Recall 19V181 affects 472 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles for passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Repair is free at any franchised Fisker dealer.
Fisker is recalling 472 2012 Karma vehicles under recall 19V181 because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode after long-term exposure to heat, humidity, and temperature cycling. An exploding inflator can send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death, and Fisker dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2012 Fisker Karma sits inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash, the inflator burns propellant to fill the air bag fast enough to cushion the passenger. The metal inflator housing is supposed to contain that pressure during deployment.
Affected Karmas use a Takata PSPI-1.1 inflator without a drying agent in the front passenger position. After long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, heat, and temperature cycling, the ammonium nitrate propellant degrades. During deployment, the degraded propellant can burn too aggressively, rupture the inflator housing, and send metal fragments into the cabin.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag and dashboard look normal until a crash causes the passenger air bag to deploy.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Fisker Karma | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 472 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, striking the driver or other occupants and causing serious injury or death. Schedule the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Fisker dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Fisker Karma is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Fisker dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement.
- Bring the recall notice if Fisker has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V181 when you call.
- Ask the Fisker dealer about passenger-seat use until the inflator replacement is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Fisker technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag inflators covered by the recall. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Because a general reimbursement plan is on file, owners who already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair can ask Fisker customer service or the dealer about reimbursement under the manufacturer's standard plan. Keep repair orders and payment records so the service desk has the documentation needed to review the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 6, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 29, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| March 29, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 31, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 30, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V181?
Recall 19V181 covers 472 2012 Fisker Karma vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode after long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Metal fragments can strike occupants, causing serious injury or death. Fisker dealers replace the inflators for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Fisker Karma is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V181. If it is, contact a franchised Fisker dealer to schedule passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall 19V181 or Fisker recall number 5.84.17.001.01 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and the remedy says dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflators free of charge. The recall repair began March 25, 2019, so the dealer repair is available now.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an inflator explosion inside the passenger frontal air bag module. If that happens, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. The fix is replacement of the passenger frontal air bag inflator.
What if I bought my 2012 Fisker Karma used?
The recall follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Fisker Karma is included, especially if you never received the original owner notice. If included, call a franchised Fisker dealer for the free inflator replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V181000 |
|---|---|
| Fisker customer service | 1-855-288-6109 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V181 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V181000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →