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Federal guard regulator have open an investigation intoFisker’sfirst electric vehicle over brake problems .
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ’s ( NHTSA ) Office of Defects Investigation ( ODI)issued a noticethat it ’s probing Fisker ’s Ocean SUV forloss of braking performance . The agency is focusing on nine complaints about the issue thus far , including one incident involve a crash and an unspecified harm .
A Fisker spokesperson declined to comment .
The probe come up as the company grapples with humble - than - expect demand and a nonstarter to meetinternal sales goals , which TechCrunch exclusively reported earlier this calendar month .
Fisker report last month it delivered rough 4,700 SUVs worldwide in 2023 . The EV startup , which went public in 2020 via a unification with a special purpose acquisition company , began ship the first Ocean SUVs in June , about six month after contract manufacturing spouse Magna Steyr began building the vehicle . The SUV ’s launching was delayed in part becauseits software was not quick at the clock time .
Since hitting the roads , owner have lodged 19 complaints with NHTSA on issues ranging from brake loss and problem with the geared wheel shifter to a equipment driver doorway miscarry to open from the interior and two case of the vehicle ’s hood suddenly fly up on the highway .
NHTSA says the Ocean can experience “ partial red ink of braking over low adhesive friction surface , without alerting the driver , ” which “ result in a sudden increase in end length , ” according to the braking complaints referenced by ODI , which were submitted between October and December 2023 . The complaint also reference problems with the Ocean ’s regenerative braking .
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The complaint involve a crash was submitted in November . The owner reported they were drive from Washington , DC to Richmond , Virginia in slimly showery conditions when another car swerved into their lane , according to the complaint . The possessor said in the complaint the Ocean ’s brake “ vibrated and sense more plastic than pliant , ” and that the car slid “ as if the tires attach up . ” The low - speed crash was mild enough that neither number one wood filed a law report , but the complaint states that the other equipment driver has since filed an trauma call with the proprietor ’s insurance authority .
There are four differenttypesof investigating that the ODI can open : Defect Petition , Preliminary Evaluation , Recall Query and Engineering Analysis . NHTSA tell it work to fill out defect petitions in four months , preliminary evaluations and recall queries in eight months and engine room analysis probe in 18 months . The authority classify the Fisker investigation as a preliminary evaluation .
