Fisker Ocean Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β NHTSA Data
Comparing used Fisker Ocean options? We analyzed 4 model years (2023β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Fisker Ocean you plan to buy.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Fisker Ocean has 883 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls across model years 2023β2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2023 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Fisker
- Model
- Ocean
- Model years analyzed
- 2023β2026 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 883
- Safety recall campaigns
- 10
- Crash-related complaints
- 12
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2023 (883 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Fisker Ocean: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
β NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
PoorThe FISKER OCEAN has 883 NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls on record. 12 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 883 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 10 federal recall campaigns
- 12 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
π NHTSA Safety Recalls
10 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2023β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
π§ Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 883 NHTSA complaints.
π NHTSA Complaint Reports
883 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Vehicle has unresolved NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-405 (brake warning light display noncompliance). Brake warning illuminated at startup during dealer inspection on [XXX]. Vehicle is on OS 1.1.49 β recall remedy requires OS 2.1 before sale. Fisker's own recall documentation states vehicles must be updated before being released for sale. Dealer Axio EV, Salt Lake City UT is actively marketing this vehicle at $22,988 without completing the required recall remedy. When safety concern was raised, dealer responded 'then don't buy the car.' Six total open recalls on this vehicle, none disclosed to consumer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
FORMAL DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD COMPLAINT TO: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Washington, DC 20590 DATE: May 17, 2026 SUBJECT: Urgent Request for Recall Investigation: Systemic Cloud-Dependency, Hypervisor Power Management Failures, QNX Boot-Looping/Blackouts, Unix Epoch Clock Drifting, High-Voltage Contactor Thermal/Fire Hazards, and Core Low-Voltage Module Malfunctions via Telematics Disconnection in the Fisker Ocean Fleet 1. Executive Summary This petition requests an immediate, systemic safety defect investigation into the software architecture, operating system stability, power management, and network subsystems of the Fisker Ocean vehicle fleet (Model Years 2023β2024). Following the liquidation bankruptcy of Fisker Inc. and its affiliatesβunder Case No.XXX (XXX) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, overseen by Judge [XXX] βthe vehicle's intellectual property, cloud infrastructure, and over-the-air (OTA) software management assets were assumed by a commercial entity, American Lease, and its vehicle management arm (OV Loop/Ocean Loop). Due to the subsequent imposition of a predatory $499/year subscription paywall, thousands of retail owners have been cut off from cloud connectivity. While a missing cloud connection in a standard passenger car traditionally results in a benign loss of convenience features, in the Fisker Ocean's "software-defined" architecture, it triggers a severe, un-throttled software failure loop. This architectural defect forces safety-critical operating systems into permanent boot loops, pins CPU utilization, drops the system clock into a broken chronological state, and drives an aggressive parasitic drain on the 12V battery system. This directly leads to cascade control module failures, key fob inoperability, and accelerated mechanical degradation of high-voltage components, introducing an acute INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On August 22, American Lease agreed to pay for my recall work. They still haven't reimbursed me for the recall work. Additionally, although the software update was supposed to be included with the recall, they charged me to receive the software update.
I had the vehicle updated to version 2.3.3 by a technician because my car would not update OTA. I thought this update would resolve the ADAS problems as well as the breaking problems. However, on three separate occasions my vehicle has come to an abrupt stop with automatic breaking when approaching a redlight / intersection with no other vehicles in front of me. This occurred while manually applying the break and then the car just took over. There were no forward collision warnings, rather the car was automatically forced to shuttering stop. An alert appears that the brake system has malfunctioned followed by both LED screens turning off and on. The break malfunction error appears several times. Eventually, the screens will restart and then when you try to put the car into gear a gear shift error appears and the car will not go into gear leaving me stranded in traffic. On one occasion these errors appeared when the car started up in a parking lot. These events are unpredictable and not tied to any visible obstacle. The vehicle cannot reliably receive over-the-air software updates due to persistent connectivity failure as I have tried updated to SW Version 2.5. As a result, both the past federally mandated safety recall remedies could not be delivered not any future updates. I have personally paid out of pocket for recall-related repairs and have not been reimbursed. I have not been contacted regarding replacement of recalled exterior door handles. Break and/or shift errors have occurred on May 28, 2025, Sept 3, 2025, Dec 3, 2055, Jan 9, 15, and 21 2026.
