Recall 17V004 affects 811 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles with rupture-prone passenger air bag inflators. Free repair once Fisker opens it.
Fisker is recalling 811 2012 Karma vehicles because the passenger front air bag inflator can rupture after long-term humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into occupants, risking serious injury or death; the final dealer repair will be free once Fisker opens it.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The front passenger air bag inflator in a 2012 Fisker Karma is the small metal device inside the passenger frontal air bag module. In a crash that calls for deployment, the inflator burns propellant to create gas, which fills the air bag in front of the passenger.
On affected Karma vehicles, the Takata inflator uses non-desiccated ammonium nitrate propellant. After long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature cycling, that propellant breaks down. During a deployment, the degraded propellant can make the inflator rupture instead of releasing gas in a controlled way.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator, so the vehicle does not give the owner a dashboard light, sound, smell, or driving symptom that confirms the inflator has degraded.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Fisker Karma | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 811 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2012 Fisker Karma is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
An air bag inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin. Those fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. If your VIN is included, contact a franchised Fisker dealer and ask what to do until the remedy opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Fisker dealer once Fisker opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Fisker Karma is included in this recall.
- Contact Fisker Client Services at 1-855-288-6109 to confirm the current passenger air bag inflator repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 17V004 and Fisker recall 5.84.17.001.01 when you call or speak with a dealer.
- Bring the recall notice if Fisker mailed one, and ask when the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement is open for your VIN.
- Limit front passenger use until Fisker confirms the repair path, because the recalled inflator can rupture during air bag deployment.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is not listed as open in this data. Once available, a Fisker technician will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflators at no charge. The work is meant to remove inflators that rupture during deployment after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. Fisker lists a general reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair before the recall notice, ask Client Services how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 6, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 8, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V004?
Recall 17V004 covers 811 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during a crash. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Fisker dealers replace the affected inflators for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Fisker Karma is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V004. If it is, contact a franchised Fisker dealer or call 1-855-288-6109 and reference recall 17V004. The passenger air bag inflator replacement is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair this defect at no cost. For recall 17V004, Fisker dealers replace the affected passenger frontal air bag inflators free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is metal-fragment injury during a crash. If the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin. The official consequence for recall 17V004 is serious injury or death, and the repair path is a free inflator replacement.
What if I bought my Fisker Karma used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner, and this recall covers certain vehicles originally sold or ever registered in specific high-humidity states. Check your VIN, then contact a franchised Fisker dealer if your vehicle is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V004000 |
|---|---|
| Fisker customer service | 1-855-288-6109 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V004 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V004000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →