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help locate owner of wrecked Prius with just a VIN (in New Orleans, LA)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by smaturin, Aug 18, 2024 at 4:34 PM.

  1. smaturin

    smaturin New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2024
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans, Louisiana US
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    this is a shot in the dark
    wrecked car in parking lot off Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans (close to Michoud) - I am guessing it's a 2005 (2nd guess 2008 ), no license plate, wheels have been stolen. (pictures attached I hope)
    (it may have been stolen before it was wrecked..?)

    I'd like to get a hold of the owner, and keep it from ending up at the city impound lot 18 months from now, and get hopefully get some parts, at least a few modules, (MFD maybe) a battery for core return...
    .
    I could swear the VIN is JTDKB20U883342713 - toyota website seems to indicate that it's not a valid VIN
    the last digit in the 4th picture is cut off just a little

    AutoZone says it's a 2008 - which makes sense based on my other Prii VINS
    (I started with a 2005 3 months ago, and though that has started me on reading Prius Chat for hours and hours, I haven't posted my questions yet about P0AA6 (those questions will come -and hopefully I will get the code right - that's coming from memory -- I just got a 2006 for $1000 yesterday and that's got the red triangle, been waiting to charge and probably replace the 12v before I even plug in the bluetooth adapter that I got for use with Dr Prius (or the Autel that I got next with a different bluetooth, or the VCI cord with the trash win10 laptop that i haven't found time to set up with the virtual image -- all these due to the reading I've done here -- )

    thank you everybody for all the help I've gotten so far - I feel like adding shout outs, but I may save that for later - seriously thank you all of you who have helped -- I feel like I am living the past in the present - but there's probably many like me
    wreck1 on Chef.jpg wreck2 on Chef.jpg wreck3 on Chef.jpg wreck4 on Chef VIN dim2.jpg

    .
     
  2. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2019
    1,542
    463
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That looks stolen and stripped or abandoned and stripped. Determining ownership is going to be a PITA. If you are really determined to have control of this random vehicle in unknown condition try calling whichever law enforcement agency has jurisdiction over dumped cars at that location. They might be able to give you the name of the tow company they use, and that tow company might be induced to give you a call when they pick it up and verify the VIN. Then you can start calling insurance companies to see if they own it (if it was insured, that is surely totaled). The state motor vehicle department could almost certainly figure out the ownership (if it is an in state car) even from a slightly messed up VIN since they also have a vehicle description. However, if they are like California, they will not give you this information.
     
  3. MAX2

    MAX2 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    25
    9
    0
    Location:
    Third Rock from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Restyled headlights

    JTDKB20U883342713

    MODEL PRIUS NHW20
    MODEL CODE NHW20L-AHEEBA
    RELEASE DATE 11.2007
    ISSUE PERIOD 11.2005-03.2009
    ENGINE 1NZFXE 1500CC 16-VALVE DOHC EFI
    REGION USA
    DESTINATION REGION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    FINISH FE11
    COLOR 1F7