The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a new investigation concerning the Fisker Ocean SUV due to issues with door functionality. This marks the third inquiry into concerns surrounding the Fisker Ocean SUV model, highlighting ongoing challenges for the electric vehicle manufacturer amidst production halts earlier this year.

Safety Concern: Fisker Doors Won't Open

CarBuzz reported that recent complaints prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to initiate an early investigation into the 2023 Fisker Ocean due to concerns regarding door functionality. The Office of Defects Investigation logged 14 grievances citing instances where doors would not open, attributing the issue to latch and handle failures.

Concerns were raised by some vehicle owners regarding the failure of the emergency override mechanism, highlighting potential safety hazards associated with the Fisker Ocean SUV's doors failing to open. Earlier this year, an internal report unveiled a series of challenges faced by Ocean owners, with complaints ranging from problematic key fobs to instances where customers were unable to exit their vehicles.

This underscores a recurring issue with the Ocean model and adds to the list of woes plaguing Fisker's electric SUV. TechCrunch's exclusive report in February unveiled that Fisker customers have been encountering issues of getting trapped inside or outside their vehicles for several months, with some incidents attributed to the Ocean's problematic key fob.

However, recent safety concerns leading to the new probe indicate a more profound issue concerning the SUV's doors. This investigation, categorized as a "preliminary evaluation," is usually concluded within eight months by ODI, as reported by TechCrunch.

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As the Ocean SUV undergoes scrutiny for issues with its braking system and complaints regarding potential rolling incidents on uneven terrain, the ongoing investigation by ODI continues. Despite these concerns, Fisker has not yet issued any recalls for the Ocean model. In response to the probe, Fisker has expressed full cooperation with NHTSA, as confirmed in their statement to TechCrunch.

Fisker Ocean SUV

Edmunds highlights Fisker's Ocean as a spacious electric SUV with innovative design elements. Despite its ample range and power, the vehicle's software is notably lacking in completion. The absence of several promised features places it significantly behind rival models.

The Fisker Ocean demonstrates impressive range, achieving 358 miles on a single charge in the real-world Edmunds EV Range Test when equipped with the larger battery pack. However, similar to many new EV offerings from startup automakers, the Ocean is still a work in progress.

Within the Fisker Ocean lineup, a notable price disparity exists across its various trim levels, positioning it to compete in multiple vehicle classes and sizes. The base and midgrade models contend with compact EV SUVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, and Tesla Model Y. Conversely, the higher-tier trim levels command a premium price point, making them potential contenders against luxury models such as the Genesis GV60 or Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

As per Car and Driver, the Ocean lineup begins with the Sport model, equipped with a sole electric motor propelling the front wheels. It has 275 horsepower. On the other hand, the Ultra and Extreme variants feature an electric motor on each axle, delivering all-wheel drive capability.

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