NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized KTM dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, describing incidents dated August 2, 2018 to June 1, 2019.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #11220698 · Filed June 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R. WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE FAILURE BECAME MORE SEVERE AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLD COAST MOTOR SPORTS (2070 JERICHO TURNPIKE, NEW HIGHLAND PARK, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT…
ODI #11150793 · Filed November 11, 2018
FRONT BRAKES ARE INCONSISTENT / GRABBY AT SLOW SPEEDS. <10MPH THEY MAKE A RUBBING NOISE/FEEL AND THE LEVER IS ON/OFF IN LIEU OF PROGRESSIVE AS YOU'D EXPECT. FRONT WHEEL CAN (AND DID) LOCK UP IN PARKING LOT MANEUVERS AND CAUSE A TIP OVER (I SAVED IT). I BELIEVE THE CAUSE IS A MFG DEFECT WITH…

Read all 2 complaints

Front Brake Master Cylinder Piston May Crack

NHTSA #18V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported January 10, 2018 · KTM North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 2,361 vehicles

Repair completion: 95.81% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

KTM campaign TB1805 · Owners notified February 21, 2018 · Vehicles built November 7, 2016 – November 15, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 1290 Super Duke R ABS, 2016 1290 Super Duke R SE ABS and 1290 Super Duke GT ABS and 2017-2018 Super Duke R and1290 Super Duke GT motorcycles. The piston within the Brembo front brake master cylinder may fail.

Safety consequence

If the front brake master cylinder piston fails, the loss of front braking ability can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

KTM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the piston with an aluminum one, free of charge. The recall began on February 21, 2018. Owner's may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

Service Brakes

ODI #11220698

Incident: June 1, 2019 · Filed: June 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R. WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE FAILURE BECAME MORE SEVERE AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLD COAST MOTOR SPORTS (2070 JERICHO TURNPIKE, NEW HIGHLAND PARK, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FRONT BRAKE DISCS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,102.

Service Brakes

ODI #11150793

Incident: August 2, 2018 · Filed: November 11, 2018

FRONT BRAKES ARE INCONSISTENT / GRABBY AT SLOW SPEEDS. <10MPH THEY MAKE A RUBBING NOISE/FEEL AND THE LEVER IS ON/OFF IN LIEU OF PROGRESSIVE AS YOU'D EXPECT. FRONT WHEEL CAN (AND DID) LOCK UP IN PARKING LOT MANEUVERS AND CAUSE A TIP OVER (I SAVED IT). I BELIEVE THE CAUSE IS A MFG DEFECT WITH TOLERANCES FOR FRONT RIM AND CAUSES ROTORS TO WARP. HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND CAN BE CONFIRMED BY PUSHING THE BIKE AROUND (UNMOUNTED) AND YOU CAN FEEL THE RUBBING / NOISE. DEALER CLAIMED NORMAL BEHAVIOR BUT WARPED DISCS DO NOT SUPPORT QUALITY/CONSISTENT BRAKING ON A MOTORCYCLE, ESPECIALLY A HIGH PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE.

Other KTM 1290 Super Duke R model years

Check your 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your KTM 1290 Super Duke R at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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