2018 KTM 690 Duke Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 KTM 690 Duke, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system583.3%
- Transmission116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
2018 KTM 690 Duke fuel tank shape has warped and the fuel filler neck gasket no longer seals the filler neck to the tank so that fuel spills out the top of the fuel tank. This same issue was addressed for the 2016-2017 model year KTM 690 Duke under NHTSA Campaign Number 17V388000. The result of this fuel leak is a potential fire hazard that could result in injury or death. This problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center and has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative or others. There were no warning lamps or messages associated with this problem. The main symptom of the problem is a strong fuel smell when near the motorcycle.
The plastic fuel tank has warped at the bottom interface where the fuel pump assembly sits. As a result, fuel leaks between the fuel tank and gasket (which is no longer sealed against a flat surface). The fuel pump assembly sits immediately above the engine. Fuel that leaks will drip onto the engine and may ignite. Fuel ignition presents a significant hazard to the rider. This issue appears to be related to recall campaign number 17V388000, which affects the 2016 and 2017 models. This recall addressed a warping plastic tank that resulted in the fuel filler neck not sealing. My understanding is that there are very little to no material differences between the 2016-2017 and 2018 models, and therefore the problem of a warping plastic tank would be shared among the model years.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KTM 690 DUKE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE WAS WALKING BACKWARDS TO TURN THE MOTORCYCLE AROUND WITH THE GEARBOX IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH LEVER ENGAGED, THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND THE CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO ACCELERATE INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. LAS CRUCES MOTORSPORTS LOCATED AT 2125 S VALLEY DR, LAS CRUCES, NM 88005, (575) 216-5312) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,051.*DT *JS*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .