NHTSA Investigates if Hertz Rented Unrepaired Recalled Vehicles

Hertz is in hot water again. U.S. auto safety regulators said they are investigating if Hertz rented unrepaired recalled vehicles to customers, according to a report by Reuters.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a filing that it had information that suggests “Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs.” NHTSA said that it has opened an “audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.”

According to NHTSA, the issue involved Ford Explorer and Nissan Altima vehicles owned by Hertz between 2018 and 2020, said the report. The recall issues included latches and locks.

Hertz said it is “reviewing NHTSA’s request for information. We are committed to providing safe rentals for our customers.”

NHTSA said that it started receiving information in late 2021 suggesting that Hertz may have rented vehicles without having all required safety recall repairs performed on these vehicles, according to the report.

“Information gathered by the agency to date, including from vehicle manufacturers, suggests repairs required under multiple NHTSA safety recalls were not made prior to the rental of such affected vehicles to Hertz customers,” said NHTSA.

Earlier this year, Hertz was under fire for claims of renters being falsely arrested for vehicle theft. It announced a settlement of about $168 million to resolve those disputes by year end.