Overview
This is what shows up when an independent inspector goes over a used car: the exceptions that get written into the report, the small items that matter at the negotiating table, and the checks that catch what the eye cannot. It is drawn from the structured findings our inspectors have recorded in delivered reports.
Treat it as a description of what inspectors record, not a statistic. The vehicles we inspect are a mix, not a representative sample of the used market, so nothing here should be read as a market-wide rate.
Exhaust and underbody: where surface rust shows up
Within the underbody section, surface rust on exhaust components is recorded more often than frame rust or suspension wear. Surface rust on a muffler or pipe is often a condition to watch rather than a reason to walk away. What changes the picture is rust that has become flaking or perforation, an exhaust leak, or corrosion that reaches the frame or suspension mounting points.
Frame findings are worth separating by degree. Surface rust on an otherwise solid frame is a different conversation from scale, flaking, or evidence of structural repair. The underbody check for rust, frame damage, and structural repair exists to tell those apart, which is hard to do from the driveway.
Tires and glass: the inexpensive fixes that add up
Tires rated fair rather than healthy and glass chips or cracks are among the exceptions inspectors record. Neither is dramatic, but both cost real money. A set of tires near the end of its tread life is a reasonable price conversation, and a cracked windshield can matter for state inspection rules or insurance, depending on where you live.
Check tread depth on all four tires and look for uneven wear, which often points to an alignment or suspension issue rather than age alone.
Small leaks and wear items: where negotiations are won
Minor leaks or seeps, belts and hoses showing wear or cracking, and suspension components with minor wear are among the small items recorded. Several of these are things you can price into the deal because they are known costs, instead of discovering them after you buy. Belts and hoses vary from routine wear to urgent, though, and a cracked one deserves a closer look before you drive far.
A seep and an active leak are different findings, so read the report wording closely. If a report notes a seep, ask for service records showing when the gasket or seal was last addressed.
Interior and climate: small things that can point to bigger ones
Interior exceptions recorded include things such as uneven climate output, slow-retracting seat belts, torn or stained upholstery, or musty, water-type odors. Uneven output between sides of a climate system can be as simple as a blend-door issue or as involved as a refrigerant or component problem, so it is worth a closer look rather than a shrug.
A musty odor deserves attention because it can point to water getting into the cabin, which is worth tracing before you buy. When you walk the car yourself, notice whether the wear on the seats and pedals looks out of step with the odometer reading.
Brakes and battery: measured, not guessed
Silver and Gold inspections include instrumented checks: brake pad and rotor measurement and a battery load test. In the reports where those measurements were taken, brake and battery results were mostly fine, and brake wear and a failed battery load test are among the exceptions that were recorded. Instrumented tests can catch what a visual check misses; for example, a battery can look clean and still fail a load test.
A measured brake result is also easier to negotiate on than "the brakes feel a bit soft," because it comes with a number.
Stored trouble codes: a clean scan is not a guarantee
Every inspection of a 1996-or-newer vehicle includes an OBD-II scan for stored trouble codes. Some cars come back with stored codes. Others come back with none, and that is useful, but a clean scan is not proof that nothing is wrong: codes can be cleared or reset, and not every fault stores a code. This is why the scan is one input alongside the road test, the visual checks, and the fluid and leak checks, not a substitute for them.
What usually comes back clean
In the reports where these were recorded, most cars showed clean fluids, even panel gaps, and wheels in good condition. A report full of clean items is not a sign the inspection was shallow. It is the result you are paying to confirm, and it is what lets you buy with confidence instead of hope.
What to do with this before you buy
Ask the seller for service records, run the VIN for open recalls, and get an independent inspection before you hand over money. The free used car checklist covers the walk-around you can do yourself. An inspection covers what you cannot easily see: the underbody, the scan, and a road test where the vehicle is street legal, insured, and conditions are safe, with instrumented measurements added on Silver and Gold.
You can see what a finished report looks like in the sample Silver report, then book an inspection and paste the listing link, or compare the tiers on the pricing page.