Take a used Tacoma to a mechanic for a pre-buy inspection?

I'm looking at a 2010 Tacoma at a dealer. I like the truck but a couple things worry me. It has airbags in the rear but a nice bed which makes me think they pulled a lot with it. The CarFax also shows a transmission service at around 56,000 miles and an accident "COLLISION WITH A PARKED MOTOR VEHICLE, MODERATE TO SEVERE DAMAGE REPORTED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED". And then the next day it's reported as "MINOR ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE REPORTED".
How much of a problem is it if they pulled a lot with this thing? Also I've heard that accidents reported in CarFax aren't always what they seem and that if any vehicle involved was towed it may be mentioned even if it isn't the one the report was pulled on.
Anyone ever take a truck to an independent mechanic to check it out before you buy? What can they find with a transmission that would show up as a problem at this point without tearing it down?

 

IMO, not much can be found about the trans, no dipstick on the 4.0L so you can check the condition of the fluid. On one hand the PO cared enough to properly set up the truck to tow, airbags & Toyota recommended service of the trans at 60K for towing applications. On the other hand you have no idea what the PO towed....a 800lbs boat(no likely w the airbags) or a 32' Travel trailer fully loaded and maxed out the tow capacity. As for the accident damage, can you see evidence of the repairs? If not then they were probably done properly but any accident that shows on the CarFax also damages resale value.

 

Skip the ones with the accidents.

 

Yea, find ya another taco and go from there

 

I would ask the dealer to do a trans service as a condition of buying the truck. I they balk at that or letting you get a second inspection... then walk away.

 

Concerned about the transmission and the accident i would pass and look for another.

 

I would probably purchase a vehicle from a member here if it's been in an accident or had mechanical issues because there's a good chance it's well documented as to what happened and how it was repaired. Buying a truck from a dealer who has no real knowledge of the trans problems or how bad the accident was is just gambling.

 

how are you guys jumping to transmission problems from the "transmission service"

Wouldn't that be there if he had the transmission fluid changed?

 

I could be totally wrong since I've only used CarFax twice, but in those cases routine maintenance didn't show up.

 

I wouldn't have worried about the transmission service in CarFax if it wasn't set up to pull something heavy. But how can you know?

 

Pass. Too many good ones around.

 

Ingot a free car fax on my Tacoma and it showed every time it was at Toyota garage for oil changes. It had 30k and I seen every oil change listed. With the mileage it was done at

 

Thanks for the opinions guys. I wish there were lots of good ones around. The good ones disappear before I can get to them! Either that or they are priced so high I might as well buy new!

 

'Zactly why I ended up buying new. Was my first (and only) vehicle purchased new in 35 years of buying them.