Federal safety regulators have launched an investigation into braking issues in Fisker’s first electric car.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) issued a notice saying it is investigating a loss of braking performance on Fisker’s Ocean SUV. The agency is focusing on nine complaints about the issue so far, including one incident involving a crash and unknown injuries.
A Fisker spokesman declined to comment.
TechCrunch exclusively reported earlier this month that the investigation comes as the company faces lower-than-expected demand and misses internal sales targets.
Fisker reported last month that it will deliver about 4,700 SUVs globally by 2023. The electric vehicle startup, which went public in 2020 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, began shipping its first Ocean SUVs in June, about six months after contract manufacturing partner Magna Steyr Start building vehicles. The SUV’s launch was delayed in part because its software wasn’t ready yet.
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA since it hit the road, including problems with brake failure, shifter problems, the driver’s side door not opening from inside the vehicle and two incidents of the vehicle’s hood flying off on the highway.
According to brake complaints filed between October and December cited by ODI, NHTSA said the Ocean may “partially lose braking on low-traction surfaces without alerting the driver,” which “results in a sudden increase in stopping distances” in 2023 Year. The complaint also raised issues with marine regenerative braking.
The complaint involving the crash was filed in November. The owners reported that they were driving from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, Virginia, in light rain when another vehicle swerved into their lane, the complaint states. Owners said in their complaints that Ocean’s brakes “vibrated and felt more plastic than elastic” and the car slid “as if the tires were stuck.” The low-speed crash was so minor that neither driver reported it to police, but the complaint says the other driver has since filed an injury claim with the car owner’s insurance company.
ODI can conduct four different types of investigations: Defect Application, Preliminary Assessment, Recall Inquiry, and Engineering Analysis. NHTSA said it will complete the defect application within 4 months, complete the initial assessment and recall inquiry within 8 months, and complete the engineering analysis investigation within 18 months. The agency classified the Fisker investigation as a preliminary assessment.
