2023 Fisker Ocean

On May 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24013 to investigate reports of inadvertent activation of the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system in model year (MY) 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles manufactured by Fisker Group Inc. (Fisker). The complaints allege the activation of AEB without an apparent roadway obstruction in the vehicle’s forward path, resulting in sudden vehicle deceleration. This sudden deceleration occurs without adequate warning or input from the driver. The braking applications range from momentary, partial application resulting in rapid loss of speed to full application, which brings the vehicle to a complete stop in the travel lane. ODI sent Fisker an Information Request (IR) letter on May 20, 2024. On June 17 and 19, 2024, Fisker and its affiliates filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Fisker provided an incomplete response to the IR on July 1, 2024. Limited information pertaining to system validation and failure data was provided. Fisker subsequently requested more time to provide additional responsive files due to limited available resources. Fisker sent additional responsive files on September 9, 2024, September 17, 2024, and December 16, 2024, but Fisker’s response did not contain sufficient information for ODI to fully evaluate the alleged safety defect. Further, on December 27, 2024, the Fisker employees with whom ODI had been corresponding informed ODI that all Fisker employees were being “dismissed” as of that date. ODI therefore does not anticipate receiving any further responsive submissions such that it can fully evaluate the reports that led to this investigation. ODI performed phone interviews and sent a survey to consumers to obtain more information and validate the allegations. Additionally, ODI reviewed allegations of the alleged safety defect that were submitted to various online forums. Most of these reports were similar in nature to the reports received by ODI. Some of the reports in online forums appear to be duplicative reports that were also submitted to ODI. Based on the responses received and analysis of similar online reporting, there was no clear trend in the following factors pertaining to the allegations: reoccurrence of events (i.e., single or multiple incidents), speed immediately prior to the event, whether the event concluded in a reduction of speed or a full stop, roadway conditions, and warning immediately prior to the event. To date, between the reports provided by Fisker and complaints made directly to the agency, ODI is aware of over 20 reports alleging inadvertent AEB activation. Before the employees were dismissed, Fisker’s testing done in response to the inadvertent AEB allegations reportedly did not result in any inadvertent AEB activations. The “Manufacturer” and “Total” counts in the above table have been left blank because of a pending request for confidential treatment by Fisker that could not be timely addressed given the company’s status. This information factored into ODI’s investigation and analysis. The available information does not warrant further action at this time.  The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. Additionally, the Agency notes that the Vehicle Safety Act states: “A manufacturer’s filing of a petition in bankruptcy under chapter 7 or chapter 11 of title 11 does not negate the manufacturer’s duty to comply with section 30112 or sections 30115 through 30120 of this title,” which include the recall provisions of the Act. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On April 1, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24010 to investigate instances of failure to open the door in model year (MY) 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles manufactured by Fisker Group Inc. Some complaints allege the inability to open the door from either the interior or exterior door handle, resulting in the need to use another door to egress. The investigation revealed that all four exterior door handles are subject to sticking in the extended/unlocked position, which may result in the inability to unlatch the door from either the interior or exterior door handle. The root cause is a dimensional interference between the exterior door handle chassis pocket and door handle, causing friction during handle deployment and retraction. The inability to open and egress from the occupant’s adjacent door presents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. On June 27, 2024, Fisker filed recall 24V-466 for certain MY 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles. The recall remedy includes an inspection procedure for all four doors and provides replacement of the outer door handle if a “Not Okay” result is found. In view of the recall action being taken by Fisker, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On February 14, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24005 to investigate reports of unintended vehicle movement in model year (MY) 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles manufactured by Fisker Group Inc. The complaints allege the inability to shift into the park gear and/or vehicle rollaway. The investigation found that the subject vehicles contain a logic that prevents the engagement of the park gear when the park gear request is made while the vehicle is still moving at low speeds. In the event the driver requests the park gear prior to the vehicle achieving a complete standstill