The Fisker Karma spans 2011–2026 with 5 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2012, 2026, 2025 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2011, 2013, 2014. It delivers up to 92 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Fisker Karma is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2011 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Fisker Karma VIN — every digit explained
Every Fisker Karma carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Fisker and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Karma.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your Karma VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Fisker Karma have?
The Fisker Karma has 5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2011–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2012 Fisker Karma recalls 5
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Best and worst years for the Fisker Karma
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 16 tracked years, the worst years are 2012, 2026, 2025 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2011, 2013, 2014.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Karma | — | Best | |
| 2012 Karma | Electrical System | Avoid | |
| 2013 Karma | — | Best | |
| 2014 Karma | — | Best | |
| 2015 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2016 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2017 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2018 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2019 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2020 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2021 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2022 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2023 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2024 Karma | — | Average | |
| 2025 Karma | — | Avoid | |
| 2026 Karma | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Fisker Karma problems?
The most-reported Fisker Karma problems are Hydraulic (1 reports), Power Train (2 reports) and Service Brakes (1 reports) — out of 6 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Electrical System 4 Read
The high voltage lithium-ion battery is faulty and burns out or shorts out the battery modules.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 fisker karma. While driving 10 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the battery module needed to be replaced and would not be replaced under nhtsa campaign number: 11v598000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,059.
Car was delivered march 19th, 2012 with engine warning lights. Dealer refused to have vehicle evaluated, or inspected. Dealer did not return my call and fisker motors did not return my calls. Car lost all power, while driving on three occasions in first 60 miles. In one instance headlights and controls turned off at approximately 60 mile per hour at night and twice around 40 mile per hour, within 1/4 mile of a stop light. Dealer has had car returned in less than 3 days and is unable to diagnose and fix problem, due to the fact that many fisker cars do not store engine light codes. Software problems and a safety recall on the main power system are currently unavailable for months. Radio, and other electronic systems fail routinely, including the handsfree phone and the audio has loud pops. The dealer has tried multiple software updates over several months with no improvement on prior deliveries and is waiting like many others for the defective battery packs to be replaced. I do not feel that this car should be on the road. Fisker has explained that the car may fail, but they are unable to replace all the batteries recalled for several months. Many complaints on fisker buzz and other searches for problems with fisker. I feel most are unsafe and the manufacturer is unwilling to take them off the road due to financial problems. I feel the company is unable to make ethical decisions, based upon it's production goals tied to the department of energy loan. A great deal has been in the news about how bad the quality and multiple serious failures owners experience. I feel the cars are unsafe and need to be removed from the streets. It is only a matter of time until someone is injured or worse, due to the multiple defects and quality control issues. I have been waiting a month for fisker to buy back or fix the car. My wife is afraid to drive it. Is it safe? *js
While driving the car, a 2012 fisker karma, at 35 mph, the car shut itself off, all lights on the dash illuminated, the brakes did not work and the steering was impaired leaving basic directional control only. *tr
Power Train 2 Read
The high voltage lithium-ion battery is faulty and burns out or shorts out the battery modules.
Car was delivered march 19th, 2012 with engine warning lights. Dealer refused to have vehicle evaluated, or inspected. Dealer did not return my call and fisker motors did not return my calls. Car lost all power, while driving on three occasions in first 60 miles. In one instance headlights and controls turned off at approximately 60 mile per hour at night and twice around 40 mile per hour, within 1/4 mile of a stop light. Dealer has had car returned in less than 3 days and is unable to diagnose and fix problem, due to the fact that many fisker cars do not store engine light codes. Software problems and a safety recall on the main power system are currently unavailable for months. Radio, and other electronic systems fail routinely, including the handsfree phone and the audio has loud pops. The dealer has tried multiple software updates over several months with no improvement on prior deliveries and is waiting like many others for the defective battery packs to be replaced. I do not feel that this car should be on the road. Fisker has explained that the car may fail, but they are unable to replace all the batteries recalled for several months. Many complaints on fisker buzz and other searches for problems with fisker. I feel most are unsafe and the manufacturer is unwilling to take them off the road due to financial problems. I feel the company is unable to make ethical decisions, based upon it's production goals tied to the department of energy loan. A great deal has been in the news about how bad the quality and multiple serious failures owners experience. I feel the cars are unsafe and need to be removed from the streets. It is only a matter of time until someone is injured or worse, due to the multiple defects and quality control issues. I have been waiting a month for fisker to buy back or fix the car. My wife is afraid to drive it. Is it safe? *js
Fuel/propulsion System 2 Read
The high voltage lithium-ion battery is faulty and burns out or shorts out the battery modules.
