A seemingly simple door ding became an insurance nightmare for one US electric vehicle (EV) owner, leading to her car being written off.
As reported by Carscoops, Joy Wanner’s Fisker Ocean electric SUV suffered what first appeared to be a minor impact to its driver’s door when it was open, with pictures published by the outlet showing what appears to be superficial damage.
The EV was subsequently sent to a repairer for what was expected to be a relatively straightforward fix – the door had a slight crease, while the hinge holding it to the monocoque had snapped.
However, the estimated repair bill of US$910 (A$1380) was short-lived, with the repairs unable to be actioned due to a lack of parts, highlighting ongoing problems with Fisker which is currently on the brink of bankruptcy.
A month after the incident which caused the damage to the Ocean’s door, Ms Wanner was given a cheque for US$53,303 (A$80,100) from her insurance company, who determined the Fisker to be a write-off.
While Ms Wanner has since replaced the Ocean with a Tesla Model Y, she detailed the experience of owning the Fisker online, warning others to steer clear of the startup.
“We lost over $20,000 investing in this startup EV and I cannot say goodbye fast enough,” Ms Wanner reportedly posted on a Facebook owner’s group.
“We are not out to get vengeance. We really believed in this company, ordered the vehicle and waited over two years to receive it, and invested in the stock.
“When we ordered it, it was the best-performing EV available. That changed, quickly. Overall, the machine is great. Drove/handled really well. The software was a nightmare and the company was a joke. Just sad all around.
“The delivery delays, mismanagement of paperwork, reporting issues, and getting case numbers that disappear into thin air, the mysterious warning lights and maddening warning sounds, being trapped inside the vehicle, an unreliable outdated navigation system, one cheaply made barely operational key fob…
“This vehicle fell very, very short of our expectations and well below my high standards. I hope Henrik Fisker loses every dime he has and I wish the rest of you the best of luck.”
Approximately 6000 Oceans have been delivered by Fisker since mass production began in mid-2023.
If the company does go under, it will be the second failed venture by founder Henrik Fisker.
His prior Fisker Automotive brand filed for voluntary bankruptcy in 2013, just a few years after launching one of the first mass-produced plug-in hybrids.
