According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), new legislation this month mandates rental car companies with fleets larger than 35 vehicles to remove any vehicles under recall until they are fully repaired. It is the first time the NHTSA’s authority to recall has been extended to rental car companies.
Endorsed by the family of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck, the law passed as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. Raechel and Jacqueline were sisters who were killed in a rental car that was under a recall. Their mother advocated that lawmakers ban recalled rental vehicles for years prior to this latest legislation.
Government officials who have touted the need for safe vehicle rentals are pleased with the new law. The U.S. Transportation Secretary, adamant that families receive a defect-free vehicle when they rent a car while vacationing, thanked Congress and safety advocates for working together to turn “this common-sense idea into law.”
New Legislation Recall Enforcement
Since June 1st of this year, the NHTSA has the ability to enforce safety and punish rental agencies who disregard the law, protecting motorists throughout the United States. Rental companies own some of the biggest fleets in the nation so the law will help ensure vehicles are safe for consumer use.
As one of the most complex auto recalls to date, Takata Corporation’s defective airbag inflators are part of a massive recall that has been underway for over a year. The NHTSA has announced they are seeking a 100 percent completion rate on open recalls. In 2014, there were 900 recalls impacting 51 million U.S. vehicles.
With so many vehicles in need of recall repairs, rental agencies will have to join forces with automakers to ensure their fleets are safe and free of defective products.
Have you or your loved one suffered a serious personal injury in a car accident due to a defective vehicle part? If so, contact the experienced product liability attorneys at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak to find out if you are eligible to file a lawsuit today. Our firm will provide you with a free legal evaluation. We will fight for your justice to hold negligent companies accountable and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Call (844) 678-1800 for help with your claim today.
