Fisker Karma ignites into flames while owner is in grocery store
A Fisker Karma hybrid-electric luxury vehicle caught on fire on Friday in Woodside, California, reports Jalopnik. The incident occurred in a grocery store parking lot while the owner was inside purchasing groceries. Upon returning outside, the owner was greeted with smoke exiting from the vehicle. The owner proceeded to call the manufacturer, who instructed him to call the police.
Exclusive pictures from Jalopnik illustrate that the fire extensively damaged the vehicle’s front left quadrant. While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, the vehicle’s unique exhaust location may be involved. The Karma’s exhaust is directed to small outlets located in the front fenders, instead of the rear like a normal car.
A similar fire occurred back in May when a new Fisker Karma was blamed for causing a Houston house fire. Although early reports suggested that the Karma’s lithium-ion battery was the culprit, a probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the battery was fully intact and in full-working condition.
Fisker issued a fire-related vehicle recall back in late 2011, which involved 239 Karmas. The December recall was due to an improperly-positioned hose clamp that could let coolant leak into the battery compartment. Consequently, this could cause an electrical short and potentially start a fire. In June, Fisker added 19 vehicles to the recall, bringing the total to 258.
Fisker released the following statement to Jalopnik concerning Friday’s incident:
“We have confidence in the Fisker Karma. Safety is our primary concern and our Fisker staff have been in contact with the customer and are investigating the cause. We are also employing an independent fire investigation representative to assist in the root cause analysis. A further statement will be issued once the root cause has been determined.”
For those interested, the event was caught on video and is available to watch HERE.
Source: Jalopnik
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