NHTSA Complaint #10630984 — 2012 FORD E-350

RENTED BUDGET TRUCK IN ALABAMA ON 8/30. DROVE FROM ALABAMA TO IOWA. RENTED AN AUTO TRANSPORT IN ADDITION TO THE FORD E-350 (2012). THE E-350 WAS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE AND I NEEDED TO TAKE IT BECAUSE I HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO MOVE ON THAT DATE. THE E-350 HAD THE FOLLOWING DANGEROUS ISSUES: 1) NEARLY BALD FRONT LEFT TIRE. 2) WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT RELIABLY CLEAR RAIN FROM WINDSHIELD (BLURRED VISION) 3) HAD TO MANUALLY PUMP FUEL EVERY 1/2 GALLON. THE FUEL PUMP WOULD CUT OFF EVERY 1/2 GALLON EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK WAS HALF FULL OF FUEL. THIS HAPPENED AT TWO DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. 4) THE AUTO TRANSPORT WAS RUSTED AND APPEARED TO HAVE NEVER BEEN INSPECTED THOROUGHLY. 5) THE AUTO TRANSPORT WAS RENTED TO ME WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE IN THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES. 6) THE AUTO TRANSPORT HAD DEFECTIVE RATCHET STRAPS WHICH WERE USED FOR THE SECURING OF THE TOWED VEHICLE. 7) THE AUTO TRANSPORT'S TONGUE JACK WAS DAMAGED WITH BENT METAL WHERE THE CONNECTION PIN WAS LOCATED. WHILE I GOT TO MY DESTINATION SAFELY, I USED VERY SAFE DRIVING TECHNIQUES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT NEITHER I NOR MY WIFE WERE INJURED DURING OUR DRIVE. SHE DROVE IN A SEPARATE CAR AND WOULD DRIVE NEXT TO THE E-350 TO INSPECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE RATCHET STRAPS ON THE AUTO TRANSPORT EVERY 20 MILES TO ENSURE THEY WERE STILL WORKING. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES IN MY LIFETIME, EVEN MILITARY VEHICLES, AND I HAVE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE AS I DID IN THIS BUDGET TRUCK RENTAL WITH AUTO TRANSPORT. THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES OF MY DRIVING HISTORY AND I WILL NEVER RENT FROM BUDGET TRUCK RENTAL AGAIN. *TR