Beleive dealer swapped dash

[sjb]

I am looking for a little help and feedback. I purchased a Yamaha viper that was a demo unit from a dealer a few weeks back. He indicated to me it was a low mile, somewhere in the 500-700 mile range sled and was in overall good shape. When I picked up the sled, it was in good shape with a few minor bumps and bruises, but nothing that worried me. Most of the deal was done over the phone so with a quick transaction, I was loaded up and out the door. When I ran the unit the following day, noticed there was zero miles and 103 hours on the machine. Simply put, that does not add up. Looking back now, I do recall the service tech taking off the protective clear plastic over the dash right before he loaded it up onto my truck. Now that the “bought a new sled feeling” is gone, I believe the dealer switched out the dash so it did not reflect the high miles it really had.

I have contacted the dealer and he stated he would give me my money back on a new, 2017 or 2018 unit, or anything else he has in stock. However, there is nothing in stock that will fit my needs of how I ride. A 2017, will be out of my budget for a sled. I have contacted Yamaha and I am pretty certain they have a sell sheet on the machine, but will not disclose the actual mileage of the unit bought at auction unless I get a subpoena. I am thinking that will need to be my next step. I have also been in touch with the BBB and put in a formal complaint, but do not think that will resolve anything. Now that I have contacted Yamaha and the BBB, the dealer will not respond to any of my calls or emails.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Any other thoughts on the action I should take, or just mark this up as a mistake on my end?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

1st of all, how did you buy the sled without looking at the odometer to verify mileage? 2nd of all, how could it have zero miles, but HOURS on it, if the dash was swapped out?
I'd pursue it legally and it will get resolved I'm sure. Odometer tampering is illegal with cars, and at the very least, highly unethical with rec vehicles.
You have a clear cut case, although if you bought it used "as-is", and signed a contract, this could be a problem in court.

 

[srt20]

Dealers do it all the time. But now with the digital dashes, they get screwed on the hours.

Back before the digital dashes, you never knew what you were getting from dealers. Ive seen it first hand.

If its that big of a deal to you, and Im not trying to down play it, tell the dealer you want your money back or you will contact a lawyer.

 

[jebjk1]

Wow, 103 hours? That sled could easily have 2,000+ miles on it.

 

[chunk06]

Seams like the last few years there has been a ton of "low mile" "demo" machines on the market. I bought a IQ600 back in 11 that I thought could have had more miles then what the ODO showed, it was a good deal with warranty though so I took the chance. A person always take a chance with used vehicles, I have talked to a ton of guys that have admitted to unhooking or replacing ODO on everything, including cars and trucks.

 

[G]

Are you buddies with any lawyers? Run it by them. Or else your local sheriff could probably give you some free advice.

 

[sjb]

Dealers do it all the time. But now with the digital dashes, they get screwed on the hours.

Back before the digital dashes, you never knew what you were getting from dealers. Ive seen it first hand.

If its that big of a deal to you, and Im not trying to down play it, tell the dealer you want your money back or you will contact a lawyer.

That is what I have asked - for my money back. Heck, I would even pay a "rental fee" for the 1 day I used the machine. Dealer won't budge on store credit.

 

[bearrassler]

Wow, 103 hours? That sled could easily have 2,000+ miles on it.

It could have a lot more than that, 700 miles would mean you averaged 6.8 MPH, I am old and don't ride real fast but I average 33 to 35 MPH on mine which would put it up to 3600 miles.

 

[snocrazy]

Should have gone to Pats in Greenland

It really sucks people will do some thing like that. Respect and Honesty are hard to come by.
I bet you will never buy any thing form that dealer again as well as spread the word to all of your friends and family.
You would think they would know its not worth doing things like this in the long run. Feel for yah. I would be mega pissed.

 

[indy_500]

I'm pretty sure this is legal in Minnesota. What state did you buy the sled in?

 

[scott_l]

How did you pay for it? Credit card, if so contact credit card company.

I hope Indy is wrong, this should be illegal in every state.

contact the state attorney general, they should be able to give you general advice/information

good luck, keep us posted

 

[snobuilder]

Not to derail the topic but are you guys saying that when the dash unit that contains all info such as odo, hours, tach etc. gets replaced, the computer retains the hours and displays them on the new unit .....but not miles?

 

[yamadooed]

That sled has about 2000 more miles than you thought. Best to shake your head and walk away as the learned experience because +2000 mi wont make much difference in the life of that sled... Lawyers and aggravation will just eat away at anything you stand to gain...

Snoboulder the ECU stores the hours the dash just displays em... Miles are stored on the dash...

 

[snobuilder]

That sled has about 2000 more miles than you thought. Best to shake your head and walk away as the learned experience because +2000 mi wont make much difference in the life of that sled... Lawyers and aggravation will just eat away at anything you stand to gain...

