We experienced issues with this car throughout our entire trip.
On the second day, a check engine light came on. We immediately contacted the rental agency, which reassured us by saying it was not dangerous and that it was simply due to the quality of fuel in Albania — which, by the way, cost us €1.75 per liter — and was supposedly “mixed with water.”
Unfortunately, the car struggled to climb hills, which are quite common in Albania, and this repeatedly put us in dangerous situations. Four days before the end of our stay, the car broke down completely on a hill on the highway and would no longer shift gears. This was a very distressing situation, especially considering how serious it could have been if a vehicle had been driving fast behind us.
Following this, we contacted the agency’s insurance, which directed us to a garage. We spent about an hour there, but no real repairs were made. The mechanic claimed to have changed a filter, but we saw him standing the entire time and never going under the car. We strongly suspect that he simply turned off the check engine light.
On top of that, the insurance representative spoke to us in a very aggressive tone, saying: “You’re the ones who put in the fuel.” And when we asked where we could find good quality fuel, he replied — and I quote — “I’m not a fuel producer.”
This car truly ruined part of our trip, as we were unable to visit several places due to its lack of power. It constantly posed a safety risk throughout the entire journey.
We therefore do not recommend this rental agency, as the vehicle was unreliable and the customer service both careless and unprofessional.