Okay, I have never taken my truck to this particular mechanic without having to take it back to fix something that was part of the original deal, so I’m a bit skeptical about pretty much anything they tell me.
Today they told me that there’s something about to go wrong, and genned up an estimate to fix it - over $900. But it’s not something I have to do today, just sometime.
I was planning on trading the truck anyway - have they just kept me from doing so? Will this recommendation of theirs, for which they did me an estimate, show up when the dealer runs the CARFAX prior to the trade-in?
And why did they name it after the abbey in Dracula, anyway?
I am not an expert on this, but I don’t think there is a chance that your mechanics review of your vehicle will show up on a CarFax. The most obvious reason is that he would have to report it to someone. I just don’t see the reward in it for him to do so. I know many mechanics who own their own shops and if they aren’t getting paid for it, they aren’t doing it.
I believe that CarFax only reports things like odometer and title consistency and major accidents. These records are probably gotten from Gov’t records and insurance records. I feel confident in assuring you that you are worrying over nothing at all.
Only things that will get on CarFax are things like insurance claims or liens on the car, nothing mechanical unless it resulted in an insurance claim or some other matter of public record.
That’s why you should always get an mechanical inspection AND a CarFax report when you get a new car.
The only reason why CarFax collects information during mechanical repairs (and routine maintenance) is to get an odometer reading. This is so there will be a clear trajectory of dates and mileages that will uncover any tampering with the odometer, but in no other way speaks to the condition or history of the car.