Fisker Fires Prompt Recall

F

isker Karmas have been catching fire lately, and now the company is recalling its Karma plug-in hybrid to replace a defective cooling fan that may be at the root of the problem.

This is the second recall to address fire concerns with the Karma, and it's prompted by a fire that occurred in California earlier this month. The previous recall addressed possibly defective hose clamps in the battery cooling system.

The recall comes at a critical time for Fisker, which is trying to establish itself as a successful niche player in the market by selling luxury plug-in hybrids. Consumers who remain skeptical of plug-in hybrids and electric cars won't look kindly on car fires, even if the number of fires is extremely low or the cause is determined to have nothing to do with the hybrid powertrain or its battery system.

Not only do the fires spark concern overall about electric cars, but they could prove especially difficult for a small company like Fisker. The company doesn't have the resources or marketing muscle of the full-line manufacturers, so proving that the Karma is safe may be a tougher sell. Fisker has also faced some financial setbacks of late, most notably a frozen federal loan and a change in the CEO chair, and adding the recalls to the mix will only add to concerns about the company.