Investigation Finds Leading Rental Car Company Sold Vehicles Without Air Bags

Fox news ^ | 8/18/09 | staff

[Nachum]

One of the nation’s leading rental car companies recently ordered thousands of cars without side impact airbags in an attempt to save millions of dollars, then later sold the cars to buyers without the standard safety feature, according to a report from the Kansas City Star.

According to the report, Enterprise Rent-A-Car ordered a fleet of Chevy Impalas without the side impact

[from occupied ga]

The horror the horror

[MarineBrat]

The question “So what?” comes to mind.

[VeniVidiVici]

ordered thousands of cars without side impact airbags in an attempt to save millions of dollars, then later sold the cars to buyers without the standard safety feature,

Standard safety feature? They're not mandatory (yet) are they? I have two 2008 vehicles and I don't think either one has side airbags.

[apillar]

My first car didn’t even have seatbelts standard....

[wendy1946]

Ever wonder why new cars cost what they do or weigh as much as they do? I wouldn't willingly pay for air bags or antilock brakes if there were any choice in the matter.

I mean in all these discussions of economy I never hear or read the word "weight", the typical small car today is 500 - 1000 pounds heavier than the typical small car of 1965 and that's not supposed to be any sort of a problem.....

[Charles Martel]

If a vehicle is available without side-impact airbags, then that’s not a “standard” safety feature.

[SampleMan]

I’m guessing that its a standard feature on the Impala, but was not disclosed as “missing” during the sales. Sort of like selling boxed Chess games that are missing a king, without disclosing it.

[niteowl77]

Any outfit that pals around around with Progressive Insurance...

[Graybeard58]

My first car didn’t even have seatbelts standard.

Mine didn't have power steering, power brakes or a radio.

(I'm old.)

[SampleMan]

If a vehicle is available without side-impact airbags, then that’s not a “standard” safety feature.

Its not available on a car lot without the feature, thus making it standard per Blue Book. In affect, this was a large special order.

[VeniVidiVici]

I’m guessing that its a standard feature on the Impala, but was not disclosed as “missing” during the sales. Sort of like selling boxed Chess games that are missing a king, without disclosing it.

Ah. That could be.

[Abathar]

After having an airbag explode on me one time I would just as soon not have them.

I wear a seatbelt, and that thing damn near took my thumbs off on a little fender bender, causing far more pain than the mild bump did.

[org.whodat]

Did they tell the buyers there was no air bag??? If they failed to disclose this, buy the cars back and move on.

[Pessimist]

“My first car didn’t even have seatbelts standard.”

“Mine didn’t have power steering, power brakes or a radio.”

Mine had a radio, but of course it was AM only.

1966 Chevy Biscaine. Straight 6, 3 on the tree. Got 20 mpg. Seriously.

[Abathar]

It’s a used car, why wouldn’t the term “buyer beware” and “as is, where is” come into play here unless they gave a warranty with each one?

[Abathar]

I had a 67 Coronet, 318 two barrel with a three on the tree four door that got 23 mpg on my senior trip to Florida.

[algernonpj]

My first car didn’t even have seatbelts standard.

Mine didn't have power steering, power brakes or a radio.

Mine lacked all of the above, and syncromesh ??sp - it had to be double clutched to shift gears.

The car was old!

[norraad]

Same thing only '67, great MPG amost half a century ago!

It also came with that 'new' safety feature (seatbelts) , but the nice salesman showed me how to roll them up and tuck them under the seat so they wouldn't get in the way.

[count-your-change]

Mine didn’t have brakes so I wonder how I became old at all!