Not Even Bankruptcy Can Stop Fisker Ocean’s Problems

The last couple of months have been tumultuous for Fisker. Scores of quality complaints, followed by financial issues and now bankruptcy, have shoved the automaker into a bottomless pit of despair. But despite being declared bankrupt, the automaker has issued a recall involving more than 12,500 Oceans in Europe and North America due to a potential safety hazard.

The recall concerns 2023 and 2024 Ocean EVs, which are at risk of having their exterior door handles stick. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there’s a risk that occupants may be unable to exit the vehicle. The recall report reads, “Fisker Engineering has identified this as a potential safety concern. The issue is critical in scenarios where the vehicle cannot be exited, likely due to a malfunctioning door mechanism.” As a result, a stop-sale has also been issued.

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Occupants At Risk Of Being Trapped In The Car

Of course, the risk of injury or placing an occupant at risk is increased if the doors fail to open. Being unable to exit your vehicle is already a cause for concern, but it can be a matter of life or death if the occupants need to exit the vehicle in an emergency, such as an accident, flooding, or vehicle fire.

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This isn’t the first time the Ocean has suffered from a similar problem. In February 2024, an internal document showed that customers were reportedly trapped inside their vehicles, with one claiming he was “locked inside his hot car.” Erratic key fobs also locked several owners out of their vehicles. It is unclear at this stage whether this is related to the recall. Of the 8,204 Oceans recalled in the United States, the NHTSA believes just 3% are estimated to have the defect.

A Fix Is Already Available

Happily, Fisker has a solution to the defect. The automaker will inspect and replace the door handles, if required, at no cost to the owner. Notification letters will be sent out to owners on August 30, 2024. However, concerned Ocean drivers can contact Fisker customer service at 1-844-347-5371. The number for this recall is TSB55062401.

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If you own an Ocean, we’d act sooner rather than later. As mentioned, Fisker has filed for bankruptcy and is looking to offload assets, so it remains to be seen how long customers will benefit from official manufacturer support. In April, reports suggested four car companies were interested in purchasing Fisker, which hints at a potential lifeline for the plagued brand. However, nothing has come of this, so whether Fisker will live to see another day remains to be seen. Until the problem is solved, Fisker has issued a stop-sale and delivery for all Ocean EVs. This may hamper the automaker’s ability to bring in much-needed cash.