2016 Ktm 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
1,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 1 |
Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
2017: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10972146 · 2017-04-12 (April 12, 2017)
WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ONCE ~40 MPH IS REACHED THERE IS A VIBRATION / WOBBLE IN THE FRONTEND THAT CAN BE FELT AND ULTIMATELY IF THE GRIP IS LOOSENED OR HANDS REMOVED THE MOTORCYCLE SHAKES AND WOBBLES. THE WOBBLE IS LESS NOTICABLE AS SPEEDS INCREASE THROUGH 60 MPH. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED ACCESSORY LUGGAGE IS ATTACHED (EMPTY) THE WOBBLE IS WORSENED AND WHEN THE LUGGAGE IS LOADED THE WOBBLE / SHAKE INCREASES MORE. IT FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972146 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V279000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
Reported: 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 1290 Super Adventure motorcycles manufactured December 1, 2014, to December 11, 2015. These motorcycles have a rear shock absorber that may leak oil from the rebound damping plug, resulting in a loss of shock function.
Consequence: Loss of function of the rear shock may affect the handling of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: KTM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rebound damping plug for leaking and replace the shock absorber, as necessary, and install a new version of the suspension control unit software, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2016. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is TB1611.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V854000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2016-11-28 (November 28, 2016)
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 1290 Super Adventure motorcycles manufactured December 1, 2014, to March 10, 2016, and 2013-2016 1190 Adventure and Adventure R motorcycles manufactured November 20, 2012, to April 25, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wiring harness can fray and contact the ABS modulator. If the brake line is electrically conductive, the brake line may overheat and melt.
Consequence: If the brake line melts, brake failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: KTM will notify owners, and dealers will re-position the wiring harness for the electronic control unit, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V087000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
Reported: 2019-02-07 (February 7, 2019)
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 1290 Super Adventure motorcycles. Fuel may leak from the fuel tank cover mounting insert area.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: KTM has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank cover mounting insert, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact KTM customer service 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is TB1904.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 150.0%ODI 10898190 · 5,200 miTRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH AND LOSS ALL ELECTRIC POWER AND MOTORCYCLE SHUT DOWN AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. APPEARED THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN INTO SOME TYPE OF SAFE MODE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10972146 · 1,300 miWHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ONCE ~40 MPH IS REACHED THERE IS A VIBRATION / WOBBLE IN THE FRONTEND THAT CAN BE FELT AND ULTIMATELY IF THE GRIP IS LOOSENED OR HANDS REMOVED THE MOTORCYCLE SHAKES AND WOBBLES. THE WOBBLE IS LESS NOTICABLE AS SPEEDS INCREASE THROUGH 60 MPH. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED ACCESSORY LUGGAGE IS ATTACHED (EMPTY) THE WOBBLE IS WORSENED AND WHEN THE LUGGAGE IS LOADED THE WOBBLE / SHAKE INCREASES MORE. IT FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE. |
| Structure:Body | 150.0%ODI 10882138 · 3,900 miTHE 1290 SA COMES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE BAGS IN THE US, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN MIDDLE AND WESTERN STATES, THE BAGS AND MOUNT DESIGN INTRODUCES A DANGEROUS WOBBLE. KTM HAS OFFERED A MODIFIED MOUNTING SYSTEM TO CURE THIS PROBLEM, AT AN ADDITIONAL COST. THIS LOOKS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SOME RIDERS CALL THIS THE DEATH WOBBLE | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 150.0%ODI 10898190 · 5,200 miTRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH AND LOSS ALL ELECTRIC POWER AND MOTORCYCLE SHUT DOWN AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. APPEARED THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN INTO SOME TYPE OF SAFE MODE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | Too few reports for a range | 1,300 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10972146 · 1,300 miWHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ONCE ~40 MPH IS REACHED THERE IS A VIBRATION / WOBBLE IN THE FRONTEND THAT CAN BE FELT AND ULTIMATELY IF THE GRIP IS LOOSENED OR HANDS REMOVED THE MOTORCYCLE SHAKES AND WOBBLES. THE WOBBLE IS LESS NOTICABLE AS SPEEDS INCREASE THROUGH 60 MPH. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED ACCESSORY LUGGAGE IS ATTACHED (EMPTY) THE WOBBLE IS WORSENED AND WHEN THE LUGGAGE IS LOADED THE WOBBLE / SHAKE INCREASES MORE. IT FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNSTABLE. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2015: 2 complaints · 2016: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Steering |
|---|---|
| Steering | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.