Tuesday, US car safety officials announced they are examining whether Hertz rented recalled vehicles without repairs to customers.
In a file made public on Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated it had received evidence indicating “Hertz rented automobiles to consumers without performing needed recall repairs.”
The NHTSA stated that it had initiated a “audit enquiry to obtain additional information about this issue.”
The agency disclosed that the affected vehicles were Ford Explorers and Nissan Altimas held by Hertz between 2018 and 2020, but did not divulge the total number of affected vehicles. NHTSA stated that the recall issues related latches and locks.
Hertz, which operates the Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty vehicle rental brands, stated that it is “reviewing the NHTSA’s information request. We are committed to offering our customers with safe rentals.”
NHTSA said in a statement on Tuesday that it began collecting information in late 2021 indicating that Hertz may have rented vehicles to customers without performing all required safety recall fixes.
“Information acquired to date by the agency, including from vehicle manufacturers, indicates that repairs necessary under multiple NHTSA safety recalls were not done prior to the rental of affected vehicles to Hertz customers,” the agency noted.
A rule enacted in 2015 mandates that automobile rental agencies with 35 or more vehicles must complete recall repairs before renting vehicles.
This month, Hertz announced it would pay approximately $168 million by the end of the year to settle over 95% of pending claims from owners who claimed the car rental company submitted false theft reports.
Some consumers have filed a lawsuit against Hertz, alleging that the police detained or arrested them in error after the firm reported stolen rental cars.
»Hertz was investigated for allegedly renting recalled vehicles«