Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 415 complaints for KTM
KTM
390 ADVENTURE
(2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Jun 28, 2022
Incident date: Feb 28, 2022
TFT Speedometer gets severe condensation under normal operating conditions making it unsafe to operate the motorcycle and almost caused me an accident on multiple rides in the mountains. This puts the safety of myself and others at risk as I'm not able to read any potential safety information in my dash like speed, gear, traction control, gas mileage, and any electrical failures. 5" TFT dash spee... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2022) - ENGINE
May 26, 2022
Incident date: May 25, 2022
When I attempt to start the motorcycle after it has not been ridden for several hours, i.e., a "cold start," it will run very rough and barely maintain idle. The engine also makes a lot of noise during the first 30 seconds to one minute after being started, almost as if it is running on one cylinder instead of two. If I attempt to ride the motorcycle before waiting for it to warm up, approximately... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2022) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
May 26, 2022
Incident date: May 25, 2022
When I attempt to start the motorcycle after it has not been ridden for several hours, i.e., a "cold start," it will run very rough and barely maintain idle. The engine also makes a lot of noise during the first 30 seconds to one minute after being started, almost as if it is running on one cylinder instead of two. If I attempt to ride the motorcycle before waiting for it to warm up, approximately... Read more
KTM
1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
May 19, 2022
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The front brakes of the machine are inconsistent in how much lever effort is required to get the bike to stop. At slow speed, there is sometimes not braking force when pulling the brake lever. At slow speed, there is sometimes a tremendous amount of braking force when pulling the lever. At high speeds, the brakes are often good and work as expected. At high speeds, sometimes the brakes don't work ... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
May 11, 2022
Incident date: Apr 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 KTM 790 Duke. The contact stated while riding approximately 30 MPH, the rear brake light failed to illuminate unless the brake pedal was fully depressed, not while slightly first applying the brake. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the motorcycle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that nothing could be repaired ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
The fuel tank around the filler neck insert is warped which causes fuel to splash out from under the filler neck seal.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
The gas tank on this KTM RC390 is leaking from the welds holding on the ECU bracket. This bike only has 2000mi and after researching online, this is a known issue with at least 15 others experiencing the same problem. This is a serious problem as gas leaks down the bike near the motor which could easily cause a fire if not caught right away. It seems this is a quality issue as the bike has very lo... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 6, 2022
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
1) The vehicle TFT display containing important data such as speed etc.. blacks out on occasion. The vehicle itself is still functional but with the display blacked out the operator has no speed information, or information about the vehicle such as fuel levels and ABS control. KTM has been made aware of the issue as it has affected multiple users worldwide. 2) The indicator/blinker control switc... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Feb 6, 2022
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
1) The vehicle TFT display containing important data such as speed etc.. blacks out on occasion. The vehicle itself is still functional but with the display blacked out the operator has no speed information, or information about the vehicle such as fuel levels and ABS control. KTM has been made aware of the issue as it has affected multiple users worldwide. 2) The indicator/blinker control switc... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2022) - ENGINE
Feb 5, 2022
Incident date: Feb 5, 2022
The motorcycle currently has 400 miles on it. Ever since getting the motorcycle home and when first cranking it in the morning (cold start) it will only run on one cylinder (has two cylinders) for a moment and then die. It takes numerous starts and will finally continue running on one cylinder for about 30 to 60 seconds at a very low RPM before the other cylinder starts. After that it runs normal.... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Feb 1, 2022
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
Motorcycle hard/impossible to start. Excessive valve wear. Currently unrideable due to mechanical problems. Motorcycle stalled at intersection of busy highway, would not start creating hazard of being hit in the intersection and while pushing it to side of road. Mechanic inspected vehicle, found excessive wear to valvetrain causing engine power loss and stalls. States that it appears to be a manu... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Feb 1, 2022
