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2018 Karma Revero Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2018 Karma Revero carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering door and side/window. No recurring owner-reported issue clusters are on file. A Karma is an EV that carries its own gas generator, and the schedule reflects that split. The engine only runs when the battery needs it, so oil changes are triggered by the car's maintenance indicator counting engine-generator use, not your odometer. A Revero that mostly charges at home might go years between oil services, and that is by design per Karma's own service bulletin. The rest runs on normal clocks: brake fluid every 5 years or 50,000 miles, all three coolant loops at 5 years or 150,000, plugs at 100,000. One quirk: the high-voltage manual service disconnect gets replaced at every service. Karma's dealer network is small, so plan service trips; the payoff is that these cars also service the orphaned 2012 Fisker Karmas they descend from.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Campaign #19V408000 · May 31, 2019

Issue: Karma Automotive (Karma) is recalling certain 2018 Karma Revero vehicles. The upper intrusion bar within the front left door may be split. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: The split metal may compromise the vehicle's strength reducing the side-impact protection and increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Karma will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all of the front doors and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2019. Owners may contact Karma customer service at 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is RC-19-70-01.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Campaign #19V296000 · Nov 4, 2019

Issue: Karma Automotive (Karma) is recalling certain 2018 Karma Revero vehicles. In the event of a roll over crash, the side curtain/head protection air bags may not deploy as intended due to a rollover sensor system that is not enabled. The system also lacks an instrument cluster warning light and a description of the system in the owner's manual. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk: If the side air bags do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Karma will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing Airbag Control Unit (ACU) with a rollover enabled ACU and the owners manual will be updated with the description of the system, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2019. Owners may contact Karma customer service at 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is RC-19-84-01.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Campaign #18V488000 · Jul 23, 2018

Issue: Karma Automotive LLC (Karma) is recalling certain 2018 Karma Revero vehicles. The driver's side exterior rearview mirrors may be made with convex, not flat glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: When using the incorrect rearview mirrors, the driver may fail to realize how close a vehicle or object actually is, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Karma has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side exterior rearview mirror, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 1, 2018. Owners may contact Karma customer service at 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is RC-18-78-01.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Campaign #18V114000 · Feb 19, 2018

Issue: Karma Automotive LLC (Karma) is recalling certain 2018 Revero vehicles. In the event of a crash, the side curtain/head protection air bags may partially detach from the inflator during air bag deployment, affecting the performance of the air bags. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk: If the air bag are not fully connected to the inflator, the air bags may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Karma will notify owners, and dealers will install new side curtain/head protection air bags that have an additional clamp on the air bag to secure it to the inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 17, 2018. Owners may contact Karma customer service at 1-855-288-6109. Karma's number for this recall is RC-18-84-01.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Karma Revero.

Reported to NHTSA

No common issues reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Karma Revero. That doesn't mean nothing can go wrong — just that the federal complaint database doesn't flag a pattern.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 18, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Oil & Filter (Generator Engine)

Every 10,000 mi

When the maintenance indicator calls for it, based on engine-generator hours rather than miles. Mobil 1 0W-30 spec. If your engine rarely runs, the indicator may not prompt for a long time; an annual check of oil condition is still wise on any engine that mostly sits.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Service Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Each prompted service inspects tires, brakes, suspension, and the fuel and exhaust system, and replaces the high-voltage manual service disconnect per Karma's bulletin.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.

Brake Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Every 50,000 miles or 5 years per the factory bulletin. Regenerative braking spares the pads, not the fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Tire Check

Every 7,500 mi

Tire wear is inspected at every service; no fixed rotation interval is published. These are heavy cars on staggered performance tires, so have wear checked regularly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Coolant (Three Loops)

Every 150,000 mi

Engine, battery, and electric-drive loops all run Dex-Cool spec on a 150,000-mile or 5-year interval. The 5 years is what matters on low-mileage cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Every 100,000 miles per the factory bulletin. Engine hours being what they are, most cars will never see this.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 50,000 mi

Every 50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Inspected at every service, replaced as needed.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Differential Oil

Every 50,000 mi

Every 50,000 miles per the factory bulletin, along with power steering fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

12V Battery

Every 25,000 mi

No published interval; have it tested at every service. Like most EVs, the whole car depends on the 12V system to wake up.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2018 Karma Revero reflects Karma's published service intervals and the Maintenance Indicator (engine-hour based) system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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