KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, 2024-2025 390 Duke, 2025 390 SMC R, 390 Enduro R, 390 Adventure X, and 390 Adventure R motorcycles. The engine control software may cause the engine to...
Engine & cooling
KTM 390 Duke Engine problems by year
6 complaints filed with NHTSA about the KTM 390 Duke's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Engine recalls
Latest 390 Duke engine complaints
Get low oil pressure warning randomly that will lead to intermittent power issues to the point of stalling or totally having the engine shut off. After that it will not be able to start for a long time or wont start at all. Has been plagued with alot of sensor issues and overheating for no reason too. This all happens even though it has all new oil and coolant. Was doing it since even the first 100 miles till it has now gotten to the point the bike is unsafe and non functioning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ktm 390 duke. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact always mentioned that the oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after 10 minutes the vehicle was able to restart. The contact also mentioned that on a different occasion, the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was taken to scott powersports, inc 1675 pa-309, coopersburg, pa 18036 (610) 282-4800 where the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no assistance was given. The failure mileage was approximately 7.
The coolant in the reservoir tank becomes empty when driving the motorcycle for around 100-130 miles in normal conditions. There seems to be an issue with the valve separating the engine oil and the coolant. Due to this issue, the coolant leaks into the engine and causes issues like high engine temperatures, murky engine oil due to mixing with coolant, heavy smoke from the exhaust. This seems to be a wider problem in many of the duke 390 from what we have read online from other duke 390 owners. This was a manufacturing defect in some of the models.
The water pump seals ruptured causing the engine to overheat while traveling down the highway. On a separate occasion the bike had a sudden full transmission lock-up while traveling at highway speeds on the highway.
The bolts on the oil filter cap on my engine block failed resulting in all of the oil in the engine being blown out all over the right side of the motorcycle and rear tire resulting in an immediate loss off control while turning off of winchester rd. Onto the 15 southbound freeway on-ramp. This incident occurred immediately after picking my ktm duke 390 2015 from ktm of murrieta after they completed the break-in service. Ktm of murrieta acknowledged the following day that they did indeed have a problem. I was told...
Read the full complaint
by their service manager that they pulled two bolts from another ktm duke 390 and those two also failed so they purchased stainless steel bolts that were compatible and put those in by motorcycle and returned it to me. They appear to have a critical problem with the bolts on the oil filter cap that results in a loss of control which could easily result in a rider crashing. This needs to be addressed by ktm and followed up with by nhtsa to ensure its being fixed. See attachments (5 pictures). I did have a gopro on, should you want video it can be provided upon request.
The cooling fan came loose and stopped working which caused the motorcycle to overheat and lose power. This resulted in needing to be towed back to the dealer. This was after only 10 miles on the brand new motorcycle. Still awaiting the results from the dealer.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data