After baseline 520 update performed by karma automotive vehicle exhibits issues with loss of propulsion and multiple clicking noises when this occurs. Was on a major freeway and vehicle lost propulsion in the fast lane.
Exterior Lighting 1 Read
Car was delivered march 19th, 2012 with engine warning lights. Dealer refused to have vehicle evaluated, or inspected. Dealer did not return my call and fisker motors did not return my calls. Car lost all power, while driving on three occasions in first 60 miles. In one instance headlights and controls turned off at approximately 60 mile per hour at night and twice around 40 mile per hour, within 1/4 mile of a stop light. Dealer has had car returned in less than 3 days and is unable to diagnose and fix problem, due to the fact that many fisker cars do not store engine light codes. Software problems and a safety recall on the main power system are currently unavailable for months. Radio, and other electronic systems fail routinely, including the handsfree phone and the audio has loud pops. The dealer has tried multiple software updates over several months with no improvement on prior deliveries and is waiting like many others for the defective battery packs to be replaced. I do not feel that this car should be on the road. Fisker has explained that the car may fail, but they are unable to replace all the batteries recalled for several months. Many complaints on fisker buzz and other searches for problems with fisker. I feel most are unsafe and the manufacturer is unwilling to take them off the road due to financial problems. I feel the company is unable to make ethical decisions, based upon it's production goals tied to the department of energy loan. A great deal has been in the news about how bad the quality and multiple serious failures owners experience. I feel the cars are unsafe and need to be removed from the streets. It is only a matter of time until someone is injured or worse, due to the multiple defects and quality control issues. I have been waiting a month for fisker to buy back or fix the car. My wife is afraid to drive it. Is it safe? *js
Service Brakes 1 Read
While driving the car, a 2012 fisker karma, at 35 mph, the car shut itself off, all lights on the dash illuminated, the brakes did not work and the steering was impaired leaving basic directional control only. *tr
Hydraulic 1 Read
While driving the car, a 2012 fisker karma, at 35 mph, the car shut itself off, all lights on the dash illuminated, the brakes did not work and the steering was impaired leaving basic directional control only. *tr
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
While driving the car, a 2012 fisker karma, at 35 mph, the car shut itself off, all lights on the dash illuminated, the brakes did not work and the steering was impaired leaving basic directional control only. *tr
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Fisker Karma specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Fisker Karma. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Fisker Karma cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Karma holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 89 cu ft of passenger volume and 7 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Fisker Karma tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Fisker Karma get?
The Fisker Karma returns up to 92 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine. Pick an engine to see its city / highway / combined rating by year:
| Year | City | Highway | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Karma | 20 | 21 | 2L 4-cyl Hybrid |
| Year | City | Highway | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Karma | 99 | 84 | Electric | |
| 2024 Karma | 104 | 81 | Electric |
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov — best combined rating per engine & year. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
What engines does the Fisker Karma have? Power & range
The Fisker Karma is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl Hybrid, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Single-speed | RWD | Premium Gas or Electricity |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | FWD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Fisker Karma tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Fisker Karma is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Karma's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
How much does a Fisker Karma cost to own?
A Fisker Karma depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Karma loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — ≈ $4,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Karma ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Fisker Karma safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Karma yet.
Tired of ads? Go Pro.
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- Exact mileage-adjusted car values
- Full research reports + PDF
- Market charts & price-drop alerts
- …and much more
How many miles does a Fisker Karma last?
A well-maintained Fisker Karma typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Decode your Fisker Karma’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Fisker Karma model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Fisker Karma — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2025 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2024 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2023 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2022 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2021 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2020 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2019 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2018 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2017 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2016 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2015 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2014 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2013 Karma | 0 | — | |
| 2012 Karma | 5 recalls | — | |
| 2011 Karma | 0 | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Karma?
By owner-complaint volume, 2012, 2026, 2025 drew the most reports. 2011, 2013, 2014 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Karma have?
5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2011–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
What MPG does the Karma get?
Up to 92 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Karma last?
A well-maintained Karma typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Karma reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Karma is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Fisker Karma warranty?
New Fisker models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Fisker dealer.
Where is the Fisker Karma made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Karma's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Fisker may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Karma have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.