(Reuters) -Electric-vehicle firm Fisker is recalling 8,204 Ocean vehicles in the U.S. due to an issue where exterior door handles can stick and fail to open, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday.

This marks Fisker's third recall this month and the auto safety regulator has four open investigations into a variety of issues related to the Ocean SUV that was meant to compete with Tesla's best-selling Model Y crossover.

Once a high-flying EV startup, Fisker filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month after burning through cash in an attempt to ramp up production and deliver its Ocean SUVs.

"A door that fails to open can prevent occupants from exiting in an emergency, increasing the risk of injury," the regulator said, adding that the company will replace the faulty door handles free of charge.

Fisker in a notice asked its dealers in the United States, Canada and Europe to stop sales of the Ocean vehicles in inventory and inspect for the issue.

Customers have complained widely on social media platforms of issues regarding the key fob not unlocking the car at times and the door failing to open.

Earlier this month, Fisker recalled more than 18,000 cars in North America and Europe due to faulty software and non-compliance with safety standards.

Fisker is the second automaker by famed car designer Henrik Fisker to file for bankruptcy protection. The first outfit, Fisker Automotive, filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after a battery failure in its Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle resulted in a recall and substantial associated costs.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)