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
Motorcycle hard/impossible to start. Excessive valve wear. Currently unrideable due to mechanical problems. Motorcycle stalled at intersection of busy highway, would not start creating hazard of being hit in the intersection and while pushing it to side of road. Mechanic inspected vehicle, found excessive wear to valvetrain causing engine power loss and stalls. States that it appears to be a manu... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
Feb 1, 2022
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
Motorcycle hard/impossible to start. Excessive valve wear. Currently unrideable due to mechanical problems. Motorcycle stalled at intersection of busy highway, would not start creating hazard of being hit in the intersection and while pushing it to side of road. Mechanic inspected vehicle, found excessive wear to valvetrain causing engine power loss and stalls. States that it appears to be a manu... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R RALLY
(2020) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 25, 2022
Incident date: Dec 2, 2021
The TFT screen with display to monitor speed, gas and all driver assist settings has become so saturated with condensation it is unreadable making it impossible to tell what speed I am going or what settings I have the driver assist controls set to.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R RALLY
(2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jan 25, 2022
Incident date: Dec 2, 2021
The TFT screen with display to monitor speed, gas and all driver assist settings has become so saturated with condensation it is unreadable making it impossible to tell what speed I am going or what settings I have the driver assist controls set to.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2019) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jan 24, 2022
Incident date: Oct 23, 2021
The Display screen that offers all the info for the motorcycle has condensation inside. The motorcycle is always garaged other than when it's being ridden. There is still condensation inside the display. Sometimes vital motorcycle information isn't visible, such as ABS mode, Traction control mode, speed, rpm, etc. Vehicle has not been inspected. Through the forums I have heard many stories of oth... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 23, 2022
Incident date: Jan 6, 2022
The motorcycle's instrument cluster (TFT Display) often becomes obscured by internal condensation (fogging), sometimes remaining obscured for extended periods of time (i.e., 30 minutes). When this occurs, it is impossible to see critical operation/safety information such vehicle speed, traction, and ABS settings. It is also impossible to operate the menu to control these same settings. The resulti... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2019) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE
Jan 21, 2022
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 KTM 790 Adventure Motorcycle. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. While driving at low speeds and applying the throttle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer five times where it was diagnosed that a new fuel pump, new fuel hose, clamps, fuel line, fuel connector, fuel injectors and smog kit and power-washed ta... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2019) - ENGINE
Jan 21, 2022
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 KTM 790 Adventure Motorcycle. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. While driving at low speeds and applying the throttle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer five times where it was diagnosed that a new fuel pump, new fuel hose, clamps, fuel line, fuel connector, fuel injectors and smog kit and power-washed ta... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2020) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jan 11, 2022
Incident date: Jul 30, 2021
Motorcycle takes multiple attempts to start and run - minimum 3 at this point.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2020) - ENGINE
Jan 11, 2022
Incident date: Jul 30, 2021
Motorcycle takes multiple attempts to start and run - minimum 3 at this point.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jan 8, 2022
Incident date: Apr 2, 2021
Motorcycle does not start properly when cold. Takes several tries to start. Once started it dies several times and must be restarted. Once running, it idles very rough for several minutes.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Jan 6, 2022
Incident date: Jun 7, 2021
The motorcycle is having a cold start issue. When starting after 24hours, the motorcycle will not start right away or will only start on one of two cylinders. After roughly 60 seconds the second cylinder starts up.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jan 6, 2022
Incident date: Jun 7, 2021
The motorcycle is having a cold start issue. When starting after 24hours, the motorcycle will not start right away or will only start on one of two cylinders. After roughly 60 seconds the second cylinder starts up.