status, the vehicle rejects the park gear request, displays a visual warning, and shifts into the neutral gear. Therefore, if the driver does not properly restrain the vehicle prior to exiting (i.e., allow the vehicle to come to a complete stop, then provide a second park gear request and/or engage the parking brake), the vehicle is at risk of freely rolling away in neutral. ODI found that existing strategies to deter drivers from exiting the vehicle after failing to ensure the transmission successfully engages the park gear have not stopped some from doing so. The absence of additional mechanisms to mitigate the effects of driver behavior in failing to ensure the park gear was engaged prior to exiting the vehicle constitutes a defect presenting a risk to motor vehicle safety. ODI is aware of one reported injury due to this safety defect. On November 15, 2024, Fisker filed recall 24V-865 for all MY 2023-2024 Fisker Ocean vehicles. The recall remedy is the release of software upgrade OS 2.0. This software update provides additional robustness to prevent unintended vehicle movement via two major changes. First, in the event the driver seatbelt is unlatched when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, logic was added to initiate an automatic, controlled deceleration to bring the vehicle to a standstill. Once standstill status is achieved, the vehicle will automatically engage the park gear and the electronic parking brake. Second, OS 2.0 introduced an “Auto Vehicle Hold” feature, which holds the vehicle in standstill by maintaining friction brake pressure when the driver removes their foot from the brake pedal. This feature prevents the vehicle from rolling under gravity, which therefore helps engage both the park gear and electronic parking brake. In view of the recall action being taken by Fisker, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On January 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24001 to investigate instances of loss of braking performance in model year (MY) 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles manufactured by Fisker Group Inc. The complaints allege an intermittent partial loss of regenerative braking over low traction surfaces, without alerting the driver. ODI is aware of six minor crashes and one injury due to this failure. The subject vehicles utilize a brake blending feature to achieve deceleration. Upon application of the brake pedal, both the service brake system (friction braking) and regenerative braking system (electric motor negative torque) are applied. Regenerative braking on low friction road surfaces may result in wheel slippage due to the high motor negative torque. The vehicle responds by reducing and/or eliminating regenerative braking torque to reduce wheel slip on drive wheels to maintain vehicle stability and steerability. This reduction in regenerative braking may cause a sensation of loss of braking force (or even vehicle accelerating) that was reported by consumers. Additionally, the driver may experience an unusual/altered brake pedal feel during loss of regenerative braking events, requiring them to press the brake pedal harder to maintain the expected braking rate. Upon exiting the low friction road surface, the regenerative braking force is restored. The initial calibration of the regenerative braking system contained aggressive interventions with a slower recovery in the event of loss of regenerative braking. In November 2023, Fisker launched an Over-the-Air update (OS1.10 SW). This update included a recalibration to reduce regenerative braking torque less aggressively and allow torque recovery to occur more quickly. Based on consumer reports and the data that Fisker provided in response to ODI’s inquiry, OS 1.10 SW reduced, but did not eliminate, the sensation of loss of braking force and resulted in stopping distance performance improvements. Friction braking is always available when the driver presses the brake pedal, and its performance is unaffected by regenerative brake loss. Fisker’s braking system is designed to reach full deceleration even with an unavailable regenerative braking system. The partial loss of braking force during moderate braking events can be overcome by applying additional pressure to the brake pedal to slow or stop the vehicle. On August 20, 2024, Fisker filed recall 24V-623 for all 2023 MY Fisker Ocean vehicles produced for the U.S.A. The recall remedy includes OS 2.2 over-the-air update, which is expected to modify the brake module to enhance the vehicle brake system’s ability to adapt to various driving scenarios. With successful implementation of OS 2.2, a road disturbance will not trigger a reduction in regenerative braking torque. In view of the recall action being taken by Fisker, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Vehicle has unresolved NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-405 (brake warning light display noncompliance). Brake warning illuminated at startup during dealer inspection on [XXX]. Vehicle is on OS 1.1.49 — recall remedy requires OS 2.1 before sale. Fisker's own recall documentation states vehicles must be updated before being released for sale. Dealer Axio EV, Salt Lake City UT is actively marketing this vehicle at $22,988 without completing the required recall remedy. When safety concern was raised, dealer responded 'then don't buy the car.' Six total open recalls on this vehicle, none disclosed to consumer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11739914

