Washington – Bill Would End Leasing of Rental Cars in Recall

Washington – A U.S. senator on Wednesday proposed closing what he calls a dangerous loophole in the law that allows rental car agencies to continue providing customers with vehicles named in safety recalls before problems are fixed.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he wants to hold rental car agencies to the same standard as car dealerships. Dealers can’t sell cars under recall until they’re repaired.

There was no immediate response to requests for comment made by telephone and e-mail to the American Car Rental Association, which says on its website it’s dedicated to improving the industry by supporting legislation that would benefit its members.

Schumer noted two women in California recently died when their rental car caught fire. He said the car’s model was the subject of a safety recall and the problem hadn’t been fixed.

“It boggles the mind,” Schumer said Wednesday. “It’s wrong, it can be dangerous and it must  be stopped.”

He cited a recent finding by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that just half of rental cars identified on recall notices had their defects repaired a year after notification.

Schumer said his proposed Safe Rental Car Act would protect people who expect to rent safe cars on their business trips and vacations.