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In a potentially damaging turn of events for the startup electric-hybrid carmaker, Fisker Automotive is recalling 239 of its $102,000 Karma sedans after finding issues with battery packs that could cause the luxury plug-in hybrids to catch fire.

The source of the problem is an unlikely one for such an advanced technology vehicle: misaligned hose clamps that could cause coolant leaks, and potentially a dangerous electrical short circuit.

"If coolant enters the battery compartment, an electrical short could occur, possibly resulting in a fire," according to a notice posted this week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.

The notice said Fisker dealers will replace the faulty battery parts with new parts at no cost to the owner. Fewer than 50 actual customer cars are part of the recall, and customers have seen no issues on the road, according to Fisker and its battery supplier, Waltham, Mass.-based A123 Systems.

Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher said customers were alerted of the faulty batteries last week -- and insists that the company is on top of the issue.

The issue is sensitive for Fisker, a company backed by more than $550 million in government loans that is just now beginning to sell the Karma, its first car, and has yet to deliver many to customers.

Fisker is working to fill about 1,500 orders, according to company officials, but production at a Finnish contractor's plant has been slower than anticipated. Fisker expects to begin producing its cheaper Nina line at a Newport-area plant beginning in 2013. No word if the Karma's production problems will affect Nina production.

A123 Systems disclosed the battery defects in a memo posted to its website last week, saying that a fix had been determined. The memo made no mention of a recall.

"There have been no related battery performance or safety incidents with cars in the field," A123's chief executive, David Vieau, wrote in the memo. "However, A123 and Fisker are committed to safety and are taking immediate, proactive steps to prevent any issue from occurring."

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