The Fisker Ocean, a luxury electric SUV, has been the subject of increasing concern, spotlighted by growing criticism and customer complaints. Recently, issues surrounding the vehicle’s door functionality have escalated, leading to a federal investigation regarding the SUV’s safety.
According to reports, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received multiple complaints about door latch failures in the Fisker Ocean. The agency has initiated a preliminary investigation based on at least 14 distinct complaints. These reports range in their description of the cause—some attribute the failures to a dead 12V battery, while others suggest random glitches that remain unresolved despite Fisker’s attempts at repairs.
One alarming complaint detailed an incident where a family was trapped inside the SUV for hours due to a door mechanism failure, highlighting a particularly concerning safety issue, as there was no emergency release mechanism available in the vehicle.
Despite attempts by Fisker to address these complaints—evidenced by multiple service calls by the company’s mobile technicians since September 2023—the problem appears to persist for some owners. The potential for passengers to be unable to exit the vehicle due to door malfunction is serious and could warrant a recall if the investigation deems it necessary for consumer safety.
This issue comes on the heels of Fisker’s efforts to remedy software issues with a 2.0 software update, which has been distributed to SUVs in the field. Such software-related concerns had previously been a major complaint among reviewers.
In addition to these measures, Fisker has implemented price reductions for the Ocean SUV, bringing it into more direct competition with the likes of Tesla’s Model 3 and the anticipated Model 2, which promises affordability. These price cuts represent a strategic move as Fisker attempts to capture a larger market share in the competitive electric vehicle industry.
For current and potential Fisker Ocean owners, this investigation signifies not just an inconvenience but a possible safety hazard that could impact their confidence in the vehicle’s reliability. As the NHTSA continues to gather information and scrutinize the SUV’s door mechanisms, it remains sound advice for owners to stay aware of any developments and prepare for the possibility of a recall based on the investigation’s conclusions.
Given the severity and potential danger of being unable to exit a vehicle, owners of the Fisker Ocean SUV are advised to monitor communications from Fisker and the NHTSA for updates regarding the door failure issue and any subsequent safety recalls that may be mandated.
