What should I do...and what are my options legally.

[4x4nutz]

I bought what I thought was a 1998 M998 HMMWV last month from a private individual. It has very low miles and a 6.5L with a TH400 Tranny. I noticed there was no "delivery date" on the aluminum info tags, so I did a little investigating (called a buddy at MMA - who used the serial number to identify it) and found out it is actually a 1989. I found the auction site it was sold at last year and the records indicate there was no date for this vehicle listed, but on the Texas title it has 1998 as a year model. And when he sold it he listed it as a 1998. My question is.....what should I do? What are my options? I called him and he said he would look where he got that info and get back with me. Thanx

 

[NDT]

You should stamp 1998 on the data plate and go on with life. Nobody cares and the vehicles did not change during that time.

 

[fllaw1]

Ok, civil court a possibility maybe, due to a lower burden of proof. I dont know what you were looking to get out of the situation. Criminally, you really have to prove he had knowlwdge of that and intended to defraud you. Don't get me wrong he may have known and
committed fraud. However what you know and what you can prove are two different things. I would say some will chime in here about the data plates are sometimes mixed up or not correct sometimes on the vehicles. Are you sure you have the right DATA plate for the vehicle. If your somewhat happy with the vehicle, this will come down to "Is the juice worth the squeeze" pursuing it further.

 

[TOBASH]

[EDIT - I posted this prior to learning that HMMWV's get restamped with new titles and years of manufacture when undergoing some types of maintenance and/or repurposing, and dates of manufacture frequently do not match options and serial numbers]

I have bought and sold a few cars over the years and many of those were collectors items. Making sure that you have a numbers matching vehicle might not be important for value, but it can keep you out of jail.

Investigate to see if the 1989 number comes up stolen. If the vehicle is stolen, get a lawyer and be prepared to immediately surrender the vehicle to the local police. Then you are in a position to sue the seller.

If this is not a stolen vehicle, there would not be much difference in value between a 1998 and a 1989 HMMWV. You would get nowhere.


If you're concerned about getting a legal title, it may be easier to title a vehicle built in 1989 than a vehicle built in 1998. Conceivably, someone at motor vehicle screwed up and reversed the numbers. Numbers are input by disinterested people who hate their jobs. You should contact motor vehicle anonymously through a telephone that is not your own and ask them how to deal with a correction on a vehicle that is being titled to you, where the serial number proves a 1989 year but the title has the digits reversed.

With all due respect, and perhaps being a bit paranoid, I am not sure about stamping 1998 on the data plate until you figure out if a number was reversed, and if that error is easily corrected. Honesty and attention to detail now may prevent problems later. If you stamp numbers and know they are incorrect, and the vehicle checks out to be stolen, you can be held accountable for possession of stolen property with an attempt to conceal.

In one respect I agree with NDT. Don't stress. The vehicle did not substantially change in that period of time.

On the other hand, as someone who has bought and sold a number of cars... you never want to be in a position where you have to explain your actions, especially when your actions may not have been within legal boundaries.

Keep in mind that you're axles most likely will be old style as well as other things. [People like Retired War Horses can tell you what changes occurred between 1989 and 1998. That information is not stuff I know.]

My humble opinion. Your mileage may vary.

T

[EDIT - I posted this prior to learning that HMMWV's get restamped with new titles and years of manufacture when undergoing some types of maintenance and/or repurposing, and dates of manufacture frequently do not match options and serial numbers]

 

[4x4nutz]

You should stamp 1998 on the data plate and go on with life. Nobody cares and the vehicles did not change during that time.

I cared and figured it out. It's an honor thing. The reason why it's important is that I want to sell it and get another M1038A1. Can't knowing sell something on a lie. If I were you, I'd stick to giving advice to your dog.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Well if you "what to doing" because of the actual year, Unless you are not satisfied because you in fact have an vehicle nearly 10 years older than thought, or desired, then Let it be.
Otherwise try to get recompense from the seller, Use the money to buy another one of the year you are actually looking for, and perhaps find that one is in a worse 'condition' than the one you have now.
If there are no identification plates or dates on the truck, then a seller can not declare a guess what it is (fictitious) date because the vehicle has been registered as "declared manufactured".
that does not make it the actual date of manufacture.
I have in the past bought many "late model" trucks, known the true date of manufacture, and been more than happy to re-register them (after appropriate inspections of proof) to the correct earlier date of delivery and taken advantage of the benefits that came with earlier year privileges.

