Buying used - question about something Carfax says

Tiny
JFLARKIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 GMC ACADIA
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 34,000 MILES
Looking at a used 2016 GMC Acadia. Carfax says one owner, shows as a personal lease.

Weird things that I don't understand:

1. Why does it say a one owner vehicle when there a pre-delivery inspection followed by a lien/title reported, followed a few months later by a title update, followed two months later by another pre-delivery inspection, followed two years later by another lien/title reported? Almost looks like it was actually bought and sold several times. How can that be a one owner vehicle? Was it a lease vehicle that kept being returned and reissued to a new person?

2. There's an engine/power-train computer/module check done twice about 2,000 miles apart. Does this signify a problem? We tried to call the place that was listed as having done the work but can't get through to them.

Any of this concerning? It's a Carmax car and they will not let us inspect before buying so we have to buy, inspect, and then return if it's no good.
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 10:28 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

When someone leases a car, the leasing company buys it from someone. That's one title change. Then the car is again changed to the leasing company and most likely financed as well. Then at the end, the car was sold by the leasing company to someone else.

The check was most likely for a check engine light.

As far as Carmax, they always allow you to have it checked before purchase. I would go to a manager about this.

If they still will not, then walk away.

Roy
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM
Tiny
JFLARKIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks Roy. Both Carmax's we've been to have told us no on the inspection before purchase. It seems to be hit or miss with car dealers too as to whether they'll allow us to take the car for inspection prior to making a decision. We tried calling the dealer that serviced the car for those engine/computer checks but every number we try doesn't work. Do you think there's any way Carmax would be able to pull up the service records any other way that would tell us what that check was for? Or is there a way I can pull it up? I have a carfax and their autocheck and neither gives me details.
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
No they cannot bring up the records.

I bought one from Carmax and they kept taking it to a shop for inspection.

Roy
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 5:26 PM

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