[Hannibal]

Take the bad VIN, run it through Carfax. It'll tell you the vehicle, but not the history w/out paying.

 

[EffJ]

This/\/\/\, the dealership cuts the vin # into a blue tape with a dot matrix printer. The tape is applied to the glass and a etching cream is used. Takes about 5 minutes.

They just screwed up. I would bet if you run the vin# it is a different model toyota.

Hey thats a great idea!! Ill run the VIN and see what comes up!

 

[GT_Charlie]

Hey thats a great idea!! Ill run the VIN and see what comes up!

Cool! Let us know what you find out.

You should have a car fax from your original purchase, and it would report any major (or minor) body damage. Sounds like a SNAFU to me.

Charlie

 

[fxntime]

Someone etched several different vehicles at the same time and applied the wrong VINs to a couple of them.

 

[FJX2000]

Are you talking about the VIN near the front windshield on the dash that you can see through the front window? I don't recall any front windshield etching of a vin number. If the dash vin was different than other vins on the FJ then that makes sense to worry.

 

[ZerosFJ]

All the VIN numbers on the glass match up. All the VIN numbers on bodys panels match up as well, but are different than the glass VIN. I cant imagine a senerio where every window would need to be replaced, even an accident. The FJ is in fantastic shape. Im leaning toward it was a mistake.

I have no way to contact the previous owner. It was bought at an auction and they wont privide me with the previous owners information.

It does sound to me as though it was a factory mix up. I too see it as very unlikely all the glass was replaced at the same time from another vehicle.

If all the body VIN stickers match the Frame stamped VIN then I wouldn't worry. If the frame matches the glass then I would dig deeper.

 

[FinnJ]

He said every FJ has the VIN number of the vehicle etched into each window, including the winshield.

How could all my windows have a different VIN etched into them than my FJs VIN?

Every FJ, etched VIN number in each window? Never heard, never seen. I can't believe Toyota would etch them.

I think somebody is etched them afterwards, as extra security but missed the right VIN.

 

[norm356]

Everyone who said that it was a mixup is correct.

But only the ones who voted for dealer mixup, because Toyota does not etch the glass at the factory. There are services which will do this for you as an aftermarket thing to (hopefully) make your car slightly less likely to be stolen (very slightly).

Concerns with etching side window glass is that tempered glass with abrasions in its outer surface are more likely to shatter.

Some models also have special VIN stickers on several key body parts, but European and Federal regulations dictate which vehicles need that extra step (only the ones which lack certain levels of built in immobilizer systems and theft prevention design require them, other vehicles which include these things are allowed to skip the expense of additional stickers).

No doubt the same folks who would provide a glass etching service could also provide similar VIN stickers if desired. Having these things done by your dealer sounds like "Scotchguarding", and "Undercoating": great ways of boosting the dealer's bottom line by charging customers $300 for $10 worth of product. Not that they don't work, but that they generally charge many multiples of what they actually cost, and often aren't necessary.


N

 

[FoxtrotJuliet]

Like a few other folks said - it is most likely a dealership add-on that did not go well. Nothing to do with the factory.

I have a 2013 TT - no Vin's on my windows - I have had it since new.

 

[EffJ]

Looked VIN up...its from a 2010 RAV 4

 

[ZoSoIV]

Looked VIN up...its from a 2010 RAV 4

anyway to trace it back to the dealer that etched the windows? CarFax should tell what dealer did the services

 

[Winterpeg]

Looked VIN up...its from a 2010 RAV 4

.... which is obviously wrong as the windows are not interchangeable.

I wouldn't worry about it any further.

As stated previously... as long as the important VIN #'s match up (body panels, engine block, frame, etc) I think you are good.

:cheers:

 

[Hannibal]

I went to the dealers today to ask them a question about my windshield and the service guy pointed out something. He said every FJ has the VIN number of the vehicle etched into each window, including the winshield.

Ah... Imagine that, another wrong answer from a dealership tech. Like the others have said, either trace it back to the original dealership that did it and make them pay for all new glass or let it go.

Make sure that you match the rest of the VIN tags and decals on body panels.

Good Luck! :cheers:

 

[Voight Kampff]

Did you actually buy a 2010 RAV4?

RAV4:

FJ Cruiser:

 

[cliffy]

Looked VIN up...its from a 2010 RAV 4

How the f- they get a '10 vin on a 2013??? :slant:

 

[CT_FJCruiser]

Did you actually buy a 2010 RAV4?

RAV4:

FJ Cruiser:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[Hannibal]

How the f- they get a '10 vin on a 2013??? :slant:

The same way a dealership employee told the OP that ALL Toyota's have the VIN on the BUG. :bigthumb: >

 

[I stole her FJ!]

Did you actually buy a 2010 RAV4?

RAV4:

FJ Cruiser:

I think that would be pretty hard to do. Can't you see the difference in the color tint in those shades of blue? :jester:

Personally, I would be the most concerned that the vehicle had been sold in an auction. In my experience, small shops buy wrecked vehicles in auctions and then repair them for sale at the small corner lots. Any time a Carfax shows an accident and then change of title, I figure the vehicle was written off by the insurance company. Remember too, the Carfax will not always indicate anything had happened. They can only record what was reported.

 

[ASWH1]

Everyone who said that it was a mixup is correct.

But only the ones who voted for dealer mixup, because Toyota does not etch the glass at the factory. There are services which will do this for you as an aftermarket thing to (hopefully) make your car slightly less likely to be stolen (very slightly).

Concerns with etching side window glass is that tempered glass with abrasions in its outer surface are more likely to shatter.

Some models also have special VIN stickers on several key body parts, but European and Federal regulations dictate which vehicles need that extra step (only the ones which lack certain levels of built in immobilizer systems and theft prevention design require them, other vehicles which include these things are allowed to skip the expense of additional stickers).

No doubt the same folks who would provide a glass etching service could also provide similar VIN stickers if desired. Having these things done by your dealer sounds like "Scotchguarding", and "Undercoating": great ways of boosting the dealer's bottom line by charging customers $300 for $10 worth of product. Not that they don't work, but that they generally charge many multiples of what they actually cost, and often aren't necessary.


N

So you think that some dealerships have like a VIN GLASS etching "service" I would assume come over to the Dealership (rather than the cars being taken to a 2nd location-) and have this service performed? It wouldn't be feasible in my estimation to ship every car out to some secondary location, I don't think- but I could be wrong.

IF you can find out what dealership sold the 2010 Rav4, you might be able to verify that they also originally (maybe) sold your 2013FJTT. IF it seems that these two cars were never both at the same dealership I'd be more concerned.

In practical terms it doesn't really matter unless they find the VIN Glass with ID from your REAL frame and body laying on the ground at some Hit and Run or similar accident. They could track back to you, unfortunately. You could have this resolved by having a statement from Toyota issued, Dealership, DMV or whoever will cooperate.

You could try to have the DMV contact the RAV4 Owner and have them check their Glass VIN #- would be interesting to see if they have your VIN Glass.

 

[ASWH1]

VIN ETCHING "Package": Games Dealers Play: VIN Etching | Consumer Law Group, LLC

VIN ETCHING "Car Scam"/ The Good and the Bad: http://dealerfraud.org/vin-etching/

Also- read that some insurance companies will give a Discount if you have VIN Etched Glass PLUS an Alarm. So, unfortunately that kinda works against you- though technically you do have VIN Etched Glass...