KTM
890 ADVENTURE R RALLY
(2021) - ENGINE
Jan 5, 2022
Incident date: Jun 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, it would only start on one cylinder with an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the exhaust. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. Th... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Oct 21, 2021
When I start the bike, it sounds like the engine is only running on one cylinder and misfiring. It runs 'rough' like this for about 30 -60 seconds and the revs are sitting between 1000-1300 instead of the normal 1300-1500rpm range. You can smell fuel while this is happening. It then 'pops' and the engine runs fine after that. I live in the Netherlands, but wanted to register the issue here a... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Oct 21, 2021
When I start the bike, it sounds like the engine is only running on one cylinder and misfiring. It runs 'rough' like this for about 30 -60 seconds and the revs are sitting between 1000-1300 instead of the normal 1300-1500rpm range. You can smell fuel while this is happening. It then 'pops' and the engine runs fine after that. I live in the Netherlands, but wanted to register the issue here a... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Aug 22, 2021
If the bike has been sitting overnight, then the first start of the day is difficult. It does not want to start and takes a few tries. When it does start it is on only 1 cylinder...this goes back to normal once it warms up after a minute or so. This began @700 miles. This problem goes away immediately if you use 89 octane fuel. I have just stayed with 89 but other owners have reported after g... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Apr 15, 2021
When engin is cold for more then 8 hours. Engin will start only on 1 cylinder (right), for +/- 1 minute (1000 +/- rpm), after, you will heard internal explosion, and left cylinder will start (1600 +/- rpm) . and dropping at 1400 for normal idle. With an strong gazoline smells after start-up, after 2 3 minutes smeel is gone Please note that I live in Canada Quebec
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2019) - ENGINE
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Jul 3, 2019
Hello, I purchased this motorcycle new in July 2019. It currently has 9,100 miles. Since new it takes a minimum of 3-4 times to start and stay running at first start of the day. After that it starts easy and on the first try. Temperature at first start has been anywhere from upper 30's° to upper 70's°. Altitude from 500' - 4,500', basically starts the same in all instances. I... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2019) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Jul 3, 2019
Hello, I purchased this motorcycle new in July 2019. It currently has 9,100 miles. Since new it takes a minimum of 3-4 times to start and stay running at first start of the day. After that it starts easy and on the first try. Temperature at first start has been anywhere from upper 30's° to upper 70's°. Altitude from 500' - 4,500', basically starts the same in all instances. I... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Apr 15, 2021
When engin is cold for more then 8 hours. Engin will start only on 1 cylinder (right), for +/- 1 minute (1000 +/- rpm), after, you will heard internal explosion, and left cylinder will start (1600 +/- rpm) . and dropping at 1400 for normal idle. With an strong gazoline smells after start-up, after 2 3 minutes smeel is gone Please note that I live in Canada Quebec
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2020) - ENGINE
Dec 29, 2021
Incident date: Jul 13, 2020
Engine starts then stalls multiple time when cold starting. Problem has existed since the first service at the dealer at 1000 kms at which time the break-in period ended and the computer was updated at the dealer. Bike was returned to said dealer to report this problem and no solution was found. Currently have 13000 kms on the bike with no resolution or improvement to this problem.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE
(2020) - ENGINE
Dec 29, 2021
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
The vehicle can take 4-6 attempts to start when cold. Following the exact procedures in the Owner's Manual, or attempting other things like putting a hand over the exhaust to increase back pressure or slightly adding throttle during start makes no difference. This has the potential to be a serious issue as these vehicles are often taken far into the backcountry where there are no services. Sh... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dec 29, 2021
Incident date: Sep 9, 2021
The motorycle has a hard time to start. At times throttle needs to be added to keep the engine from dying out. A modern and fuel injected bike should not need to have the throttle be opened for the bike to start up.
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Dec 29, 2021
Incident date: Sep 9, 2021
The motorycle has a hard time to start. At times throttle needs to be added to keep the engine from dying out. A modern and fuel injected bike should not need to have the throttle be opened for the bike to start up.
Incident date: Nov 20, 2021
Gasoline had visibly leaked from the fuel filler cap on the plastic fuel tank. Liquid fuel and fuel vapors are freely exiting the tank. This presents an extreme fire risk. There is an active recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V388000) for 2016-2017 production of the same model. This recall should be expanded to include the 2018 model year. I removed a few parts and inspected the filler neck to ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The seat of this motorcycle unhooks itself from the front under hard acceleration.This continues to happen every single time. Extremely dangerous. Unit is under warranty and manufacturer refuses to fix the issue. I believe the issue is that the seat hooks are just a hair too short and this allows the seat to unhook, only under heavy acceleration. Consumer seat came off after 2K miles and under wa... Read more
