.

We use CarProof here, it not only states the damage ie: Front centre collision, it also states the estimate and the actual amount paid out for repairs.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

No. Usually "low speed frontal impact, vehicle needed tow"

"Air bag deployment"

Shit like that. Then it varies by state on what each term means by low speed etc.

That's interesting.

We use CarProof here, it not only states the damage ie: Front centre collision, it also states the estimate and the actual amount paid out for repairs.

Wow sounds nice. We have autocheck also which is like carfax. I have been out of the business since 2009/10 so maybe it changed.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:37:35 PM EDT

[#18]

How does info make it into the CarFax database?

Insurance company? Police report? Repair facility? I've seen references that also indicated maintenance history could also be there which would also imply dealer/shop reporting.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:41:31 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
How does info make it into the CarFax database?

Insurance company? Police report? Repair facility? I've seen references that also indicated maintenance history could also be there which would also imply dealer/shop reporting.

View Quote

If like to know too. I always thought it was airbag deployment but I was told that's not true.

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:49:34 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

If like to know too. I always thought it was airbag deployment but I was told that's not true.

View Quote

It is/was all upto the agency/ facility when I was in the business. Garages/dealerships/body shops chose to report the info the same as police departments etc.

At the last high end lot I ran we had a huge loyal customer base so we reported everything so when the car was traded in after servicing it had better records. Also if we purchased a car one owner as we always did there was a list of everything we did to the car on the carfax showing everything was done right.

We used carfax and autocheck and it was amazing the differences in reports between the two

Posted: 8/21/2017 7:54:15 PM EDT

[#21]

Xterra's r a dime a dozen. I'd keep looking.

Posted: 8/21/2017 8:36:25 PM EDT

[#22]

I wouldn't worry about it. Look at the car not the paper

Posted: 8/21/2017 8:46:03 PM EDT

[#23]

Carfax is not something to be relied on. It's mostly insurance reports best I can tell. The ones I smashed up and paid cash for never showed up. Conversely I have a really nice cayman s that I scuffed up the back wheel and bumper cover on and it shows up and looks pretty bad.

Posted: 8/21/2017 9:25:49 PM EDT

[#24]

Carfax is only one of like three that are used. I went with family many times to look at cars with a clean carfax only to crush there dreams. As far as I can tell it's only good for a timeline of dealer services preformed on the vehicle not collision.
Unless it's a screaming deal I'd keep shopping but if you have to have it at least take it to a body shop and pay they to look it over.

Posted: 8/21/2017 9:31:22 PM EDT

[#25]

fuck carfax

Posted: 8/21/2017 9:39:25 PM EDT

[#26]

CarFax is a blessing and a curse. I just talked to a guy the other day who had to battle with CarFax to get a zero-damage incident removed from his vehicle's history. An Uber driver bumped his car's bumper. Some Dudley Do-Right valet saw it happen and called the police. Accident report filed that included his vehicle, even though his car had zero damage.

Just something to consider.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Car with accidents in the Carfax? Run?

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