Perhaps They Should Have Tested More - Fisker Automotive

Fisker Karma needs Fixing?

Fisker Automotive is recalling their electric "Karma" sedan due to bugs in the software controls.

• The second time Fisker has recalled its cars for a defect in the two months since they went on sale
• Random check-engine lights copyrightjoestrazzere
• Navigation and entertainment controls that wouldn't work
• At least one Karma owner filed a formal complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Company founder Henrik Fisker will call each one and apologize personally
• Temporarily stopping sales of the Karma
• Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher says "... the most important issue is quality of service."

As more and more cars become dependent on increasingly complex software, are we going to see more and more software-related recalls? I hope not, but I fear that it is inevitable. Maybe we'll end up with a "Patch Tuesday" once each month, where everyone walks to work.

It's terrific that the company founder will personally apologize to each owner. Perhaps during the call he'll also promise to test more?

See also:
http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/fisker-founder-apologize-owners-software-bug-halts-sales-191634844.html
http://www.hybridcars.com/news/fisker-again-recalls-karma-time-software-glitch-35411.html
http://blogs.delawareonline.com/delawareinc/?p=2578
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1071730_fisker-issues-recall-and-personal-apology-for-software-glitch

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/fisker-recalls-electric-cars-again-due-to-software-glitch/
http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/fisker-karma-gets-recalled-again-to-fix-software-malfunction/

---

This article originally appeared in my blog: All Things Quality

	My name is Joe Strazzere and I'm currently a Director of Quality Assurance. I like to lead, to test, and occasionally to write about leading and testing. Find me at http://AllThingsQuality.com/.