AI Damage2019 KTM 690 SMC R reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KTM 690 SMC R filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 2 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 2
What fails most often
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (100% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The gas tank is swollen and the bolts and plastics donât line up anymore, I bought the bike used off someone and never noticed it before, itâs a little sketchy incase it blows while riding
Fuel Tank (structural member) expanded due to faulty vent in fuel cap/plug; breaking off the mounts to the relay/fuse block. Still available for inspection as KTM has no listed recall and vehicle is out of warranty.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,838 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 45% least complained about).
On average one model year of the 690 SMC R has 2 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 2, about average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- On affected motorcycles there is a possibility that the bellow style gasket can be damaged caused by…
On affected motorcycles there is a possibility that the bellow style gasket can be damaged caused by deviations during assembly. Damage to the bellow gasket may affect the function of the clutch slave cylinder. This…
- It has been determined that during the engine assembly process that the locking plate screws shown in…
It has been determined that during the engine assembly process that the locking plate screws shown in Fig.1 for the camshaft and balancer shaft possibly were not mounted correctly on the following models: 2019 690…
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KTM 690 SMC R?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 2.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KTM 690 SMC R?
NHTSA lists 2 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KTM 690 SMC R from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.