Car recalls take on varying degrees of severity, but as a rule, it’s probably better to get your car fixed for free than to leave the car not injuring you because of the safety recall up to chance. Faulty airbags, compromised brake lines, windshield wipers that can malfunction and start engine fires. Consequences of these going unchecked shouldn’t be tempted. Look at the following recent footage from a couple in South Korea who were victims of sudden acceleration:

If that’s not enough to frighten you to adhere to any and all recalls, then you’re nuts.

How does this tie in to rental company practices? Read on.

A story was released earlier this week detailing a rental car company habit that is completely legal, though highly deceitful and angering.

Rental agencies are not responsible to fix vehicles that are subjected to recalls. Which means that if you’ve rented a car in the last, well, ever, there’s a good possibility you were loaned one that wasn’t sent back to a dealership to be fixed when it should have been. And to top it off, these agencies sell 1.4 million cars to consumers and wholesalers each year, without being legally-bound to send their vehicles for recall repairs. That’s crazier than not being spooked by the video.

Senators Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer of California and New York have proposed legislation to eliminate this weird, dangerous loophole and practice. (Hip hip hooray for good governing…)

What happened in the South Korean video is extreme, but it is an appropriate reminder for rental companies (and consumers) to have safety defects addressed.

Luckily we don’t sell used cars. Click here for a new one with CarWoo!