Fisker's Bankruptcy Means Owners Are On the Hook for Recall Repairs
Early Fisker buyers have been through the wringer, from watching their vehicle values drop through the floor to worries about the company’s financial stability. Now, we’re learning that Fisker Ocean owners are being asked to pay for recall repairs out of pocket, landing yet another sucker punch to enthusiastic early adopters.
Autoevolution obtained a letter Fisker sent to customers, which notes that the Ocean has five open recalls, two of which require hardware fixes. The other three recalls will be fixed remotely via over-the-air software updates, but buyers are on the hook to pay for the two requiring physical parts and labor.
The first recall relates to the vehicle’s exterior door handles, which can become stuck and fail to open. The second covers the cabin electric water pump, the failure of which could cause a loss of drive power. Fisker, now bankrupt, told customers that it would cover parts for the repairs but said that owners would be required to pay for labor costs.
Fisker’s letter stated, “Regarding the recalls that require physical inspections and potential repairs, Fisker will provide the necessary parts at no cost to you. However, due to Fisker’s current financial situation under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Fisker is only able to cover the cost of parts required to address these issues. Please note that the labor costs associated with the inspection and repair process will need to be covered by you, the vehicle owner.”
That’s annoying enough, but owners may have another issue on their hands. The parts Fisker is referring to may or may not be available. Several reports have stated that the automaker has had to raid prototypes and other vehicles to obtain the parts needed to perform warranty repairs, so it’s not like the company has a stockpile of parts ready to go.
[Images: Fisker]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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