2012 Fisker Karma problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Fisker Karma, most often about —. There are 5 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
1
Recalls
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Median mileage
—
at time of problem

Key facts

  • The 2012 Fisker Karma has 5 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.

2012 Fisker Karma problems by category

  • Other / Unknown
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Unknown or other1

2012 Fisker Karma recalls (5)

  • Recall 19V181000Mar 6, 2019472 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 17V004000Jan 6, 2017811 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 12V413000Aug 22, 20121,377 vehicles
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

    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.

    Risk: A direct short may ignite the fan housing, shroud and surrounding components, causing a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 12V241000May 30, 201219 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

    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.

    Risk: If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur possibly resulting in a fire.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 11V598000Dec 27, 2011239 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

    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.

    Risk: If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur possibly resulting in a fire.

    Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

    Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…

Recent 2012 Fisker Karma complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Nov 20, 2023AZOther / Unknown
    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
    NHTSA complaint #11556005 · source

Compare the 2012 Fisker Karma with another vehicle →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology