Altering the mileage reading on a motor vehicle is a felony. Effective July 5, 1994, the odometer tampering statutes were recodified from Title
15, U.S.C., to Title 49. The change was not substantive, though the statutes were reworded. Some of the old and new statutes are:
- Tampering prohibition: moved from 15 U.S.C. § 1984 to 49 U.S.C. § 32703(2).
- False odometer statement prohibition: moved from 15 U.S.C. § 1988 to
49 U.S.C. § 32705(a)(2).
- Odometer fraud conspiracy prohibition: moved from 15 U.S.C. § 1986 to
49 U.S.C. § 32703(4).
- Criminal penalty provision: moved from 15 U.S.C. § 1990c to 49 U.S.C.
What the Law Prohibits
- Disconnecting, resetting or replacing the odometer with intent to change the mileage reading.
- Operating a vehicle with a nonfunctional odometer with intent to defraud.
- Advertising, selling, using or installing a device that causes an odometer to register incorrectly.
- Knowingly falsifying an odometer mileage disclosure statement.
- Failing to attach a written notice of odometer replacement to the left door frame of the vehicle, or removing or altering such a notice.
- Accepting or issuing a blank or incomplete odometer mileage disclosure statement.
- Conspiring with any other person to violate the odometer fraud statute or related disclosure regulations.
"Tampering with or knowingly misrepresenting an odometer mileage reading is illegal under federal law, which classifies the crime as a felony, carrying penalties of up to three years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine per violation."
With intent to change or tampering with means adding or subtracting. The "to defraud" supports suing whoever sold it to you.
What I didn't know:
Lawful repair: When an odometer is serviced, repaired, reprogrammed or replaced and cannot be adjusted to reflect the vehicle’s true mileage, the odometer must be set to zero. A notice or sticker indicating the true odometer mileage before replacement of the gauge must be attached to the left front (driver’s side) door frame. When the vehicle is sold, the mileage discrepancy must be disclosed.
Any other repair that changes the odometer mileage reading (except setting it to zero) is illegal.
