Can a 4S shop detect odometer rollback on used cars?
2 Answers
Odometer rollback on used cars can be detected by 4S shops through checking maintenance records or reading mileage data from the engine and transmission. A used car refers to vehicles (including three-wheeled vehicles, low-speed trucks originally classified as agricultural vehicles), trailers, and motorcycles that have been registered with public traffic management authorities but haven't yet reached the national scrapping standards, and can be legally traded with ownership transferred. Used cars are defined as vehicles that have completed registration procedures but haven't reached national scrapping standards, eligible for ownership transfer through transactions (including three-wheeled vehicles, low-speed trucks originally classified as agricultural vehicles), trailers, and motorcycles.
If you're considering buying a used car and having it inspected at a 4S dealership, they can indeed detect vehicles with tampered odometers. I've seen many cases where dealerships use specialized diagnostic tools to connect to the car's onboard computer and retrieve real data, such as the engine operating time recorded by the ECU, which may not match the odometer reading. Moreover, detailed maintenance history is stored in the manufacturer's database, making discrepancies obvious upon checking. They also inspect internal sensors and mechanical wear, such as excessive tire or brake pad wear with low mileage, which clearly indicates issues. I recommend requesting a comprehensive inspection at the 4S dealership before purchasing, as it can detect 80-90% of vehicles with altered odometers. If you accidentally buy a car with a tampered odometer, it could lead to major repair issues later, significantly affecting the vehicle's overall lifespan.
