Carfax might owe you $20

January 4, 2007 6:58 AM

"If you purchased a Carfax Vehicle History Report directly from Carfax at any time before October 27, 2006, you're a Class Member for purposes of this settlement." Seems Carfax reports only include damage reports from 30 U.S state. Something Carfax nover bothered to mention.
posted by punkfloyd (13 comments total)

oops.
posted by nola at 7:03 AM on January 4, 2007

Class Members who remain in the settlement can claim a Voucher good for $20.00 off a vehicle inspection by a designated third party within six months of final approval of the settlement, a Voucher good for two free Carfax Vehicle History Reports from Carfax within one year of final approval of the settlement, a Voucher for one free Carfax Vehicle History Report from Carfax within two years of final approval of the settlement...

Meh.

posted by phaedon at 7:05 AM on January 4, 2007

If, say, a Dodge Neon I checked on Carfax happened to take my daughter's virginity, impregnate her and then flee the state can I still sue Carfax on my own? Or should I just stick with tradition and hunt the Neon down and shoot it in the nuts?

Just askin'.
posted by loquacious at 7:11 AM on January 4, 2007

In all fairness, according to the Wikipedia article when they did their research, there only are 30 states.
posted by Plutor at 7:15 AM on January 4, 2007 [2 favorites]

They replaced the roof on my Protege after a bad accident and CarFax didn't notice. This lawsuit doesn't surprise me.
posted by smackfu at 7:15 AM on January 4, 2007

I haven't read the settlement notice just yet, so I'm relatively uninformed. However, I can't help wondering whether or not this particular settlement would invalidate any future claims related to the Carfax buyback guarantee that they regularly advertise.

As usual, class action lawsuits tend to emerge as a better deal for the attorneys involved.
posted by scoria at 7:48 AM on January 4, 2007

Wonder what CarFax says about vehicles salvaged from the gulf coast post-Katrina. "Engine flooded once"?
posted by hal9k at 7:49 AM on January 4, 2007

Just make them pull those horrible TV ads and we'll call it square.
posted by wfc123 at 7:55 AM on January 4, 2007

Wonder what CarFax says about vehicles salvaged from the gulf coast post-Katrina. "Engine flooded once"?

Thoroughly washed, of course, and ready for your inspection.
posted by scoria at 7:58 AM on January 4, 2007

While scrounging parts at a local junkyard a few years ago, I noted the VIN of a scrapped Honda CRX — up on blocks, no wheels, stripped interior and engine, etc. — and ran it through Carfax that evening.

No problems found.
posted by cenoxo at 8:04 AM on January 4, 2007

cenoxo: If it wasn't damaged before it was junked, what would you expect Carfax to say?
posted by mendel at 8:58 AM on January 4, 2007

The overall appearance and condition (stripped parts, rust, etc.) of the junked CRX indicated it had been in the yard several months, and who knows how long before that it had been wrecked? Just sayin' that Carfax is no proof of a car's true condition.

Before buying a used vehicle, it pays to have it thoroughly checked out by a mobile inspection service. I've used this company more than once.
posted by cenoxo at 10:08 AM on January 4, 2007

Or, even better than a mobile service, take it to your mechanic. I'd never trust anything that was actually advertised by used car dealers.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 11:49 AM on January 4, 2007