2021 KTM 790 Adventure R problems & reliability
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 11 | 50% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 36% |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 23% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 18% |
| Unknown / Other | 3 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 9% |
| Power Train | 2 | 9% |
| Tires | 1 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“I recently discovered that the brake light does not activate when applying the front brake lever. I became aware of the issue only after noticing that the motorcycle’s cruise control system would no longer engage. Upon researching the cruise control malfunction, I found numerous reports from owners indicating that…”
Electrical System · filed May 11, 2026
“The valve train of my bike failed and left me stranded in the woods. There were no signs or warnings beforehand. After further research online, I found that this issue has been happening quite a bit. Luckily it happened to me while my bike was parked. The issue is the valve train is wearing out prematurely and causing…”
Engine · filed Aug 6, 2025
“I have had three separate incidences of the either the front or rear brake sensor switch failing which requires replacement. It causes the brake light to not function. I do have one of the three switches for inspection. It has been confirmed by a mechanic. As it is out of warrantee there has been no manufacturer…”
Service Brakes · filed Jun 19, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.