Fisker Incorporated, the American electric automobile company facing bankruptcy, has suffered yet another setback as it has to massive recall affecting each and every single Ocean EV that it sold in the United States in the past few years. Marking the second such recall within a month, the latest recall involves a defect in the EV’s Local Interconnect Network 6 (LIN6) that can cause the High Voltage Battery Management System (BMS) to enter limp mode, severely limiting the vehicle’s power output.

Amidst its unending financial struggles and the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, the beleaguered EV maker has promised that it will replace all the Ocean EVs’ defective components without charging any fee. However, amidst the bankruptcy proceedings, the though the feasibility of fulfilling this promise remains uncertain.

As per the Safety Recall Report posted on the official website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the reason behind the aforementioned issue can be traced to a potentially dangerous situation in the cabin electric water pump that reportedly has a faulty conformal coating on the printed circuit board (PCB).

Citing the potential safety risks, the recall report states, “There may be a safety concern regarding the vehicle's performance when it enters limp mode. In this mode, the vehicle's maximum battery power is restricted to 8.5 kW, which consequently limits the vehicle's speed to a range of 10–20 mph (20–30 km/h). This reduced speed can create hazardous conditions.”

To be more specific, reduction in the speed of the affected EVs may cause mismatch in speeds with other vehicles on road as other drivers may not foresee such a drop in speed, which could lead to increase the chances of accidents.

The struggling manufacturer has promised to replace the problematic water pumps in the Ocean EVs with new units, which will have an enhanced coating on the PCB. However, many are concerned that the company might fail to repair all the EVs as it is entangled in bankruptcy proceedings.

The frequent issues with Fisker Ocean EVs highlight the big challenges that continue to hamper the company’s business. Its inability to maintain vehicle safety, which is evident from the latest recall, is hurting customer trust also. Despite all these hurdles, initiatives by the Fisker Owners Association (FOA) to secure guarantee for Ocean EV spare parts and warranty payouts offer a glimmer of hope for affected owners.