RoadVitals

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jun 2, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 KTM 890 Adventure R, 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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Electrical133.3%
  • Engine133.3%

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

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

First issue- banjo bolt connected to front break master cylinder was loose and lost brake fluid, causing loss of front break function. Fixed by dealer under warranty. Luckily I noticed it when I was in my garage, otherwise it could have resulted in severe injury or death if on the road. No warning light. Second issue- traction control failure light, turn signal failure light. Both fixed by separate software updates. The traction control failure could have caused an accident if I was expecting the system to be operational and encountered wet pavement. Turn signal malfunction fixed by software update. Third issue- abs control unit software recall. Fixed under KTM warranty. No warning light displayed. Ktm did not notify me of the recall. I was not aware of the abs issue. Fourth issue- valve cover gasket leak and premature camshaft failure. Based on photos from the dealership when inspecting the valve cover gasket the camshaft lobes were prematurely worn at 8k miles, valves were also out of spec. Ktm refused to replace the camshaft and instead is polishing it and putting back in. Now I owe money on the repair because they are blaming the valve adjustment on “light” dust ingestion into the motor despite air filter cleanings being done well before the manufacturer recommendation and KTM factory accessories for additional air filtrations. No warning lights on dash. The premature camshaft failure could eventually cause engine lockup if not addressed until the recommended 18k mile valve inspection. Engine lockup could cause the rear wheel to lockup causing a loss of control and risk of accident. I am now selling the bike at a large loss due to fear for my safety when riding the bike. Based on expert guidance the camshafts should have been replaced and the cleaning procedure done under KTM warranty will result in accelerated wear. Ktm customer service refused to acknowledge widespread camshaft failure, as reported by thousands of owners.

NHTSA ID 11592011 · filed Jun 2, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

First issue- banjo bolt connected to front break master cylinder was loose and lost brake fluid, causing loss of front break function. Fixed by dealer under warranty. Luckily I noticed it when I was in my garage, otherwise it could have resulted in severe injury or death if on the road. No warning light. Second issue- traction control failure light, turn signal failure light. Both fixed by separate software updates. The traction control failure could have caused an accident if I was expecting the system to be operational and encountered wet pavement. Turn signal malfunction fixed by software update. Third issue- abs control unit software recall. Fixed under KTM warranty. No warning light displayed. Ktm did not notify me of the recall. I was not aware of the abs issue. Fourth issue- valve cover gasket leak and premature camshaft failure. Based on photos from the dealership when inspecting the valve cover gasket the camshaft lobes were prematurely worn at 8k miles, valves were also out of spec. Ktm refused to replace the camshaft and instead is polishing it and putting back in. Now I owe money on the repair because they are blaming the valve adjustment on “light” dust ingestion into the motor despite air filter cleanings being done well before the manufacturer recommendation and KTM factory accessories for additional air filtrations. No warning lights on dash. The premature camshaft failure could eventually cause engine lockup if not addressed until the recommended 18k mile valve inspection. Engine lockup could cause the rear wheel to lockup causing a loss of control and risk of accident. I am now selling the bike at a large loss due to fear for my safety when riding the bike. Based on expert guidance the camshafts should have been replaced and the cleaning procedure done under KTM warranty will result in accelerated wear. Ktm customer service refused to acknowledge widespread camshaft failure, as reported by thousands of owners.

NHTSA ID 11592011 · filed Jun 2, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

First issue- banjo bolt connected to front break master cylinder was loose and lost brake fluid, causing loss of front break function. Fixed by dealer under warranty. Luckily I noticed it when I was in my garage, otherwise it could have resulted in severe injury or death if on the road. No warning light. Second issue- traction control failure light, turn signal failure light. Both fixed by separate software updates. The traction control failure could have caused an accident if I was expecting the system to be operational and encountered wet pavement. Turn signal malfunction fixed by software update. Third issue- abs control unit software recall. Fixed under KTM warranty. No warning light displayed. Ktm did not notify me of the recall. I was not aware of the abs issue. Fourth issue- valve cover gasket leak and premature camshaft failure. Based on photos from the dealership when inspecting the valve cover gasket the camshaft lobes were prematurely worn at 8k miles, valves were also out of spec. Ktm refused to replace the camshaft and instead is polishing it and putting back in. Now I owe money on the repair because they are blaming the valve adjustment on “light” dust ingestion into the motor despite air filter cleanings being done well before the manufacturer recommendation and KTM factory accessories for additional air filtrations. No warning lights on dash. The premature camshaft failure could eventually cause engine lockup if not addressed until the recommended 18k mile valve inspection. Engine lockup could cause the rear wheel to lockup causing a loss of control and risk of accident. I am now selling the bike at a large loss due to fear for my safety when riding the bike. Based on expert guidance the camshafts should have been replaced and the cleaning procedure done under KTM warranty will result in accelerated wear. Ktm customer service refused to acknowledge widespread camshaft failure, as reported by thousands of owners.

NHTSA ID 11592011 · filed Jun 2, 2024

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

Data on this page last refreshed .