Both interior and exterior lighting keep coming on. The car is continually and significantly draining the battery from something. either the inability for the communication box to connect or from lighting coming on. My headlights and tails lights were on April 2, 2025 - Headlamps and Tail Lamps April 5, 2025 - Dash lights and rear passenger lamps September 28 - October 13 A friend was keeping my vehicle while I traveled abroad to keep it charged because the battery keeps draining. He reported that the lights came on almost daily. January 5 through January 8, 2026, Neighbor reported rear passenger overhead lighting on daily around 7:30 am.
The car is generating a random left turn signal error stating the bulb is out. However, on inspection it appears that all bulbs are working. The car makes a fast blinker warning sound as well as notification. This has been happening for a couple of months but happened again yesterday.
Lane Keep Assist is non-functional despite 2.3 update. Random faults on radar, blind-spot, lane-keep assist and rear-cross traffic. Adaptive Cruise Control in non-functioning despite 2.3 update. It's not just the weather or time of day. These alerts last happened on Friday, January 23, 2026, between 3:30 and 4:30 PM
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V466000 (Structure), 24V499000 (Electrical System), 24V623000 (Service Brakes, Electric), 24V865000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, AutoHold Brake System/Brake Hold), 24V405000 (Electrical System) and 24V404000 (Electrical System). The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful since the company had filed for bankruptcy and was no longer in business. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V499000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure but had an independent mechanic performed the repairs at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was contacted for reimbursement and mailed a cheque that covered half the cost of the repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer had failed to complete the recall repair free of charge.
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence. The mechanic determined that the main battery had failed, and there was no communication from the battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,598.
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V499000 (Electrical System) and 24V466000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that after the manufacturer went bankrupt, the court ordered the Trustee of the manufacturer, Indigo, to complete the recall repairs; however, Indigo was contacted several times but had failed to arrange for the recall repairs. Additionally, the contact stated that after the recall repairs of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V865000 (Services Brakes, Hydraulic; AutoHold Brake System/Brake Hold), 24V623000 (Service Brakes, Electric), 24V405000 (Electrical System), and 24V404000 (Electrical system) were performed over-the air, the vehicle experienced electrical failures. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to unlock and experienced complete loss of electrical power. The contact purchased a battery from Advance Auto and replaced the 12-Volt battery; however, the failure persisted. A mobile technician from Ocean Repair and Services LLC was contacted and arrived at the residence. The technician reprogrammed several modules, and the vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The contact later emailed Fiskerβs Trustee, Indigo, via email at oceanrecalls@fiskerinc.com for reimbursement and was advised that the reimbursement claim was denied because the electrical failures were not related to the recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean One. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormal coolant burning odor. The contact had received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V499000 (Electrical System), 24V466000 (Structure), and 24V623000 (Service Brakes, Electric). The contact stated that the unrepaired recalls could be performed because the manufacturer was no longer in business. The contact sent an email to the [XXX] , which was the point of contact; however, no correspondence was received within the past three months. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact was concerned that the exterior door handles were sticking and failing to open the doors as intended. Upon investigation, the contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V466000 (STRUCTURE). The contact was unable to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Our Fisker Ocean is occasionally having an issue when a passenger is sitting in the rear driver side or middle seat. It seems like something related to the seat sensor causes the computer to freeze or get bogged down. When it occurs, the symptoms include: -The yellow front collision and lane change ADAS warnings pop up simultaneously -Cruise control shuts off -Speedometer freezes -Blinkers donβt work (which also means hazard lights donβt) -Regen turns off but braking still works -Tomtom stops tracking the car accurately -Radio freezes -There may be other systems affected that we haven't noticed. A bit of experimentation with the passengers we were able to figure out workarounds. Lifting themselves off the seat all the issues would resolve pretty much immediately. Leaning the seat back down and then putting it back up almost always took care of the issue and it wouldnβt come back for a while or at all.
