Hope is waning for owners of Fisker Inc.’s beleaguered electric SUVs. With the company mired in bankruptcy, customers say it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get any help fixing their faulty or otherwise problematic cars.
A Fisker owner in the Cincinnati area had a dozen outstanding service tickets for his model. Another in Colorado can’t find a local repair shop to fix a crack in his SUV’s sunroof. And one Texas-based client has a loan from the company that she has no idea how to pay back.
“It’s like a bad dream,” said Joseph Murphy, who recently decided to trade in his nearly new $70,000 Fisker Ocean for just $23,000.
Murphy had initially overlooked problems such as a key fob that needed frequent battery replacement and the SUV’s constant screeching noise. But his goodwill evaporated after a dozen service tickets remained outstanding. His nerves were heightened by the error messages that kept flashing up on the dashboard, as well as the lack of communication from Fisker. The final straw came when he saw postings about Oceans selling for just $11,000. Now he drives an electric Volvo.
Fisker owners have had a bumpy ride since the company’s first vehicles left unfinished in late 2023. About 6,400 customers paid up to $70,000 for their vehicles, with subsequent deliveries slowed by software bugs. While some early adopters told Bloomberg News there was initially a sense that the issues would be resolved, as Fisker’s prospects have worsened, the company has become increasingly difficult to reach.
After a series of setbacks, including halting production of its single model, Fisker last week filed for Chapter 11. The company is exploring financing options to continue scaled-down operations, but is currently only allowed to use its own cash until June 28.
The company has not set aside funds for the purchase of vehicles from consumers. However, it could sell parts of the business to a buyer who would then be able to offer warranties to existing owners and service the vehicles. That’s what happened to Fisker Automotive, founder Henrik Fisker’s previous plug-in hybrid company, which went bankrupt in 2013.
When reached for comment, the company referred to its most recent statements on bankruptcy proceedings, but did not respond to specific questions from Bloomberg about the problems its customers are facing.
Colorado resident Steve Hammer said he was “gobsmacked” when he first picked up the Fisker Ocean.
“Six months later, I look back on it as the worst financial decision I’ve ever made,” Hammer said. “It’s a punch in the gut emotionally.”
A snake slithers across the sunroof of his vehicle. While his insurance company found a replacement part, Hammer has been unable to find a nearby shop to repair his vehicle. He may be forced to send the SUV hundreds of miles to the nearest certified repair shop in Utah. His attempts to contact the company for help have gone unanswered.
Hammer, like many Fisker owners, has taken to social media for solutions and fixes for issues such as software glitches, interior passenger lights that won’t turn off, unreliable keys and cracked windshields. Some owners with vehicles that mostly run correctly have started taking screenshots and compiling notes for future repair needs.
Legal requirement
Fisker is legally required to honor warranties on the vehicles it sells, but some owners said company representatives have become increasingly difficult to contact. The automaker has laid off many of its mobile technicians.
The frustration is familiar to Holly Affleck, a Fisker owner in Texas who said her SUV has caused sleepless nights.
The issues with her Ocean started almost immediately after it was delivered in early November, she said. The air conditioner did not work. The car alarm went off for hours. And then a broken water pump eventually forced the car into “limp mode,” rendering it powerless.
Affleck successfully filed a case against Fisker through the National Center for Dispute Resolution, which mediates warranty issues between manufacturers and vehicle owners. But she said she hasn’t heard back from Fisker after a ruling in her favor, despite weekly emails.
Currently, she is running another Ocean that the company sent in mid-May as a loaner. But she’s not sure what to do with the vehicle when its tags expire in January or if the company officially goes out of business before then. Her original Fisker remains parked outside her home, still awaiting repairs, while she pays the insurance on both vehicles.
‘Orphan’ Vehicles
If Fisker fails, there is one possible salvation for its former customers: owners clubs. People who bought other “orphan vehicles” like the DeLorean Oldsmobile or even the Fisker Karma from Henrik Fisker’s previous venture now rely on these types of groups to keep their cars alive.
One such group has already been established with the goal of giving Fisker customers continued access to parts and service. It is also seeking to support owners, represent their interests and provide a platform for information exchange.
Brandon Jones, the group’s interim president, said it grew out of Facebook groups and other Internet forums and gained steam when it was clear the company was headed for bankruptcy.
The group may still have challenges. Unlike some older cars, most modern manufacturers do not keep large inventories of parts. And it’s unclear how Fisker’s software will hold up over time.
“Cars today are much more complicated than the DeLorean,” said James Espey, who runs a specialty repair shop focused on the DeLorean. If nothing else, the Ocean could become a “hot collectible,” he added, much like the Tesla Roadster or Fisker Karma, and an EV specialty shop could emerge as a result.
Joe Ferrante, a former Fisker Automotive technician, now runs EVolution Autosports near Philadelphia, one of the few shops in existence with a Fisker Karma focus. He said he’s waiting to see how the latest bankruptcy plays out, but he’s already starting to get inquiries from Ocean’s owners. In the meantime, he’s bought a Fisker Ocean to drive, take apart and learn its ins and outs.
“I hope they survive and there can be a solution to this,” Ferrante said. “It’s a shame it’s happened a second time.”
– Kara Carlson for Bloomberg
