Fisker to recall over 8,000 Ocean vehicles in US, NHTSA says (updated)
28/06/2024 11:58
(Adds details and background throughout)
June 28 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle firm Fisker is
recalling 8,204 Ocean vehicles in the U.S. due to an issue where
exterior door handles can stick and fail to open, the U.S.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on
Friday.
This marks Fisker's third recall this month and the auto
safety regulator has four open investigations into a variety of
issues related to the Ocean SUV that was meant to compete with
Tesla's TSLA.O best-selling Model Y crossover.
Once a high-flying EV startup, Fisker filed for bankruptcy
protection earlier this month after burning through cash in an
attempt to ramp up production and deliver its Ocean SUVs.
"A door that fails to open can prevent occupants from
exiting in an emergency, increasing the risk of injury," the
regulator said, adding that the company will replace the faulty
door handles free of charge.
Fisker in a notice asked its dealers in the United States,
Canada and Europe to stop sales of the Ocean vehicles in
inventory and inspect for the issue.
Customers have complained widely on social media platforms
of issues regarding the key fob not unlocking the car at times
and the door failing to open.
Earlier this month, Fisker recalled more than 18,000 cars in
North America and Europe due to faulty software and
non-compliance with safety standards.
Fisker is the second automaker by famed car designer Henrik
Fisker to file for bankruptcy protection. The first outfit,
Fisker Automotive, filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after a battery
failure in its Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle resulted in
a recall and substantial associated costs.
(Reporting by Chandni Shah and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru;
Editing by Devika Syamnath)