NHTSA Opens “Field Inquiry” Into Texas 2012 Fisker Karma FireNHTSA Opens “Field Inquiry” Into Texas 2012 Fisker Karma Fire

Last week, we told you about a house fire in Texas on May 3 involving a 2012 Fisker Karma luxury Sedan, which fire investigators believed to be the cause of the blaze. 
Shortly after the story broke, Fisker Automotive released an official statement stating that it had “not ruled out possible fraud or malicious intent,” adding that the company would “not be commenting further” until all the facts in the case had been established. 
Now, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sent a field investigation crew to Texas to study the blaze. 
Speaking in Washington today, NHTSA director of vehicle safety compliance Claude Harris confirmed the agency’s involvement in the fire investigation. 
“We are conducting an ongoing field inquiry for an EV incident in Texas,” he confirmed at a Transportation Department electric-vehicle safety forum. “We are still engaged in that activity, and no determination has been made at this time.”
After the forum, an NHTSA spokeswoman confirmed the incident Harris referred to did indeed involve the $106,000 plug-in hybrid. 
Car Fire
Since we reported the original blaze last week, the story surrounding the blaze and its possible cause has got rather ugly, with accusations flying back and forth between owner Jeremy Guttierez, Fisker automotive and even some third-party automotive consultants. 
Perhaps more concerning for Fisker right now however, is the potential press coverage the NHTSA’s involvement in the case is likely to bring. 
With Fisker already in hot political water after it laid off workers at its Delaware plant earlier this year — not to mention being a victim of shoddy news reporting, we can’t help but wonder where this latest twist will lead. 
If last years’ Volt Crash Test fiasco is anything to go by, things could get tough for Fisker for the foreseeable future.
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