Fisker Karma Fire Prompts Recall

Fisker Automotive has issued its second fire-related recall for the Karma electric luxury sedan.

The most recent recall was issued after one car caught fire in a parking lot in Woodside, Calif. In a statement, Fisker said that the fire was caused by a defective cooling fan located in the front of the left front wheel. Wiring in the fan failed, causing the car to overheat and catch fire. No injuries were reported due to the Fisker Karma fire.

Fisker affirmed that the fire was not at all associated with the car’s lithium-ion battery. Fisker Karma owners will be warned of the fire problem, and dealers will replace the cooling fans and install another fuse for additional protection.

The Fisker Karma was previously recalled in the end of last year for a coolant leak within the battery compartment. The leak, resulting from incorrectly installed hose clamps, was feared to cause electrical short circuits and fires. Another type of recall was issued after the Karma sedan was reported to have lithium-ion battery packs with defective prismatic cells, which may prevent the car from starting properly.

Fisker has encountered a series of setbacks in its efforts to expand the company. It famously failed a Consumer Reports road test when the engine would not restart after the car was put in the park position.

The company is also trying to raise capital after the federal government suspended its loan to help the company create its second sedan, now called the Atlantic. The suspension earlier this year was due to production delays on its first model, the Karma. Development of future models is currently on hold.

According to The Associated Press, Fisker managed to rake in $174 million of private funding through May. During the first four months of the year, revenue came in at $100 million. Fisker currently hired a new CEO Tony Posawatz, a former GM executive who led the development of the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid.

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