2019 KTM 790 Adventure R

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes5
000
Engine2
000
Electrical System1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder21V304000
Filed Apr 30, 20213,707 vehiclesKtm North America, Inc.

Defect. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 KTM 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R, and 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R Rally motorcycles. The front brake master cylinder piston return spring may be too weak to return the brake piston to its original position, reducing the functionality of the front brake.

Risk. A front brake with reduced functionality may increase the distance required to stop as well as the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the return spring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is KTM2106.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings20V198000
Filed Apr 6, 20203,164 vehiclesKtm North America, Inc.

Defect. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R motorcycles. The rear brake hose may overheat, causing the rear brake system to fail.

Risk. If the rear brake system fails, there would be reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. KTM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new rear brake line, free of charge. The recall began April 28, 2020. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is TB2011.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2024TX

At only 9000 miles, intake camshaft and follower catastrophically damaged. Routine valve clearance check at 4th oil change (much more frequent than recommended). KTM ultimately provided the parts as “goodwill”, but refused to cover labour. Numerous other reports of similar failures being reported in group forums. Also note that clutch also failed catastrophically at 3k miles. Similar situation where KTM covered parts under “goodwill”, but not labour. Similarly: there have been hundreds of others sharing stories of same failure. Bike was purchased while I was living in Texas, but failures occurred in Canada, where I have relocated and imported the bike.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 24, 2022WA

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 others having the same issue and dealers replacing the screen in some cases if the condensation is bad enough but the issue usually returns.

Engine
Filed Dec 30, 2021IL

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. It seems as if it's only running on one cylinder and then "chuffs" and dies. Repeat, repeat, repeat. When it finally "catches" R.P.M. will rise up around 1,500ish R.P.M. and run smoothly. On its first few attempts the engine will barely make it to 900-1,000 R.P.M. before dying. Thank you for your assistance with this issue.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 2020CA

AT APPROX 5K MILES MY FRONT BRAKE STARTED GRABBING AND PULSING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER CONSTANT LEVER PRESSURE. IT EVENTUAL GOT SO BAD THAT I FELT I COULDNT SAFELY CONTROL THE BIKE WHEN USING THE FRONT BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE DISKS AND PADS. APPROXIMATELY 5K MILES LATER THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED. THIS TIME KTM REFUSED TO COVER THE COST SO THE DEALER SUGGESTED I TRY A 3RD PARTY DISK AND PAD REPLACEMENT. ONLINE AT ADVRIDER.COM, A MOTORCYCLE FORUM THERE ARE 16 PAGES OF POSTS INCLUDING VIDEO'S WITH SEVERAL INSTANCES OF RIDERS HAVE THEIR FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE RIDING AND NOT BEING APPLIED RESULTING IN THE RIDER BEING THROWN OFF THE BIKE. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN RIDERS BEING KILLED.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 20202,000 milesPA

THE MOTORCYCLE FRONT BRAKES STARTED PULSING AND GRABBING DURING BRAKING AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 202010,000 milesCA

MY BIKE HAS HAD AND STILL DOES HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SHOCK FAILED TWICE, REAR BRAKE HOSE MELTED AND MADE BRAKES UNUSABLE WHILE I WAS ON A TRIP IN MEXICO FRONT BRAKES EXPERIENCED PULSATING SENSATION THAT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, KTM REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS AND FRONT WHEEL HUB, THE COUNTER SHAFT SPROCKET LEAKED OIL, KTM REPAIRED IT, BUT IT'S LEAKING AGAIN, THE ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 150 MILES A BOLT ON THE STEERING HEAD BROKE WHILE I WAS RIDING CAUSING A LOOSE SENSATION IN THE STEERING

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 20204,060 milesDC

ALL THREE BRAKE ROTORS (2 FRONT, 1 REAR) ARE COMING LOOSE FROM THEIR SUPPORT POINTS WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING JUST OVER 4,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO WAY TO TIGHTEN THE ROTORS. OTHER RIDERS HAVE REPORTED CATASTROPHIC BRAKING FAILURES AS A RESULT. A VIDEO OF THE LOOSE ROTORS IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/WH9RTBWQKG9T6TYN9

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 29, 20201,200 milesCA

WARPED FRONT ROTORS CAUSE STRONG PULSING WHEN FRONT BRAKE APPLIED WHICH IS DESTABILIZING WHEN ON CURVY MOUNTAIN ROADS OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SUDDEN BRAKING REQUIRED. FRONT ROTORS WARPED WITH 1200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND KTM REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY SAYING THIS IS A "WEAR ITEM". ROTOR THICKNESS IS WEAR BUT WARPING IS NOT WEAR, ESPECIALLY ON A NEW BIKE. HAVING DONE MORE RESEARCH ONLINE SINCE MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO GET ROTORS REPLACED LAST YEAR, I SEE IT HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HAD ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY OTHERS NOT. I BROUGHT INTO DEALER AGAIN LAST MONTH TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE BUT AGAIN WAS REFUSED. NOT SURE WHY SOME DEALERS / OWNERS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL GETTING WARRANTY DONE BUT SEEM LIKE A KNOWN ISSUE TO KTM AND SHOULD BE RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MATTER

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2021
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20235000Routine
20228000Routine
202122000Routine
20206200Routine
2019 — this page8200Routine

Compare every 790 Adventure R year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 30, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.