- The problem
- Karma Automotive (Karma) is recalling certain 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Karma has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact Karma customer service at 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is 5.84.17.001.01.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Fisker Karma Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2012 Fisker Karma with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (4) and the fuel system (2). It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in March 2019 for the inflator module.
NHTSA data checked
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Fisker Karma problems
Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Fisker Karma recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Karma Automotive LLC (Karma) is recalling certain 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Karma will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on September 8, 2017. Karma Automotive Client Services Team can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is 5.84.17.001.01.
- The problem
- Fisker Automotive (Fisker) is recalling certain model year 2012 Fisker Karma passenger cars manufactured from June 15, 2011, through July 9, 2012. A manufacturing defect in the low temperature cooling fan may result in a direct short.
- The risk
- A direct short may ignite the fan housing, shroud and surrounding components, causing a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- Fisker will notify owners, and dealers will remove the two potentially affected low temperature cooling fans and replace them with one improved low temperature cooling fan, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 24, 2012. Owners may contact Fisker consumer affairs at 1-855-575-7577, option 2, 6am - 7pm (pst) Monday through Friday.
- The problem
- Fisker is recalling certain model year 2012 fisker karma passenger cars manufactured from september 22, 2011, through january 20, 2012. Within the high-voltage battery, certain hose clamps may have been positioned incorrectly during assembly. If positioned incorrectly, the battery compartment cover could interfere with the hose clamps, potentially causing a coolant leak from the cooling hoses. This recall is an expansion of safety recall 11v-598.
- The risk
- If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur possibly resulting in a fire.
- The fix
- All known owners will be notified and instructed not to charge or drive the vehicle. Owners will be advised to contact an authorized fisker dealer who will arrange transporting the vehicle directly to their repair facility. The repair facility will replace the high-voltage battery with a new part, free of charge. The safety recall began on may 30, 2012. Owners may contact fisker consumer affairs at 1-855-575-7577, option 2, 6am - 7pm (pst) monday through friday.
- The problem
- Fisker is recalling certain model year 2012 fisker karma passenger cars manufactured from july 1, 2011, through november 3, 2011. Within the high-voltage battery, certain hose clamps may have been positioned incorrectly during assembly. If positioned incorrectly, the battery compartment cover could interfere with the hose clamps, potentially causing a coolant leak from the cooling hoses.
- The risk
- If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur possibly resulting in a fire.
- The fix
- Fisker will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high-voltage battery with a new part at no cost to the owner. The safety recall began on january 5, 2012. Owners may contact fisker consumer affairs at 1-855-575-7577, option 2, 6am - 7pm (pst) monday through friday.
What owners say
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6 complaints about the 2012 Fisker Karma
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
There are 8 vehicle recalls for this car but I dont see where they have been fixed. The company is bankrupt now and the current Fisker company will not fix. NHTSA Campaign #: 12V413000 12V241000 11V598000 17V004000 19V181000 12V413000 12V241000 11V598000
The high voltage lithium-ion battery is faulty and burns out or shorts out the battery modules.
After baseline 520 update performed by karma automotive vehicle exhibits issues with loss of propulsion and multiple clicking noises when this occurs. Was on a major freeway and vehicle lost propulsion in the fast lane.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 fisker karma. While driving 10 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the battery module needed to be replaced and would not be replaced under nhtsa campaign number: 11v598000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,059.
Car was delivered march 19th, 2012 with engine warning lights. Dealer refused to have vehicle evaluated, or inspected. Dealer did not return my call and fisker motors did not return my calls. Car lost all power, while driving on three occasions in first 60 miles. In one instance headlights and controls turned off at approximately 60 mile per hour at night and twice around 40 mile per hour, within 1/4 mile of a stop light. Dealer has had car returned in less than 3 days and is unable to diagnose and fix problem,...
Read the full complaint
due to the fact that many fisker cars do not store engine light codes. Software problems and a safety recall on the main power system are currently unavailable for months. Radio, and other electronic systems fail routinely, including the handsfree phone and the audio has loud pops. The dealer has tried multiple software updates over several months with no improvement on prior deliveries and is waiting like many others for the defective battery packs to be replaced. I do not feel that this car should be on the road. Fisker has explained that the car may fail, but they are unable to replace all the batteries recalled for several months. Many complaints on fisker buzz and other searches for problems with fisker. I feel most are unsafe and the manufacturer is unwilling to take them off the road due to financial problems. I feel the company is unable to make ethical decisions, based upon it's production goals tied to the department of energy loan. A great deal has been in the news about how bad the quality and multiple serious failures owners experience. I feel the cars are unsafe and need to be removed from the streets. It is only a matter of time until someone is injured or worse, due to the multiple defects and quality control issues. I have been waiting a month for fisker to buy back or fix the car. My wife is afraid to drive it. Is it safe? *Js
While driving the car, a 2012 fisker karma, at 35 mph, the car shut itself off, all lights on the dash illuminated, the brakes did not work and the steering was impaired leaving basic directional control only. *Tr
Questions about the 2012 Fisker Karma
Does the 2012 Fisker Karma have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Fisker Karma: inflator module (March 2019); inflator module (January 2017); fan (August 2012); traction battery (May 2012) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Fisker Karma?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (4), fuel system (2), transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many complaints has the 2012 Fisker Karma had?
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 20, 2011 and the latest on November 20, 2023. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
What should I do if my 2012 Fisker Karma has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data