As car technology continues to evolve rapidly, car makers are installing more security systems to try to mitigate the risk of having your vehicle stolen by thieves.
However, despite the inclusion of more advanced technological features, odometer tampering is still a prevalent issue in the car market.
Tesla recently made headlines after a class action lawsuit claimed the Elon Musk-owned company is allegedly speeding up its odometer readings to reach the car’s warranty date faster.
According to a report by global news outlet Reuters, Nyree Hinton, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, claimed their 2020 Tesla Model Y didn’t record the actual mileage driven, but rather the car’s energy consumption, driver predicted behaviour and “predictive algorithms”.
It turns out they’re not alone. A recent report by Business Insider revealed that numerous Tesla owners allegedly experienced the same odometer phenomenon.
The US pioneer has not yet issued a response to the class action lawsuit. However, the Tesla class action suit has shed a spotlight on whether a digital odometer can be tampered with.
What is odometer tampering?
Odometer tampering is when someone illegally alters the recorded kilometres a car has accrued in its lifetime so far.
Generally speaking, the illegal act is prevalent among used vehicle sellers looking to profit off buyers by making it appear a car has travelled less than it actually has, and by default increasing the vehicle’s value due to a seller advertising the vehicle with less wear and tear.
Odometer tampering is a serious offence, and individual offenders caught violating the rules can face penalties upwards of $40,000 and potential imprisonment, depending on the state or territory.
The illegal behaviour can come in many forms, whether it’s winding back the odometer with physical tools or swapping out entire digital instrument clusters, crooks have found a way to circumvent security measures installed by car makers.
Can a digital odometer be tampered with?
In a nutshell – yes. According to Consumer Protection Western Australia – a state government agency – “both analogue and digital odometers are vulnerable to tampering”.
“Newer cars that have digital control units or computers may allow the odometer to be replaced or reprogrammed using fraudulent software,” it said.
To help protect local consumers, states like New South Wales and Victoria offer a free odometer reading tool that informs car buyers of a vehicle’s odometer history.
A New South Wales Fair Trading spokesperson told Drive, “Buyers of used vehicles should always research a car’s history to ensure it has no outstanding finance, has not been written off in an accident, and the service records tally with odometer readings”.
How do you know if a car's had its odometer tampered with?
Unfortunately, there's no easy way to identify if a car had its odometer reading changed until it's too late.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General previously told Drive, “Consumers are often unaware they have purchased a vehicle that has been tampered with or replaced until something goes wrong”.
To help prevent the likelihood of buying a vehicle that's had its odometer wound back, experts recommend getting the car checked by a mechanic.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australia, advised “It is recommended that you seek an independent inspection from a licensed mechanic and ask them to also check for evidence of odometer tampering”.
“With their experience, they may be able to uncover inconsistencies between the condition of the vehicle and the odometer reading.”
Additionally, running a car through a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check ensures the vehicle isn't written-off, stolen or is completely finance free.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
