Dealer Service History

[BirfMark]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on purchasing a new-to-me FZJ80. Prior to the purchase, I'm trying to find out as much about the vehicle's maintenance history as I can. I contacted my local dealership to see if I could obtain service records, but was informed that "IF there are any records in the national database, they're not allowed to share them."

Is this standard Toyota protocol to not release a vehicle's service history?

 

[ranma21]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on purchasing a new-to-me FZJ80. Prior to the purchase, I'm trying to find out as much about the vehicle's maintenance history as I can. I contacted my local dealership to see if I could obtain service records, but was informed that "IF there are any records in the national database, they're not allowed to share them."

Is this standard Toyota protocol to not release a vehicle's service history?

Do not know about Toyota, but Lexus will release the service history.

 

[Downey]

I'm too old and stubborn to remember the name of the outfit, but there is a company who provides vehicle historys on used cars that are for sale. Many times Car Max or other big dealers will post up one of these reports on their ad, see them quite often on vehicles listed on e-bay. I'm sure somebody will post the name of this company for you.

 

[KLF]

Ya, I'm calling BS on this. I bought my car used off a Lexus lot, and they were happy to provide me with the complete service history.

 

[Beowulf]

I'm sure somebody will post the name of this company for you.

I believe you are thinking of Carfax and they only report events that are reported to them. Typically it is registration type of events or emissions events in those states that record that information. If you are lucky, you will get accident information, sometimes from the insurance companies that report to Carfax and sometimes from the state MVD if they record that information.

On rare occasions you will find where a dealer will report to Carfax that a vehicle has been in for service but those events are very rarely reported and you will never find out what maintenance was done via Carfax.

Ya, I'm calling BS on this. I bought my car used off a Lexus lot, and they were happy to provide me with the complete service history.

Lexus has had a nationwide reporting system since the inception of the brand. Toyota was not on this system until very recently (2008 IIRC.) I do not know if Toyota dealers will give out the information but you can bet they don't have any maintenance records prior to that 2008 date. In the past, you could call a specific Toyota dealer and (if you asked nicely) they might look up by VIN to see what service was performed in their dealership.
Obviously, this would not be practical if you didn't know where the vehicle had lived with prior owners.

Lexus dealers have been very good about supplying prior maintenance history done at any Lexus dealership in the USA (not sure about other areas.) My '94 LS400 was acquired a couple of years ago and the dealership was very cooperative. There were privacy issues (po name, amounts paid, credit cards used, dates paid, etc.) but they managed to screen out that information and get a pretty good summary. On my first visit, the person helping me told me they couldn't get all the information because it was archived on older vehicles.

On another visit, I was trying to find out if they had some PS work done and the person helping me was able to look up the details of that service, what items were suggested by the tech, and what items the PO approved for work, and what parts were replaced. That led me to believe that the Lexus system "unarchived" the older maintenance history after my VIN was back in for dealer service. Obviously, I don't know if this is fact or speculation.... but that is what happened to me.

-B-

 

[Sparky97LX]

When I bought my LX450 in Chicago, the dealer gave me a complete history report, from the PO's purchase thru all the services that were completed during the 12 years and 7,949 miles that they the PO had them service it. I also did a Carfax that only verified the data.

 

[BirfMark]

Thanks for the help - looks like I'm chasing a dream to get the records.

 

[wxm]

Thanks for the help - looks like I'm chasing a dream to get the records.

You may also ask the PO for the service records. Because the LX450 is so close to its cousin - Toyota LC, lots of owners could just simple have the services done at the Toyota dealer instead, in which case as Beo pointed out, you might be out of luck to pull the history from their computers. My truck was serviced at my local Toyota dealer ever since the warranty period was over (much closer to me), I kept all the papers though.

 

[Bluetribal]

I had the same problem I even went to the dealer where the Cruiser was serviced it's whole life and I talked with the service manager and was told they could be held liable and sued if they gave me the info.

But after I bought it I took it in to my local dealer in the same county for a basic tune-up and they just called up the other dealer for me and found out it had in-deed had the head gasket replaced which was the major info I cared about.

So before you buy you could take it to your dealer for a basic inspection and have them call the dealer it was serviced at to try and find out pertinent information. It might cost your a $100 for the inspection but it could save you thousands down the road.

 

[CycloSteve]

Thread Revival.

Ask your dealer, and bring your registration. I was recently at my local dealer, where the truck was originally sold, and serviced for 12 years. I asked, and they were more than happy to print out the full service record for my truck. I was given a pretty hefty stack of paper.

Perhaps having a PO who was a Service Writer (at that dealership) meant that more details ended up in the system, I do not know. There was a treasure trove of info, including many of the common 80 issues:

All oil/service intervals
All smog checks
Wobbly drivers mirror fixed
Antenna mast replacement
Major items - brakes, belts, exhaust repairs, etc.
Supercharger install date!
When HG replaced ~ 96k
"D" light out and replaced​

I even found out the name of the PO who works at another dealership now, and will be dropping in sometime soon to say "hi". Definitely 10x what CarFax has in their system, and includes detailed notes from the mechanics and service writers. Well worth asking IMHO, you never know what you might find out.



Steve

 

[TEXLEX450]

The LX I bought had a pretty extensive Lexus service history. But the prior owner had all the service done at the toyota dealership as she didn't have a LX dealership close by. I saw the file on the vehicle when I went to buy it and it was about 2 inches think - I asked about copies and was told I couldn't have it. They did print out the screen shot which just gave the dates and basic details - but I was hoping for copies of actual service notes, etc.
For the LX I signed up on lexus.com under the owners section - input the VIN and it gave all the service history performed at Lexus dealerships. I am told that Toyota does not have such a database??? Don't know if that is true or if they just don't want to deal with it.

 

[Beowulf]

I am told that Toyota does not have such a database??? Don't know if that is true or if they just don't want to deal with it.

Back in '97 when our trucks were being serviced at the dealerships, Lexus had a national database meaning that you could pull the service history done at any dealer if you had the VIN and if you asked nicely.

Toyota dealers maintained a local service database by VIN, meaning that you might be able to get the service records from the specific dealer that did the work if you asked nicely and if they were willing to provide the information. If you live in a 1-dealer town and the vehicle was local then that was more feasible.

Things have changed in the past 13+ years and I have heard that Toyota dealers now have a national database for service. YMMV.

-B-