After it was revealed that A123 Systems Inc. discovered a “potential safety issue” in the batteries it supplies to Fisker Automotive, it was only a matter of time before the California-based automaker would issue a recall on the Karma, the first since the car launched onto the market this summer.
The maker of the extended-range plug-in hybrid model said the safety recall concerns a total of 239 2012MY Karma sedans built from July 1, 2011, through November 3, 2011.
In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Fisker said that certain hose clamps that are part of the internal cooling system of the car’s batteries might 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. If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur possibly resulting in a fire,” Fisker told the NHTSA.
Fisker said that it would replace the high-voltage battery with a new part at no cost to the owner with the safety recall expected to begin during January 2012. Concerned owners can contact the company for more information at 1-855-575-7577, option 2, 6am – 7pm (PST) Monday through Friday.
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