KTM
890 ADVENTURE
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Nov 1, 2021
Incident date: Oct 30, 2021
Bike does not start properly. Often it takes several tries, but if it does start and I attempt to drive away in the time normal frame any other bike I have owned, it will stall potentially, not allow me to quickly restart and I could have traffic coming from behind me putting me at risk. It has also failed to start a few times requiring a tow, not safety related I know, but for a brand new bike in... Read more
KTM
890 ADVENTURE
(2021) - ENGINE
Nov 1, 2021
Incident date: Oct 30, 2021
Bike does not start properly. Often it takes several tries, but if it does start and I attempt to drive away in the time normal frame any other bike I have owned, it will stall potentially, not allow me to quickly restart and I could have traffic coming from behind me putting me at risk. It has also failed to start a few times requiring a tow, not safety related I know, but for a brand new bike in... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Oct 28, 2021
Incident date: Oct 27, 2021
Stalled dozens of times and sudden loss of power when cold
Crash
KTM
890 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 27, 2021
Incident date: Oct 27, 2021
This motorcycle (your website calls it a 790 Adventure, but it's a 890 Adventure) has around 7000 miles on it. I purchased it new in March 2021. Ever since new, It should start with one light tap of the starter button. Instead, I have to hit the starter 3 or 4 times, and hold the throttle slightly open. Once it catches, and settles to an idle I can release the throttle. Usually, 3-4 seconds. I'm... Read more
KTM
890 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Oct 27, 2021
Incident date: Jun 16, 2021
PLEASE NOTE: NHTSA website data base vehicle model for VIN listed is INCORRECT. Model subject of this complaint is 2021 KTM 890R Adventure. When cold, first start of day, subject motorcycle engine does not run consistently / stumbles /stalls at start up and drive off. Safety issue for me is the stumbling and stalling making motorcycle unpredictable while entering traffic flow. The issue occur... Read more
KTM
890 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Oct 27, 2021
Incident date: Oct 27, 2021
This motorcycle (your website calls it a 790 Adventure, but it's a 890 Adventure) has around 7000 miles on it. I purchased it new in March 2021. Ever since new, It should start with one light tap of the starter button. Instead, I have to hit the starter 3 or 4 times, and hold the throttle slightly open. Once it catches, and settles to an idle I can release the throttle. Usually, 3-4 seconds. I'm... Read more
KTM
890 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 27, 2021
Incident date: Oct 27, 2021
This motorcycle (your website calls it a 790 Adventure, but it's a 890 Adventure) has around 7000 miles on it. I purchased it new in March 2021. Ever since new, It should start with one light tap of the starter button. Instead, I have to hit the starter 3 or 4 times, and hold the throttle slightly open. Once it catches, and settles to an idle I can release the throttle. Usually, 3-4 seconds. I'm... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Oct 26, 2021
Incident date: Oct 26, 2021
I just wanted to make you aware of my 2021 KTM 890 R VIN # [XXX] 2000 MILES Since new it has had a hard start when cold or sitting overnight. It takes 2 or 3 times to start and keeps stalling I stalls runs rough and even runs on one cylinder for 30 to 60 seconds. Its a 2 cylinder motorcycle. Once running it runs great rest of day. MANY folks are seeing the same condition and KTM is not resp... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ENGINE
Oct 24, 2021
Incident date: Sep 16, 2021
Starting immediately after the mandatory 600 mile service check by an authorized KTM dealer, this vehicle started experiencing prolonged cold start failures. It went from starting 100% of the time after three or less start attempts to requiring approximately ten failed start attempts before starting and running. Until 10/20/21, this motorcycle has always been fueled with either 93 octane gasoline ... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 24, 2021
Incident date: Sep 16, 2021
Starting immediately after the mandatory 600 mile service check by an authorized KTM dealer, this vehicle started experiencing prolonged cold start failures. It went from starting 100% of the time after three or less start attempts to requiring approximately ten failed start attempts before starting and running. Until 10/20/21, this motorcycle has always been fueled with either 93 octane gasoline ... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 24, 2021
Incident date: Sep 16, 2021
Starting immediately after the mandatory 600 mile service check by an authorized KTM dealer, this vehicle started experiencing prolonged cold start failures. It went from starting 100% of the time after three or less start attempts to requiring approximately ten failed start attempts before starting and running. Until 10/20/21, this motorcycle has always been fueled with either 93 octane gasoline ... Read more
KTM
790 ADVENTURE R
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
Oct 24, 2021
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
When running the motorcycle on the manufacturer-recommended 91+ (premium) octane fuel, the engine can take up to 5 or 6 tries (over the course of a few minutes) to start when it's sat overnight. When the engine eventually does start it runs very rough on only one (of two) cylinder. During this rough starting there is an overpowering smell of raw/un-ignighted fuel coming from the exhaust pipe. The... Read more