Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Check your car rental vin for recall information

Search

Check your car rental vin for recall information

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 25th, 2012, 07:36 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check your car rental vin for recall information

I know I am getting off of the subject of planning my trip but I just realized that there is no law requiring rental car companies to avoid renting recalled cars. Hertz is the only company that said they will stop the practice of renting cars that need to be fixed due to a recall. Enterprise lost a big case in California because they rented a car with a serious dangerous defect and two women died. The executive said he couldn't say if renting a dangerous car was a bad idea or not.

I just wanted families with kids especially to check the vin on your rental or know about recalls before you drive off the lot. Here are the ABC News and USA TODAY articles.
.http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/rent-c...ry?id=11101848
.http://www.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedi...-cars_ST_U.htm
richmond706 is offline  
Old Apr 25th, 2012, 09:00 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have full sympathy about this case, and it has been settled.

Please note that both articles about the Houck sisters are talking about their 2004 deaths.

The odds are almost non-existant, to start with, and many rental car companies already have recall policies in place about renting.

Let's add in checking a Vin # and then pulling it up on a recall database, all between the time you get in a car and start it up.

The argument against laws to force rental cars to comply with proposed laws, is that limosines and taxis are not addressed.

International laws are not applicable to U.S. law.

We're almost bordering on the Craig Shergold dying and wants your business card to set a Guinness Book of Records. I'm sure we've all gotten an email or a hundred about this subject.
Rastaguytoday is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2012, 12:42 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,625
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
The executive said he couldn't say if renting a dangerous car was a bad idea or not.

This is the strangest thing I've ever heard. I guess the court decision said it FOR him.
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2012, 03:21 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wish there was an easy way to discover if a rental care has a serious recall defect - because 2 things make that difficult. First, I don't think it is practical to check VIN, go find wireless internet, check VIN, get in car.

Second, there are recalls and there are recalls - and most are not likely to be of great safety consequence. We currently have the honor of owning 2 "recalled cars" (a Toyota and a Honda) for seemingly minor issues that can not be addressed yet due to availability of parts. We also owned one of the recalled Toyotas in the huge group with the "sticking accelerators" that had mats replaced and still is uncertain as to whether there was a problem or not. I think some recalls are more designed to protect monetary interests of company than safety of drivers. (If they recall everything, they hope their liability is limited if something happens)

With all sympathies to families of the women who died, I am usually more concerned about deferred maintenance or some previous renter bozo who screwed something up in the car, making it unsafe.





I
gail is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2012, 07:18 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,044
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Checking your rental car's VIN seems highly impractical.
Placename is offline  
Old Jun 25th, 2012, 10:47 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sad
knighttony13 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ribeirasacra
Europe
3
Jan 10th, 2018 05:04 AM
Darius
Europe
6
Jan 6th, 2017 10:22 AM
DeborahAnn
Europe
2
Jun 12th, 2013 07:18 AM
Lynn
United States
11
Jun 27th, 2002 08:47 AM
Gary
United States
5
Jun 22nd, 2002 06:24 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -