Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 75% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 4 complaints, typically at 3 years.
Fisker Karma years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | yes |
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 25% | covered | |
| 3 years | 50% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 75% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 25% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 75% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 60% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Fisker Karma, the early trouble is Electrical System and Power Train — reported at around 3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Fuel/propulsion System at 6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Power Train | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Karma's vehicle class.
| Same class as the Karma | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Supra | 35 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Fisker Karma reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do Karma problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3 years, followed by Power Train.
Will the warranty cover Karma problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 25% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 60% of the complaints here.
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