Incident

May 25, 2026

FORMAL DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD COMPLAINT TO: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Washington, DC 20590 DATE: May 17, 2026 SUBJECT: Urgent Request for Recall Investigation: Systemic Cloud-Dependency, Hypervisor Power Management Failures, QNX Boot-Looping/Blackouts, Unix Epoch Clock Drifting, High-Voltage Contactor Thermal/Fire Hazards, and Core Low-Voltage Module Malfunctions via Telematics Disconnection in the Fisker Ocean Fleet 1. Executive Summary This petition requests an immediate, systemic safety defect investigation into the software architecture, operating system stability, power management, and network subsystems of the Fisker Ocean vehicle fleet (Model Years 2023–2024). Following the liquidation bankruptcy of Fisker Inc. and its affiliates—under Case No.XXX (XXX) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, overseen by Judge [XXX] —the vehicle's intellectual property, cloud infrastructure, and over-the-air (OTA) software management assets were assumed by a commercial entity, American Lease, and its vehicle management arm (OV Loop/Ocean Loop). Due to the subsequent imposition of a predatory $499/year subscription paywall, thousands of retail owners have been cut off from cloud connectivity. While a missing cloud connection in a standard passenger car traditionally results in a benign loss of convenience features, in the Fisker Ocean's "software-defined" architecture, it triggers a severe, un-throttled software failure loop. This architectural defect forces safety-critical operating systems into permanent boot loops, pins CPU utilization, drops the system clock into a broken chronological state, and drives an aggressive parasitic drain on the 12V battery system. This directly leads to cascade control module failures, key fob inoperability, and accelerated mechanical degradation of high-voltage components, introducing an acute INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA ID

11738375

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

On August 22, American Lease agreed to pay for my recall work. They still haven't reimbursed me for the recall work. Additionally, although the software update was supposed to be included with the recall, they charged me to receive the software update.

NHTSA ID

11726058

Incident

Aug 22, 2025

Lane Keep Assist is non-functional despite 2.3 update. Random faults on radar, blind-spot, lane-keep assist and rear-cross traffic. Adaptive Cruise Control in non-functioning despite 2.3 update. It's not just the weather or time of day. These alerts last happened on Friday, January 23, 2026, between 3:30 and 4:30 PM

NHTSA ID

11713097

Incident

Jan 23, 2026

The car is generating a random left turn signal error stating the bulb is out. However, on inspection it appears that all bulbs are working. The car makes a fast blinker warning sound as well as notification. This has been happening for a couple of months but happened again yesterday.

NHTSA ID

11713096

Incident

Jan 23, 2026

Both interior and exterior lighting keep coming on. The car is continually and significantly draining the battery from something. either the inability for the communication box to connect or from lighting coming on. My headlights and tails lights were on April 2, 2025 - Headlamps and Tail Lamps April 5, 2025 - Dash lights and rear passenger lamps September 28 - October 13 A friend was keeping my vehicle while I traveled abroad to keep it charged because the battery keeps draining. He reported that the lights came on almost daily. January 5 through January 8, 2026, Neighbor reported rear passenger overhead lighting on daily around 7:30 am.

NHTSA ID

11713095

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

I had the vehicle updated to version 2.3.3 by a technician because my car would not update OTA. I thought this update would resolve the ADAS problems as well as the breaking problems. However, on three separate occasions my vehicle has come to an abrupt stop with automatic breaking when approaching a redlight / intersection with no other vehicles in front of me. This occurred while manually applying the break and then the car just took over. There were no forward collision warnings, rather the car was automatically forced to shuttering stop. An alert appears that the brake system has malfunctioned followed by both LED screens turning off and on. The break malfunction error appears several times. Eventually, the screens will restart and then when you try to put the car into gear a gear shift error appears and the car will not go into gear leaving me stranded in traffic. On one occasion these errors appeared when the car started up in a parking lot. These events are unpredictable and not tied to any visible obstacle. The vehicle cannot reliably receive over-the-air software updates due to persistent connectivity failure as I have tried updated to SW Version 2.5. As a result, both the past federally mandated safety recall remedies could not be delivered not any future updates. I have personally paid out of pocket for recall-related repairs and have not been reimbursed. I have not been contacted regarding replacement of recalled exterior door handles. Break and/or shift errors have occurred on May 28, 2025, Sept 3, 2025, Dec 3, 2055, Jan 9, 15, and 21 2026.

NHTSA ID

11713093

Incident

Jan 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V466000 (Structure), 24V499000 (Electrical System), 24V623000 (Service Brakes, Electric), 24V865000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, AutoHold Brake System/Brake Hold), 24V405000 (Electrical System) and 24V404000 (Electrical System). The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful since the company had filed for bankruptcy and was no longer in business. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11706529

Incident

Dec 22, 2025

Email to customers regarding OTA software version 2.0.

Email to customers regarding OTA software version 2.0.

Email to customers regarding upcoming OTA software version 2.0.

Email to customers regarding upcoming OTA software version 2.0.

Service bulletin instructing service technicians to replace the EPA label located underneath the hood.

TSB regarding the potential for the tire sealant canister to leak. Instructions for removal and replacement.