OP
OP
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2024
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- 2
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- 48
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- 174
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- Ford Bronco
- Your Bronco Model
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- Thread starter
- #166
Ah yes, got to update you all. So I actually had a my CHP appointment yesterday.
The officer was very understanding. His very first question was if the window had ever been replaced. Which obviously the answer was yes, it was during a recall. He stated he's seen this happen a few times where a careless removal of the window has also removed the sticker.
We did not remove the window, as obviously it would be destroyed if we did and he felt there is no way the sticker just fell. Upon closer look though, we noticed there is a small slice through the FoMoCo sticker that looks like a careless razorblade struck through it. We both agree what 99% probably occurred was the vehicle was taken in for a recall on the windshield and during removal a careless body shop employee was overzealous and while cutting out the foam/sealant, cut the vin sticker and destroyed it. Whether knowingly or not is up for debate but he likely knew he did and panicked. So he either decided to remove the now destroyed sticker as to be less obvious, or just didn't even notice (hard to believe). Either way, no one noticed and the window was replaced and returned to the unsuspecting owner.
CHP did a full inspection and database search. The vehicle is clean, and all the confidential hidden frame VINs are present further confirming this was a body shop screw up.
My options came down to these 4:
1. Return the car to the previous owner as the contract of buying the car through Autotrader is void. It was not as advertised and in its current state I am unable to register it as-is. After speaking to a lawyer, I do not have a case against the dealership but the previous owner DOES. So its essentially his issue and he needs to get it fixed. I would be out my shipping costs and in for a fun time/wait to get all my taxes paid back. (Also Autotrader still has not gotten back to me on this anyway)
2. Have CHP place a "Blue tag Vin" on the vehicle, and then I can register it. Unfortunately this involves them drilling into the A or B pillar of the driver side door and placing a rather unsightly metal blue tag. I still would not have a visible VIN but apparently this would solve the registration issues. The CHP officer said he really does not want to do this as its a new car and it will most definitely make the vehicle harder to sell down the road and decrease its value significantly (I agree with him, I wouldn't buy a car like that, id be very weary).
3. Contact the South Carolina dealership again and try to get this resolved. I have spoken to the Service manager there and he seems to want to try and help but also was as a loss of how to proceed. He gave me the body shop managers number and contact and I've called, left a message and I am still awaiting a call back. I know this was done at a dealership across the country, but its their fuck up and I feel they need to fix it. The Service manager said its an act of congress to get new VIN stickers from Ford. I find it hard to believe a Ford body shop cannot order new VIN stickers. What happens when there is an accident and the dashboard must be removed or the B pillar is destroyed and must be repainted? They clearly have to order new stickers to place on the vehicle, this isn't THAT uncommon, and the CHP officer agreed, they clearly have a way. In my opinion, they need get a new sticker ordered and collaborate with a local dealer here to get this repaired. Either way, whether its me or the PO, this dealership screwed up and they need to fix it. If I return the car, the PO will just be at the dealer to get it fixed so they need to do right.
4. This option believe it or not was actually suggested by CHP when I was there. As all of the above options are an enormous hassle and may not even be possible. The easiest option is to have to window removed/relaced, order a sticker myself from one of the dozens of companies that make "replica VIN numbers for restoration purposes" and place the new sticker there when the window is off, then register the car and no issue will ever come of it. According to the officer, its illegal to tamper with the VIN but...its already been tampered with and its not even present so technically its not tampering. He reiterated the car is clean, there is no question that the VINs all match and there is no problem with the car. He said if I went that route, no one would ever know or care because the car is clean and there isn't a reason to investigate it further. I was actually surprised he told me this, but honestly, its a stupid sticker and it just needs to be there and match the rest. Clearly not an official way to go about, but seems the cheapest and simplest at this point.
So at this point I'm debating options. The officer said he is keeping my paperwork out of the system and 'pending' until I decide what to do.