Snoboulder the ECU stores the hours the dash just displays em... Miles are stored on the dash...

Ok thanks....adding the miles to the ecu memory could keep the riff raff a bit more honest, although this guy evidently has no sense a customer service....he seems to want to service his customers.

 

[favoritos]

I traded in a sled. Left it at the dealer at the end of the season. Wanted to help them get it sold. No need for a sled during summer.
Looked at the old sled odometer when doing the pickup on the new sled, the old sled had lost 5,000 miles.

 

[mezz]

IMO, If I were you, I would consult an attorney, first consultations are "usually" free. He/She would then be able to tell you what they can do & for how much. You should then be able to recover that expense in your settlement as well. I will further add, document all conversations, date, time, what when & where, date(s) that you have attempted to contact with no return response to you, i.e. printed "sent e-mails &/or texts" etc.... You will come out of it ok, as long as you take the legal route, this dealer won't have a choice. I certainly would not let it go as a lesson learned. How can you sell the sled with out a hassle with this issue? IMO, you can't. Good luck to you.-Mezz

 

[towtruck]

I traded in a sled. Left it at the dealer at the end of the season. Wanted to help them get it sold. No need for a sled during summer.
Looked at the old sled odometer when doing the pickup on the new sled, the old sled had lost 5,000 miles.

years ago a friend of mine had family mc dealership - we used to take the new stuff out and go cruising- step one: unscrew the odometer cable from from the front axle- --it happens but like yamdude said an extra 2000 miles or 50 hours on a 4stroke yame is not much damage to the life of a yame

 

[ezra]

I'm pretty sure this is legal in Minnesota. What state did you buy the sled in?

no IN MN MNUSA help get legislation passed that makes this **** illegal . could be felony but not sure on that


PROHIBITED ACTS.

§ Subdivision 1.Tampering. No person shall knowingly tamper with, adjust, alter, change, set back, disconnect or, with intent to defraud, fail to connect the odometer of any motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle, or cause any of the foregoing to occur to an odometer of a motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle, so as to reflect a lower mileage than has actually been driven by the motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle.


Subd. 2.Operating restriction. No person shall with intent to defraud, operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway knowing that the odometer of the motor vehicle is disconnected or nonfunctional.


Subd. 3.Sales and use restrictions. No person shall advertise for sale, sell, use or install on any part of a motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle, or on any odometer in a motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle, any device that causes the odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage.


Subd. 4.Sales restriction. No person shall sell or offer for sale any motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle with knowledge that the mileage registered on the odometer has been altered so as to reflect a lower mileage than has actually been driven by the motor vehicle or off-road recreational vehicle without disclosing the fact to prospective purchasers.


Subd. 5.Conspiracy. No person shall conspire with any other person to violate this section or section 325E.15.


Subd. 6.Repair or replacement restriction. Nothing in this section shall prevent the service, repair, or replacement of an odometer, provided the mileage indicated thereon remains the same as before the service, repair, or replacement. Where the odometer is incapable of registering the same mileage as before the service, repair, or replacement, the odometer shall be adjusted to read zero and a written notice shall be attached to the left door frame of the motor vehicle by the owner or an agent specifying the mileage prior to repair or replacement of the odometer and the date on which it was repaired or replaced. No person shall remove or alter a notice so affixed.


History: 1973 c 264 s 2; 1986 c 444; 2014 c 289 s 62-65

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I traded in a sled. Left it at the dealer at the end of the season. Wanted to help them get it sold. No need for a sled during summer.
Looked at the old sled odometer when doing the pickup on the new sled, the old sled had lost 5,000 miles.

what dealer ?
cant put that out with out a heads up . at min what town

 

[snobuilder]

Interweb info is a powerful tool.

If you are wronged, document it and post up the dik.
In this case hours is a strong indicator of miles ridden.
Easily between 28 and 42 miles per hour.

 

[POLARISDAN]

Wow, 103 hours? That sled could easily have 2,000+ miles on it.

ha!!..at 90mph it could have 9000 on it!!!!(sorry)

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Should have gone to Pats in Greenland

and people dont understand why i do..i took some flak from my bestie over this..but no way no how will i ever buy another machine form anybody but the kipster

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I'm pretty sure this is legal in Minnesota. What state did you buy the sled in?

i think u mean illegal

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Not to derail the topic but are you guys saying that when the dash unit that contains all info such as odo, hours, tach etc. gets replaced, the computer retains the hours and displays them on the new unit .....but not miles?

on mine all was lost

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years ago a friend of mine had family mc dealership - we used to take the new stuff out and go cruising- step one: unscrew the odometer cable from from the front axle- --it happens but like yamdude said an extra 2000 miles or 50 hours on a 4stroke yame is not much damage to the life of a yame

really dude..did u actuially just say that????