The nightmare continues for Fisker Ocean

The electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker, already in liquidation, is facing a new blow. After the chilling testimony of a Frenchman trapped in his vehicle, the company is recalling more than 12,000 Oceans for a handle problem. A final chapter in the saga of an electric SUV which will have come to an end as rapid as it is dramatic.

Fisker’s story is looking more and more like a live-action trainwreck. Already placed in compulsory liquidation, the company is facing a massive recall which sounds like the death knell for its ambitions.

More than 12,000 Ocean models are affected by a problem where door handles can become stuck, preventing occupants from exiting the vehicle.

This recall comes in an already catastrophic context for Fisker. The company’s bankruptcy leaves its customers in a precarious situation, with no guarantee of future support for their vehicles. The current recall, while necessary for safety, raises many questions about its actual implementation.

The recall affects 8,204 Ocean SUVs in the United States, 513 in Canada and 3,806 in Europe, for a total of 12,523 vehicles. These figures represent almost all of Fisker’s production and illustrate the scale of the problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened four investigations into various issues related to the Ocean SUV, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. But with the company’s bankruptcy, one wonders how these investigations will succeed and what the consequences will be for the owners.

A real danger for users

The problem goes far beyond mere inconvenience. As NHTSA pointed out, ” a door that does not open can prevent occupants from exiting in an emergency, increasing the risk of injury“. The testimony of the French owner, trapped in his vehicle with his daughter, vividly illustrates this danger. We are far from simple annoyance, we are talking here about a real danger for the safety of users.

Fisker’s bankruptcy complicates the situation considerably. How will the company be able to ensure the necessary repairs? Who will cover the costs of these repairs? So many questions that remain unanswered for the moment.

The owners of Fisker Ocean find themselves in a particularly precarious situation. Not only does their vehicle have a potentially dangerous defect, but the company supposed to provide after-sales service no longer really exists.

The Fisker Ocean affair is a textbook case of the risks associated with (too) rapid growth in the automobile industry, particularly in the emerging sector of electric cars.