The Ford Edge was discontinued not too terribly long ago, following a rather long and successful run. During that time, the mid-size crossover was built at the Oakville Assembly plant in Canada, which is now being retooled for production of the Ford Super Duty. As such, it isn’t surprising to learn that there are quite a few Ford Edge models roaming around in that same country, which also unfortunately has seemingly made it a popular target for thieves as well – at least, those that are using VIN cloning as their tool of choice.
According to Carfax, the Ford F-150, ranks as the most commonly VIN-cloned vehicle in Canada, followed by the Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, the Ford Escape, Chevy Silverado, the Ford F-350 Super Duty, GMC Sierra, Ford Edge, Ford F-250 Super Duty, and Ford Explorer, with The Blue Oval dominating this list. Somewhat shockingly, Carfax notes that this particular problem affects 372,000 vehicles in Canada alone.
VIN cloning, also known as re-vinning, is a type of automotive-focused fraud where criminals copy legitimate Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) onto stolen vehicles, taking the identity of that legit vehicle and using it to mask a stolen one.
For those that unknowingly purchase a vehicle with a fraudulent VIN, they can still face serious consequences – insurance companies may deny coverage for repairs or theft, the vehicle may lose considerable resale value or be impossible to trade in or sell, and it could even be seized by law enforcement. As such, it’s important that consumers practice caution, and use a VIN fraud detection tool such as Carfax’s.
“Buying a used vehicle privately offers choice and value, but it can also expose consumers to serious risks if the vehicle they purchase has a compromised VIN,” said Shawn Vording, President of Carfax Canada. “No matter what type of used vehicle you’re buying, it should be an exciting moment in the lives of Canadians.”
“Our customers told us that they are concerned about the continued vehicle theft and fraud problem and wanted a better way to help protect themselves from this issue when looking for a new used vehicle. VIN Fraud Check is designed to give private buyers the information needed to walk away from a suspicious deal before it becomes their problem.”
The Italian company blows away everyone else in that regard.
Nothing else has seemingly changed but the price.
Its outlook remains a bit mixed.
He's taking a wait and see approach as some brands jump onboard.
Improving year-over-year, along with the entire market.
