I've often wondered how Carfax has become such a successful company when the fact of the matter most of the information on their reports are completely vague and as the title of this email states, useless. In fact, my ES300 has a different VIN stamp than the rest of the VIN stamps on the car. Found this out after buying the car, that it was in some sort of accident at some time but did not show up on the Carfax report. "Driveablility / Performance Checked." "Body Electrical System Checked". Really? That last one suggests electrical problems and I almost didn't buy the ES300 because of it. Turns out the, there is nothing wrong with the car.

Not to be outdone, the Lexus site has some pretty useless information on it was well. "Non Warrantable Operation Code"(Thing is this particular issue WAS a warranty event). Of course, yea that's what that service call was all about!!! At least Lexus doesn't directly charge for the service history on it's site.

 

" my ES300 has a different VIN stamp than the rest of the VIN stamps on the car."

There must have been some kind of problem before, I doubt the factory would let it pass inspection that way.
Carfax is useless, false sense of security for potential car buyers AND sellers.

 

A Non Warrantable Operation Code is a service performed on the car that is not covered by warranty (adding air to tires, changing light bulb, adding washer fluid, etc).

 

I called the dealership after I saw this and they told me that if the accident wasn't reported to the insurance company, it wouldn't show up on the Carfax report. Easy out. Once again, Carfax is completely useless.

 

I had a 2005 Toyota Highlander that had been in one accident before I bought it, then I was involved in two more. When I traded it in, the Carfax showed no accidents. Both of my accidents were reported to insurance ( hit a deer and a very minor fender bender, my fault).

 

If the repair facility doesn't report it then it isn't in CARFAX. I know of two local repair shops who never report anything to CARFAX. IMHO, CARFAX is useless.

 

I rely more on the Lexus website through the Owner's Link for information.

Reminds me, time to update my info on the owner's site. Been slacking. maybew about a year now.

 

Once registered on the Lexus owners website is the owner able to edit or update any info or only the dealer able to do so? The Lexus site is too generic.
Any work I've done on our vehicles have been logged through a spreadsheet style program.

 

I keep a binder for every car. I just do a diary type service description. And I do highlight the events, like Oil, Tranny, Rotate, etc.. It is easy to ID the last time you did the service.

 

Also keep a running mileage of the "next service due." Like OIL 62k miles...Rotate 70K miles or date of the next service.

 

So glad to hear...thought I was the only one that did this. And yes, the Lexus site is really not that useful and is too generic indeed. Happy New Year to everyone!

 

You can add/edit your own service information, but you can't edit anything done by the dealer.