In May of 2025 we received this email. We have written them 10 times with recall info and also in need of service. We have never received a response. We would love to get the car looked at and fixed, but no one has been able to help us. Our first 6 months with the vehicle, the key Fob stopped working multiple times and I had to get someone to pick up my kids, as I was stranded. As for the brakes, they shoot us forward every now and again when pressed. It is very scary. Dear Ocean Owners: Enrollment for repair as well as reimbursement for published NHTSA ( [XXX] ) recalls on the model year 2023 Fisker Ocean is now open until August 31st 2025. If your vehicle is in need of recall related work performed please email [XXX] and include your vehicle identification number, full name address and phone number. You will be contacted and scheduled for required repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V499000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 24V466000 (STRUCTURE), 24V623000 (SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC) and 24V865000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; AUTOHOLD BRAKE SYSTEM/BRAKE HOLD). The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the rearview camera failed to activate while the vehicle was in reverse(R), compromising the back-over prevention system. In addition, all the cameras failed to operate as intended. The ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) light illuminated, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that an Over-the-Air (OTA) software update was performed on the rearview camera; however, the failure became progressively worse. The contact stated that the OTA updates drained the battery, causing alarms to independently activate. The battery was replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the electrical system failed, which caused the vehicle to be completely non-responsive. A mobile mechanic arrived at the residence and repaired the electrical system and the battery. However, the failure persisted, and the battery was replaced a second time. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the front driverβs side door failed to open as intended. The contact was unable to open the door from the inside. The contact rolled down the window and unlocked the door from the outside. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost and the parts not being available. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving uphill, the vehicle rolled backwards while in drive(D). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, on a rough road or over a pothole, the vehicle failed to stop as intended while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the interior lights failed to function as intended when the switch was turned on. In addition, while starting the vehicle, the message "Gear Shift Error" was displayed, preventing the vehicle from being driven. The contact stated that the failures persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
The Break System is malfunctioning. ADAS System Malfunctioning. Internet problem. The driver's side left HVAC is making a cracking sound. I received a Recall message from the manufacturer and NHTSA, but the person from the dealership service is not going to fix the problem, and he says the message is not Valid. Please help me go through this. And he is not going to honor the warranty. FYI, I also uploaded a picture and Text copy of the message from the manufacturer and NHTSA. Dear Ocean Owners: Enrollment for repair as well as reimbursement for published. NHTSA recalls [XXX] the model year 2023 Fisker Ocean are now open until August 31st, 2025. Suppose your vehicle is in need of recal related work performed. Please email [XXX] and include your vehicle Identification number, full name, address, and phone number. You will be contacted and scheduled for required repairs. If you have previously had recall-related work on your Ocean performed by a third-party repair provider, and seek reimbursement. Please email [XXX] and include your vehicle identification number, full name, address, and phone number. Please include receipts clearly demonstrating the work performed and the repair center that performed them. You will be contacted for reimbursement processing as soon as possible. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Issues since we got the car
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V499000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact attempted to contact American Lease and Fisker Owners Association but was unsuccessful. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool search not available.
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a critical safety failure of my Fisker Ocean One. This incident involved a sudden and total loss of power while driving, which created a severe safety hazard for myself and other motorists. Date of Incident: [Date the incident occurred] Location of Incident: [Name of Highway, City, State, e.g., Interstate 35, Austin, TX] Detailed Description of the Incident: On [Date of Incident], while I was operating my Fisker Ocean One on the highway, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of motive power without any prior warning. The vehicle decelerated and came to a stop in a live traffic lane, rendering it a dangerous obstruction. Immediately following the power loss, I made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle and engage "Drive." The vehicle's systems were unresponsive. Despite repeated efforts, the gear selector would not shift into drive, and the vehicle remained immobile. Shortly after these failed attempts, the vehicle's entire electrical system powered off, leaving the car completely disabled on the highway. This catastrophic failure created an extremely dangerous situation, leaving me stranded in a vulnerable position and at high risk of being struck by other vehicles. The inability to move the car, even to the shoulder, constitutes a grave design or manufacturing defect. Given that the manufacturer, Fisker Inc., has declared bankruptcy, I am not filing this complaint with the expectation of a warranty repair or corporate response. Instead, I am submitting this report to formally document this dangerous defect for public safety records and to urge your agency to investigate this issue. The sudden and complete failure of the powertrain and electrical systems in the Fisker Ocean presents a significant risk to all owners and the public
Showing 20 of 883 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Fisker Ocean
These pages show model-year patterns across 4years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
π Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Fisker Ocean has 883 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Fisker Ocean has 10 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 12 of the Fisker Ocean's 883 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Fisker Ocean vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Fisker Ocean vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Fisker Ocean has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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