VIN not matching vehicle

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 16 Sep 2006, 22:56

I took my car to the dealer and ordered some replacement trim pieces for the interior, and it came in the wrong color. The dealer used my VIN to order the part, and they have no idea why my car's interior doesn't match up with the VIN's specs. I bought the car used, and am suspecting something fishy is going on, but a carfax on my car doesn't reveal any new information. Any ideas?

Post by **JRL** » 17 Sep 2006, 17:07

Be a bit more specific.
In actuality there is no "Tan" There's Sand and Taupe.
Sand is very light and all one color, Taupe is a shade darker and some of the interior has some two tone to it.
What specific part are you trying to get?

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 17 Sep 2006, 22:02

There were a few pieces of trim missing in my car, they cover the seat mounts on the driver and passenger seats. The color they first ordered was black, then beige, and finally I gave up and kept the beige but my interior is actually "sand" -the lightest of them all. The important answer I am looking for is whether or not I should be suspicious because the VIN's spec is different than the actual car's specs, such as interior colors etc. This circumstance just makes me wonder about the car's history before it became mine -I am wondering if what happend is abnormal, if the original interior was taupe, or otherwise. You know what I'm saying?

Viraaj · Post by **Viraaj** » 18 Sep 2006, 08:41

If the vin # does not match, in my opinion the guy must have gotten into a major accident and didnt want to report it so he probebly got new dash boards and a new engin from like the junkyard or from someone selling it. And carfak does not track the car vin # after the car has been taken to a privat machanic or after the owner stops taking the car to get serviced at a dealership

galerie · Post by **galerie** » 18 Sep 2006, 12:29

i have been taking my car to a private mechanic for over 6 years now and I have gotten a carfax report and all of his services was on there.

Post by **JRL** » 18 Sep 2006, 16:01

If you're talking about the litle plastic covers that snap over the ends of the seat rails, I'm not sure they come in more than one tan.
One color fits all "tans" They should be a bit darker as they match the carpets not the upholstory and there is only one tan carpet that goes either with Sand or Taupe not two
Don't listen to the doomsayers that was the stupidest remark of the day

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 20 Sep 2006, 00:56

The "doomsayer" might not be wrong, while the motor that is in the car right now looks a bit worse than my friend's S60, same T5 engine(30Kmiles), only 15k miles more than friends. My car came from the San Francisco bay area, and there was still some sand in the cracks of the seats to prove it. The driver side rear door doesn't match up 100% to the body(5mm sticking out), and in the door pockets I found a few pieces of shattered glass. I can't help but wonder why the motor looks the way it does (I'm thinking it might have been sitting outside at a junkyard?) some of the hose clamps for the vacuum hoses, and radiator are rusted. Could this rust be from the salty air, or junkyard rain?

The ONE THING that I find unlikely, is that the car's owners bought a rebuilt motor, complete new interior and door/window, paid for the labor, and then traded it in for less than they would've recieved from insurance for a total loss, while not reporting any of it(carfax didn't pick an accident up)
I'm clueless as to the history of my car and it's really beginning to bug me!

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 20 Sep 2006, 01:00

I'll post pictures ASAP of the motor, interior trim, and door. Hopefully you guys can help me play CSI with my used car. = )

MO-T5 · Post by **MO-T5** » 20 Sep 2006, 09:33

Dude, quit stressing, I have a 2000 Toyota Corolla and have had to order a few interior pieces and every time I give the dealer my VIN, I get the wrong color pieces. If you are really concerned about your car being in an accident, swing by a good body shop and let them take a peek. It'll probably not cost you anything or at most a small fee. It might be worth it for peace of mind. Good luck.