Fisker Under Investigation Over Loss of Braking Performance Allegations From Ocean Owners

The owner who filed 11557276 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November 2023 reported that they rear-ended a vehicle in front of them due to a loss of braking performance. The driver of the other vehicle initially reported no injuries, but the insurance agency has since changed their claim to an injury.

The rear-end collision happened on November 26, 2023 on I-95 southbound from Washington, D.C. toward Richmond. According to the Ocean's owner, the brake pedal felt more plastic than normal. The anti-lock braking system allegedly felt like it didn't engage.

Certain owner-submitted complaints alleged the intermittent loss of blended braking function (service brakes and regenerative braking). According to complaint number 11549530, the SUV didn't brake as intended while driving over a bumpy road in Oakland, California. "If there were any pedestrians in the crosswalk or any oncoming cars, I would've definitely hit them," said the owner.

Given these circumstances, the Office of Defects Investigation opened a preliminary evaluation to determine the severity and scope of the problem. The investigation is headed by Jayson Winick, general engineer at the NHTSA since April 2023.

If the preliminary evaluation morphs into a safety recall, Fisker will be required to recall an estimated 4,000 examples of the Ocean. A mid-size crossover assembled in Austria by contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, the Ocean is best described as the Fisker-branded alternative to the Tesla Model Y.

A single inch in overall length separates the Ocean from the Model Y, and the difference in wheelbase amounts to 1.2 inches (or a meager 3 centimeters if you prefer the metric system). Credited with the exterior design of the Artega GT, BMW Z8, and bite-the-back-of-your-hand pretty Aston Martin DB9, the one and only Henrik Fisker serves as Fisker Inc.'s chief executive officer and chairman.

To be joined by the Pear crossover, Alaska pickup truck, and Ronin sports car, the Ocean is listed on the automaker's web portal with a starting price of $38,999 for the Sport grade. Stepping up to the Ultra means $52,999 from the outset, whereas the Extreme is available at $61,499 in the US of A.

The Extreme also happens to promise the most driving range (360 miles or kilometers). Both it and the lesser Ultra come with dual-motor AWD, whereas the Sport features a front-mounted electric drive unit. In addition to these grades, Fisker offers 5,000 units of the Ocean One Launch Edition. The One carries a starting price of $68,999 stateside.