Fisker Inc.
Fisker owners who paid up to $70,000 for the bankrupt startup's malfunctioning EVs have a new headache to deal with.
In an FAQ posted on Fisker's website on Sunday, the company said that Fisker owners would have to pay the repair costs for two outstanding recalls facing its Ocean electric car.
Fisker said that due to its "current financial situation" under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it could only cover the cost of the parts required, not the repairs themselves.
The news adds to the woes faced by Fisker owners since the company went bankrupt in June.
Business Insider previously reported that customers who paid as much as $70,000 for Fisker's flagship Ocean EV have been left with undrivable and unfixable vehicles, with one describing his bricked Ocean as little more than a "lawn ornament."
There are currently five outstanding recalls for Fisker's Ocean EV. In the FAQ, Fisker said it would address three of the recalls — over a loss of drive power, incorrectly displayed warning lights, and braking issues — with a software update.
However, for two other recalls concerning door handles that can get stuck and a water pump that could fail, Fisker said it would only cover the cost of the parts, not of "physical inspections and potential repairs."
That leaves Ocean owners facing the prospect of paying the cost of fixing their vehicles themselves.
Fisker also warned owners to drive their vehicles "with caution" until the recalls are addressed. The company said it would send drivers a list of "authorized service providers" — who can repair broken Oceans — by the end of September 2024.
Fisker owners previously told BI that they have struggled to find repair shops that can fix their vehicles, with some saying the company has been non-responsive to their attempts to contact it.
EV startup Fisker, which was the second failed auto startup founded by famed car designer Henrik Fisker, had ambitious plans to take on Tesla with its lineup of high-tech EVs.
However, it struggled to manufacture and ship its vehicles and ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. Former and current workers told BI that they felt mismanagement and cost-cutting were partly to blame for the company's woes.
Fisker struck a deal to sell its remaining electric vehicles to a New York leasing company for an 80% discount in July.
Fisker did not respond to a request for comment, sent outside normal working hours.
Do you work at Fisker or own an Ocean? Get in touch with this reporter via email at tcarter@businessinsider.com.
