--- title: "It Gets Worse: Fisker Ocean Owners Forced to Pay for Recalls" date: "2024-09-16" modified: "2024-09-16" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/as-if-it-couldnt-get-worse-for-fisker-owners-now-they-have-to-pay-for-recalls" categories: - "News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "Fisker" - "ocean" - "suv/crossover" --- # It Gets Worse: Fisker Ocean Owners Forced to Pay for Recalls ![]() *Fisker* It's hard not to feel bad for [Fisker's]() early customers. They bought the hype of Henrik Fisker's automotive revival, put money down to reserve a build slot, and then paid for a brand-new upstart electric vehicle. Then, in what felt like five minutes later, the company went bankrupt and customers lost all of their maintenance support. Now, Fisker seems to be doubling down on Ocean customers' pain by forcing them to pay for their own recall fees. There are currently five recalls for 2023-2024 [Fisker Ocean]() models: an unexpected reduction in regenerative braking, electric water pump failure, door handles that can fail to open from the inside in case of an emergency, incorrectly displayed warning lights, and a potential total loss of drive power. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ([NHTSA]()), all five recalls increase the risk of a crash or injury. OK, recalls happen and Fisker is far from the only company to have potentially dangerous ones. The problem is that customers not only have to pay to fix them, but they aren't even sure how to. After Fisker went bankrupt, all of the [remaining unsold Ocean SUVs]() were bought by American Lease, which was supposed to handle software updates and recalls for existing and future customers. However, Fisker [just issued a statement]() to customers, explaining the nature of the recalls and how they'll be handled. According to Fisker, the company will issue a list of authorized service centers to customers by the end of September 2024. Customers will have to take their cars to those service centers for physical inspections and, if necessary, have any problematic parts replaced. But Fisker only covers the cost of the *parts* themselves—customers will have to pay for the inspections and labor. And for that inconvenience, Fisker says it's super sorry. ![]() *Fisker Ocean. *Fisker* *Fisker** "We understand that this may be an additional burden, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Our priority remains your safety and the continued reliability of your vehicle, and we are working diligently to make the process as smooth as possible despite the current challenges," [Fisker wrote in an FAQ](). Some of these potential issues can be dangerous, but customers are stuck waiting for more information on how to get their cars fixed. In the meantime, Fisker is telling customers to just keep an eye on their cars and, if they experience any issues with the door handles or water pumps, to contact an authorized service center immediately. Which service centers should they contact? Fisker didn't provide the list yet. However, there's a contact phone number in the recall notice that customers can call. When you call the number, though, it tells you to visit the website's contact page. Helpful! A quick browse through the [Fisker subreddit]() shows that customers are mad—*really* mad. And who can blame them? They paid good money for an EV built by a startup founded by a famous industry designer, only to be abandoned. Shortly after Fisker's stock went public, the company was worth nearly $3 billion. Now, customers are stuck footing the bill for the brand's own incompetence. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()