NHTSA Complaint #10561353 — 2012 HONDA CIVIC

ON 12/24/13 I RENTED A CAR FROM HERTZ AND RETURNED ON 12/30/13. DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME PERIOD THE CAR HAD NO WORKING TAILLIGHTS AND PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL DASHBOARD AND CONSOLE LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE NOT ONLY FOR ME AND MY WIFE BUT ANY OTHER DRIVER ON THE ROADS AT THE TIME. THE CAR WAS ILLEGAL TO OPERATE IN PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO AND INDIANA AND I WAS PULLED OVER THREE TIMES BY VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS. I CONTACTED HERTZ AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO HAVE ME DRIVE IT TO THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT. I SUGGESTED TO THE HERTZ REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS WASN'T ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE CAR''S CONDITION MAKES IT ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ULTIMATELY, WE WERE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL WHICH WE RELUCTANTLY DROVE TO THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF OUR DEPARTURE. UPON MY RETURN TO PHOENIX I'VE ATTEMPTED, AS INSTRUCTED BY HERTZ, TO CONTACT THEIR LOCATION IN THE PITTSBURGH TO SEEK A REFUND. AFTER 16 PHONE CALLS TO THAT NUMBER I'VE EITHER BEEN CUT OFF BY THE PHONE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE VOICEMAIL IS FULL, SELECTED OPTIONS THAT LEAD NOWHERE, OR REDIRECTED TO EMPLOYEES IN OTHER CITIES WHO TELL ME TO CALL THE LOCATION IN THE PITTSBURGH. THE STRATEGY APPEARS TO BE ONE OF CONTINUAL DELAY IN HOPES THAT CUSTOMERS WITH LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS ULTIMATELY GIVE UP. THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION WITH HERTZ ENSURES I'LL BE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE AND LEGAL VEHICLE AND CLEARLY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. HERTZ HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. I HOPE THIS LETTER WILL PROMPT THE DOT AND NHTSA TO QUESTION HERTZ''S VEHICLE INSPECTION AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS, TO ENSURE THEY HAVE PRACTICES IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND TO QUICKLY AND FAIRLY RESOLVE ANY ISSUES. MY INTENT IS THAT THIS LETTER HELPS FUTURE CONSUMERS AVOID SITUATIONS SIMILAR TO THE ONE I'VE EXPERIENCED AND TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY'RE DRIVING SAFE, LEGAL AND RELIABLE VEHICLES. *TR