During the bankruptcy process, many Fisker owners reached out with last-minute service requests. Ed Rios personally oversaw many of these cases, ensuring that his team—a small group of just 14 technicians remaining nationwide—prioritized repairing bricked vehicles. This effort allowed many Fisker Oceans to be successfully repaired.
On October 11, Fisker closed its last location, marking the end of Rios’s time with the company.
Unfortunately, the post-bankruptcy service network established by the reorganization company has proven inadequate. The network lacks proper training, equipment, and sufficient parts to meet the needs of Fisker Ocean owners.
Since then, many owners have contacted Rios seeking advice on repairing or servicing their vehicles. He has explained that there is little recourse beyond filing complaints with relevant agencies.
For Fisker Ocean owners experiencing safety-related issues, vehicles bricked due to OTA software updates (a problem expected to impact around 20% of all cars), or currently bricked vehicles, Rios recommends the following actions:
- File a formal complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This can be done through their website.
- If the vehicle was financed through Chase, contact the lender to file a complaint and request assistance in locating a service center or initiating a buyback.
- Submit a complaint to the Department of Justice or by calling (800) 869-4499.
Rios expressed hope that these steps will assist Fisker Ocean owners in addressing their concerns.
Additionally, he shared hopeful news: he has been approved to become a Fisker Service Provider and advised owners to stay tuned for further updates.
Rios also advised Fisker owners not to buy certain parts on eBay that can’t be re-programmed such as keyfob and ECUs.
Ed Rios, former head of repairs and service at Fisker Inc., has recently observed a trend of “used” key fobs, PKCs, and other ECUs being sold on platforms like eBay. However, Rios highlights a significant concern: many electrical parts cannot be reused once they are coded and programmed for a specific vehicle.
Regarding key fobs and PKCs, Rios explains that once these components are programmed, they are permanently tied to the original car. Currently, there is no option to reprogram them, as this process can only be performed by the original supplier, which is not available at this time.
For ECUs, whether new or used, programming requires configuring the SecOC, installing the correct software, and coding the unit for the specific vehicle. In many cases, critical information necessary for this process may not be available, rendering the ECU unusable.
Additionally, Rios notes that some early launch issues, such as interior lights randomly turning on, have led to certain ECUs and modules being replaced with updated part numbers. This means older parts are now obsolete and incompatible with updated systems.
Rios advises caution to Fisker Ocean owners considering purchasing used electrical components, as these limitations could lead to wasted resources and unresolved issues.
A Fisker bankruptcy plan called for the company to pay for all repairs and parts. It has since been learned that a Koren spy worked for the company. What is your Fisker experience? Please post in the comments below.