Structural Damage Carfax

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Pastanoose

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Hello,
Looking at a lifted 2016 4runner, lifted with a long arm kit. The carfax reports "structural damage, auction visual inspection." There were no accidents and that report is from when the truck went to auction. It was purchased by a ford dealership. They stated that it was listed as "structural damage" due to the lift and assure me that there is no damage and the truck has never been in an accident.

Does anyone know this to be true? Anyone seen this on a carfax before?
 
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Pastanoose said:
Hello,
Looking at a lifted 2016 4runner, lifted with a long arm kit. The carfax reports "structural damage, auction visual inspection." There were no accidents and that report is from when the truck went to auction. It was purchased by a ford dealership. They stated that it was listed as "structural damage" due to the lift and assure me that there is no damage and the truck has never been in an accident.

Does anyone know this to be true? Anyone seen this on a carfax before?
Click to expand...

I have never seen a Carfax registered as structural damage due to a lift. Spent a few years at dealer auctions and can't say I ever heard that one. I would be very careful and would treat as a salvage rebuilt title for price comparison. I know I wouldn't touch it and when you go to sell it, whether a year from now or 5 years from now how are you going to explain it? Any dealer is gonna knock the price way down due to that.
 
I would avoid it.

Why not just buy new considering 4runners hold their value so well, that 16' is probably close in price.
 
Pastanoose said:
Hello,
Looking at a lifted 2016 4runner, lifted with a long arm kit. The carfax reports "structural damage, auction visual inspection." There were no accidents and that report is from when the truck went to auction. It was purchased by a ford dealership. They stated that it was listed as "structural damage" due to the lift and assure me that there is no damage and the truck has never been in an accident.

Does anyone know this to be true? Anyone seen this on a carfax before?
Click to expand...

Being a dealer I wouldn't buy it. I bought my 4Runner at auction but it was a repo and I did tons research and looking at it before I bid on it. Like [MENTION=164699]ParsonsWV[/MENTION] said its always going to take a hit with structural on the CarFax and you have hell reselling it. I have seen some truck run through the auction that have a lift and they call it structural damage, due to having to trim metal parts here and there to make it fit. Keep looking you will find what you want just be patient.
 
Well.... it all depends... if the price is right.

That Structural damage label is going to stick with that vehical forever, so I agree about the resale comments.

I also wouldn't take the word of a dealer car salesman... I have been lied to before and found out or noticed after it was too late.

This probably doesn't apply to you but its food for though; many cars with a salvage title have other problems. Getting good insurance is one of them, some companies would actually choose not to insure you.

Its a buyer beware purchase, but again, does the price reflect the damage report. If you do move forward on this, I would treat it as salvage from a price standpoint.
 
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Doesn't seem bad, but doesn't seem good either.

Its not really that "built up" Bumper, what appears to be a regular lift, roof rack basket.

I'm curious as to what structural damage is... maybe they are referring to how the bumper was installed?

Personally for that money I would have a hard time not buying new... but I also value that piece of mind. I don't buy cars often, but I buy what I want, and keep them forever so its easy to justify.
 
Pastanoose said:
Thank you all for the help. It's built up a bit but with that on the carfax I am really wary. This is it.

https://www.stgeorgeford.com/used/T...b0a0e0ae804ee321d0f864e27.htm?searchDepth=1:5
Click to expand...

Bumbo said:
Doesn't seem bad, but doesn't seem good either.

Its not really that "built up" Bumper, what appears to be a regular lift, roof rack basket.

I'm curious as to what structural damage is... maybe they are referring to how the bumper was installed?

Personally for that money I would have a hard time not buying new... but I also value that piece of mind. I don't buy cars often, but I buy what I want, and keep them forever so its easy to justify.
Click to expand...

This all the way^^^
Just to let you know I ran the vin through my appraisal system and they are charging CLEAN RETAIL for a truck that has structural damage. Stay away!!
 
Stay far away

Sounds to me like the dealership paid out of pocket for some kind of frame/ inner structure repair rather than going through insurance. Only accidents reported by insurance shows up on carfax. A lot of dealers do this to keep a "clean carfax report". If you're still interested in the truck ask to take it to a independent body shop for an inspection.

I'm an estimator and I see this pretty often.
 
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