NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 KTM 690 SMC R Recalls & Complaints

The 2020 KTM 690 SMC 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 2020 KTM 690 SMC R. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2020 KTM 690 SMC R owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 KTM 690 SMC R, describing incidents dated April 21, 2021 to July 1, 2021.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Seats 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 2 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11440146 · Filed November 11, 2021
The seat of this motorcycle unhooks itself from the front under hard acceleration.This continues to happen every single time. Extremely dangerous. Unit is under warranty and manufacturer refuses to fix the issue. I believe the issue is that the seat hooks are just a hair too short and this allows…
ODI #11413436 · Filed April 22, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KTM 690 SMC R. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE SLID OUT WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO STAND THE MOTOR BIKE UP; THE MOTORCYCLE PROCEEDED TO EXPLODE WITHOUT WARNING, ENGULFING THE CONTACT IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS…

Read all 2 complaints

Inoperable Clutch

NHTSA #21V792000 · Power Train — Clutch Assembly — Slave Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported October 12, 2021 · KTM North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 8,398 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.75% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

KTM campaign KTB2112/HTB2110 · Owners notified December 16, 2021

Defect description

KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 690 Enduro R, Vitpilen 701, 701 Enduro, 701 Supermoto, 2019-2020 690 SMC R, Svartpilen, 2018-2019 690 Duke, and 2020 701 Enduro LR motorcycles. The bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in.

Safety consequence

An inoperable clutch increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the clutch slave cylinder and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's numbers for this recall are KTB2112 and HTB2110.

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.nhtsa.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2020 KTM 690 SMC 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 2020 KTM 690 SMC R.

Seats

ODI #11440146

Incident: July 1, 2021 · Filed: November 11, 2021

The seat of this motorcycle unhooks itself from the front under hard acceleration.This continues to happen every single time. Extremely dangerous. Unit is under warranty and manufacturer refuses to fix the issue. I believe the issue is that the seat hooks are just a hair too short and this allows the seat to unhook, only under heavy acceleration. Consumer seat came off after 2K miles and under warranty but dealer refuses to repair it and claims it is consumer's fault.

Structure; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11413436

Fire

Incident: April 21, 2021 · Filed: April 22, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KTM 690 SMC R. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE SLID OUT WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO STAND THE MOTOR BIKE UP; THE MOTORCYCLE PROCEEDED TO EXPLODE WITHOUT WARNING, ENGULFING THE CONTACT IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND UPON EXAMINATION THE MOTORCYCLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800.

Other KTM 690 SMC R model years

Check your 2020 KTM 690 SMC R VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your KTM 690 SMC R at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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