Lesson is, check your windshield when its replaced for the VIN since the days of riveted plates are gone. So stupid and frustrating.
The officer was very understanding. His very first question was if the window had ever been replaced. Which obviously the answer was yes, it was during a recall. He stated he's seen this happen a few times where a careless removal of the window has also removed the sticker.
We did not remove the window, as obviously it would be destroyed if we did and he felt there is no way the sticker just fell. Upon closer look though, we noticed there is a small slice through the FoMoCo sticker that looks like a careless razorblade struck through it. We both agree what 99% probably occurred was the vehicle was taken in for a recall on the windshield and during removal a careless body shop employee was overzealous and while cutting out the foam/sealant, cut the vin sticker and destroyed it. Whether knowingly or not is up for debate but he likely knew he did and panicked. So he either decided to remove the now destroyed sticker as to be less obvious, or just didn't even notice (hard to believe). Either way, no one noticed and the window was replaced and returned to the unsuspecting owner.
CHP did a full inspection and database search. The vehicle is clean, and all the confidential hidden frame VINs are present further confirming this was a body shop screw up.
My options came down to these 4:
1. Return the car to the previous owner as the contract of buying the car through Autotrader is void. It was not as advertised and in its current state I am unable to register it as-is. After speaking to a lawyer, I do not have a case against the dealership but the previous owner DOES. So its essentially his issue and he needs to get it fixed. I would be out my shipping costs and in for a fun time/wait to get all my taxes paid back. (Also Autotrader still has not gotten back to me on this anyway)
2. Have CHP place a "Blue tag Vin" on the vehicle, and then I can register it. Unfortunately this involves them drilling into the A or B pillar of the driver side door and placing a rather unsightly metal blue tag. I still would not have a visible VIN but apparently this would solve the registration issues. The CHP officer said he really does not want to do this as its a new car and it will most definitely make the vehicle harder to sell down the road and decrease its value significantly (I agree with him, I wouldn't buy a car like that, id be very weary).
3. Contact the South Carolina dealership again and try to get this resolved. I have spoken to the Service manager there and he seems to want to try and help but also was as a loss of how to proceed. He gave me the body shop managers number and contact and I've called, left a message and I am still awaiting a call back. I know this was done at a dealership across the country, but its their fuck up and I feel they need to fix it. The Service manager said its an act of congress to get new VIN stickers from Ford. I find it hard to believe a Ford body shop cannot order new VIN stickers. What happens when there is an accident and the dashboard must be removed or the B pillar is destroyed and must be repainted? They clearly have to order new stickers to place on the vehicle, this isn't THAT uncommon, and the CHP officer agreed, they clearly have a way. In my opinion, they need get a new sticker ordered and collaborate with a local dealer here to get this repaired. Either way, whether its me or the PO, this dealership screwed up and they need to fix it. If I return the car, the PO will just be at the dealer to get it fixed so they need to do right.
4. This option believe it or not was actually suggested by CHP when I was there. As all of the above options are an enormous hassle and may not even be possible. The easiest option is to have to window removed/relaced, order a sticker myself from one of the dozens of companies that make "replica VIN numbers for restoration purposes" and place the new sticker there when the window is off, then register the car and no issue will ever come of it. According to the officer, its illegal to tamper with the VIN but...its already been tampered with and its not even present so technically its not tampering. He reiterated the car is clean, there is no question that the VINs all match and there is no problem with the car. He said if I went that route, no one would ever know or care because the car is clean and there isn't a reason to investigate it further. I was actually surprised he told me this, but honestly, its a stupid sticker and it just needs to be there and match the rest. Clearly not an official way to go about, but seems the cheapest and simplest at this point.
So at this point I'm debating options. The officer said he is keeping my paperwork out of the system and 'pending' until I decide what to do.
Lesson is, check your windshield when its replaced for the VIN since the days of riveted plates are gone. So stupid and frustrating.
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