I Will Never Rent From Enterprise Again

[nissangirl74]

I had not heard the story about the death of these two girls before tonight. If I had, I never would have rented a car from them, and I assure you,
I will never rent another one from them.

In 2004, Raechel and Jacqueline Houck rented a Chrysler PT Cruiser from Enterprise Rent-A-Car -- a vehicle that had been recalled for a power steering fluid leak. While driving, the leaking fluid caught fire, which caused the sisters to lose control of the car and collide with a big rig. Both women were killed


How the people in charge at Enterprise can even think about not complying with manufacturer's recalls is beyond me. Why in the hell this had to go to court in order for them to comply is baffling.

Their comment:

For the past two years there has been an ongoing discussion about this issue – a discussion that began in earnest following the resolution of a lawsuit in which Enterprise Rent-A-Car accepted responsibility for an accident involving one of its vehicles that claimed the lives of two young women, sisters Raechel and Jacqueline Houck. The vehicle was under recall at the time. The tragedy of the Houck sisters’ deaths can never be undone, and all of us at Enterprise are profoundly sorry.

Through the court process we accepted responsibility for the accident, and since the accident in 2004, Enterprise and others in our industry have made many significant changes and improvements in the process for inspecting and repairing recalled vehicles. Then, as now, we wanted to ensure that this tragedy is never repeated. Given all the changes and improvements we have made since that fatal crash, today that vehicle would never be rented.

Today, our customers can rest assured that we have the operating procedures and policies in place to ensure that the vehicles they rent from us are properly maintained and meet the highest standards for safety.

But even with all of these safeguards, a number of individuals and organizations have asked for additional oversight in the form of federal legislation. In the past, we believed that this step was unnecessary, but a growing number of people, including our customers and business partners, clearly want more assurance on this critical issue. We hear them – and what we’ve heard has caused us to rethink our stance.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/10 ... alled-cars

[Razi]

[Jesda]

I think the legal liability is enough. If it affects their bottom line, that's more effective than more oversight.

[Jesda]

Bonus:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/ ... 8028.shtml

"Rental Cars Missing Airbags Hit Used Lots"

[Athikerguy4life]

We should all just use the Top Gear method of vehicle renting..

Not sure if it wold solve the safety problem though..

[Beancooker]

Have you ever met the people that work at Enterprise Rent a Car? I don't think most know what a recall is, and the other half can't read the recall notice.

[IanS]

All I can say is, they rented a PT cruiser. Those things are worse then the Canyonero. Anyone who rents, buys, borrows one, assumes the risk of dying in a fire.

Top 5 worst built vehicle of all time.

Seriously though. Why do corporations need to get pwned by the legal system before doing the right thing?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think the legal liability is enough. If it affects their bottom line, that's more effective than more oversight.

I tend to agree.

Plus, in my experience, I've found that oversight tends to affect the consumer more than the business, since the costs (monetary or otherwise) just get passed on.

And not to belittle the tragedy of the deaths, but my reaction to this is the same as the Toyota runaway throttle issue: how does burning power steering oil cause you to crash? It's not like cars are unpredictable and undrivable without power steering--especially at highway speeds.

[Rager]

I tend to agree.

Plus, in my experience, I've found that oversight tends to affect the consumer more than the business, since the costs (monetary or otherwise) just get passed on.

And not to belittle the tragedy of the deaths, but my reaction to this is the same as the Toyota runaway throttle issue: how does burning power steering oil cause you to crash? It's not like cars are unpredictable and undrivable without power steering--especially at highway speeds.

maybe that should be a new test for new drivers? or some type of car related failure to teach kids how to handle the situation. Maybe use a virtual reality car ?

[Dattebayo]

I fail to see how a power steering leak, even coupled with the fluid being on fire externally, can cause someone to lose control of their car?
I mean, driving a power steering car without fluid is a little tough, but when the car is moving, it's not all that noticeable... It being on fire would merely be a visual distraction. If they had simply used the brakes a come to a stop slowly, this tragedy would have been averted.

The fact is, those girls panicked and let go of the wheel, and they slammed into the truck. People do some dumb sh*t behind the wheel when they get startled. That doesn't mean the company was necessarily responsible for their death.

Even tho I feel this way, I do think that recalls should be taken off the lot and put out of service immediately. There is no excuse for it.

[alms24sebring]

^ I agree with this but I wasnt ganna say it. Im not sure if I find it 100% Enterprise's fault, but regardless any recalls should be taken care of right away. I would like to have liked to have seen what happened at the time of the accident and how it was handled to cause death