 

[4x4nutz]

Well if you "what to doing" because of the actual year, Unless you are not satisfied because you in fact have an vehicle nearly 10 years older than thought, or desired, then Let it be.
Otherwise try to get recompense from the seller, Use the money to buy another one of the year you are actually looking for, and perhaps find that one is in a worse 'condition' than the one you have now.
If there are no identification plates or dates on the truck, then a seller can not declare a guess what it is (fictitious) date because the vehicle has been registered as "declared manufactured".
that does not make it the actual date of manufacture.
I have in the past bought many "late model" trucks, known the true date of manufacture, and been more than happy to re-register them (after appropriate inspections of proof) to the correct earlier date of delivery and taken advantage of the benefits that came with earlier year privileges.

Thank you. Once I hear back from the seller, I will just flat out ask him what he thinks should be done. Put the ball in his court. 10 years matters no matter if the model is the same as newer units. That's 10 years of wear and tear, and/or just sitting out in the element.

 

[snowtrac nome]

it may have been through a reset program I have seen data plates indicating the year the vehicle was rebuilt at that time speedos are changed and all current production changes are added so it is the same as what is being fielded.

 

[doghead]

None of this will matter once the Government starts taking them all back.

 

[NDT]

I cared and figured it out. It's an honor thing. The reason why it's important is that I want to sell it and get another M1038A1. Can't knowing sell something on a lie. If I were you, I'd stick to giving advice to your dog.

I don't have a dog.

Hey, you asked for opinions on what to do. I suggested let it go, take it to the supreme court, it's up to you to decide which way to go with your little issue.

 

[NormB]

opcorn:

 

[gimpyrobb]

Ditto!

 

[4x4nutz]

None of this will matter once the Government starts taking them all back.

Ha ha.....at least not for another 4 years...lol

 

[TOBASH]

I did not know about remanufacture dates.

I also am unhappily surprised to see you dress down NDT or any member of any bulletin board or forum in that fashion. He was only trying to say relax and don't get too stressed over this.

You never mentioned re-sale issues. You [and I both] apparently did not know about remanufacture programs and re-titling of a vehicle as a newer date of manufacture.

I wish you luck, but lighten up.

T

 

[tomelroy]

there is a big difference between a 1998 and a 1989, but if it was listed as a m998 no big deal. If it was listed as a m998a2 you really would have been surprised when you looked it over. Lots of differences in a m998, m998a1 and an a2. Let see some pics.

 

[4x4nutz]

there is a big difference between a 1998 and a 1989, but if it was listed as a m998 no big deal. If it was listed as a m998a2 you really would have been surprised when you looked it over. Lots of differences in a m998, m998a1 and an a2. Let see some pics.

This is after I put another 3 grand into her...

 

[4x4nutz]

I did not know about remanufacture dates.

I also am unhappily surprised to see you dress down NDT or any member of any bulletin board or forum in that fashion. He was only trying to say relax and don't get too stressed over this.

You never mentioned re-sale issues. You [and I both] apparently did not know about remanufacture programs and re-titling of a vehicle as a newer date of manufacture.

I wish you luck, but lighten up.

T

I came here as a new member looking for advice. I was expecting something more from an individual who has been a member here so long. That's all. We can lighten up, but we can be both honest and seroius too I hope.

 

[4x4nutz]

 

[Rmtaunton]

Seller should be jailed


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[86humv]

1998 would have a different park brake handle [ with a button ], and steering wheel would be the thicker black one.
And if a real 1998, it would be a 4L80E truck, not a 3L80 truck.
Some Reset places put date reset instead of original date.
A good reset facility puts A new data plate, with original date, and they also add another data plate on Left or right inner A pillar with reset date.
[ GP ] also sells some with wrong original dates in the past.....They put date the data plate says on auction papers.