Comparison

FISKER KARMA vs FISKER OCEAN

Side-by-side comparison of the FISKER KARMA and FISKER OCEAN drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,054,142 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles since 1995, as of June 2026. This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the FISKER KARMA (2012–2012) and the FISKER OCEAN (2023–2023), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The FISKER KARMA (2012–2012, 1 model years) carries 12 NHTSA consumer complaints and 5 safety recalls, while the FISKER OCEAN (2023–2023, 1 model years) carries 1,833 complaints and 6 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 0 vs 30 crashes, 0 vs 7 fires, and 0 vs 0 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the FISKER KARMA, the leading complaint category is electrical system (4 filings), followed by power train and fuel/propulsion system. For the FISKER OCEAN, it is electrical system (376), ahead of service brakes and unknown or other. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests — three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

FISKER KARMA vs FISKER OCEAN — NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
FISKER KARMA Metric FISKER OCEAN
N/A Avg Safety Rating N/A
12 Total Complaints 1,833
5 Total Recalls 6
0 Crashes Reported 30
0 Fires Reported 7
0 Injuries Reported 19
0 Deaths Reported 0
1 years Years on Market 1 years

Top Complaint Categories

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
376
POWER TRAIN
2
0
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
281
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
0
SERVICE BRAKES
0
301
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
0
120
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
0
91
FISKER KARMA FISKER OCEAN

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, FISKER KARMA or FISKER OCEAN?
FISKER KARMA has 12 total NHTSA complaints with 0 crashes, while FISKER OCEAN has 1,833 complaints with 30 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does FISKER KARMA have compared to FISKER OCEAN?
FISKER KARMA has 5 recalls across 1 model years, while FISKER OCEAN has 6 recalls across 1 model years.
What are the most common problems with FISKER KARMA?
The most commonly reported issues for FISKER KARMA are: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4 complaints), POWER TRAIN (2 complaints), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (1 complaints).
What are the most common problems with FISKER OCEAN?
The most commonly reported issues for FISKER OCEAN are: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (376 complaints), SERVICE BRAKES (301 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (281 complaints), FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (120 complaints), FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS (91 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data