KTM is a Austrian carmaker founded in 1934, now part of Pierer Mobility AG. The cars themselves are another matter: across 2 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 2 countries — Austria 87.5%, India 12.5%. 32 models are tracked here (1999–2026). Reliable? yes, and comfortably so — 4.5 out of 5 across 32 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes KTM
KTM AG is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Mattighofen, Upper Austria, and the largest motorcycle producer in Europe. Founded in 1934 by Hans Trunkenpolz as a metalworking and locksmith shop, KTM (originally Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen) began producing motorcycles in 1953. KTM AG is the lead operating company of Pierer Mobility AG, which also owns Husqvarna Motorcycles, GASGAS Motorcycles and MV Agusta. KTM has won the Dakar Rally 19 times consecutively (2001-2019), more than any other manufacturer. The brand dominates the off-road and dual-sport motorcycle segments globally with the EXC enduro, SX motocross, Adventure and 690 Enduro lines. The 1290 Super Duke R hyper-naked, RC 8C track-only sportbike and 1290 Super Adventure represent KTM's on-road performance. The KTM X-Bow is a track-focused four-wheeled vehicle, the brand's only car product. KTM's parent Pierer Mobility trades on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Vienna Stock Exchange under PMAG. Recall data for every KTM VIN sold in the US is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org decodes any KTM VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original delivery price.
Hans Trunkenpolz opened a metalworking shop in Mattighofen in 1934 and added vehicle repair after WWII. He built the first KTM motorcycle, the R100, in 1953, with assembly capacity of three motorcycles per day. KTM expanded into off-road and motocross racing in the 1970s. Stefan Pierer acquired KTM in 1991 after the company's 1991 bankruptcy, restructured it and grew the brand into Europe's largest motorcycle manufacturer. The 2007 acquisition of Husaberg, 2013 acquisition of Husqvarna Motorcycles and 2024 acquisition of MV Agusta consolidated several premium brands under Pierer Mobility.
| KTM | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founded by | Hans Trunkenpolz |
| Headquarters | Mattighofen, Austria |
| Owned by | Pierer Mobility AG |
| Slogan | «Ready to Race» |
| Assembled in | 2 countries |
Technology it is known for: Single-cylinder LC4 engine, V-Twin LC8 engine, WP suspension (KTM-owned), Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC), Rally Pack (Adventure models).
This page covers KTM AG, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer — not Husqvarna Motorcycles, GASGAS or MV Agusta (sister brands within Pierer Mobility, covered separately).
Where KTM cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 88 vehicles on record, 2 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | VBK | 2004–2024 | |
| India | MD2 | 2015–2024 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A KTM beginning VBK was assembled in Austria.
All KTM models 32
Every KTM model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
KTM Motorcycles 32
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTM Duke | 1999–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Adventure | 1999–2026 | 2 | 4 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM RC | 2014–2026 | 2 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 390 Duke | 2014–2022 | 5 | 7 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 690 SMC | 2018–2026 | 6 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 690 Enduro | 1999–2026 | 8 | 2 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 990 RC R | 2025–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM FREERIDE | 2014–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Adventure | 2014–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM LC8 Supermoto | 1999–2017 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 790 Adventure | 2018–2026 | 6 | 24 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Duke R | 2015–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 790 Duke | 2018–2026 | 1 | 1 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Rally | 2017–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Racing | 1999–2013 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 990 Duke | 2024–2026 | 1 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Duke GT | 2016–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 690 Duke | 2018–2026 | 2 | 6 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 790 Adventure R | 2018–2019 | 2 | 8 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Adventure S | 2018–2019 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Trail | 2002–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Freeride E-XC | 2017–2017 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 1190 Adventure | 2015–2026 | 1 | 5 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 1090 Adventure R | 2017–2019 | 2 | 2 | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Tank | 2002–2008 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2015–2022 | 1 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Enduro | 1999–2013 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM R3 | 2009–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 1090 Adventure | 2018–2026 | 3 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Adventure T | 2017–2019 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM Super Adventure R/S | 2017–2017 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| KTM 1190 Adv | 2018–2024 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
KTM by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | KTM | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 42 campaigns | Most recalled: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings |
| Owner complaints | 59+ filed | Most reported: 790 Adventure |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
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Get a KTM window sticker by VIN
Recreate any KTM's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
KTM window stickers →How to read a KTM VIN
Every KTM built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a KTM and the country it was built in (real KTM codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA3CG
- AustriaVBK
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. Our VIN decoder breaks all seventeen positions down — year codes, country of assembly and the plant that built the car.
Who owns KTM, and what you get
KTM belongs to Pierer Mobility AG. KTM competes globally in motocross, enduro, dual-sport, adventure-touring, naked sportbike and supersport segments. The brand's positioning emphasizes performance, lightweight engineering and motorsport derivative-quality components (WP suspension, Brembo brakes). KTM dominates motocross World Championships and Dakar Rally annually. The brand entered the sport-touring four-wheeled segment with the X-Bow as a niche track-day vehicle competing with Ariel Atom and KTM's own GT4 race cars.
| KTM | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Austria |
| Ownership | Pierer Mobility AG |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | Austria, India |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when KTM models actually start to break →
KTM — frequently asked
Is KTM austrian?
KTM is a Austrian company, headquartered in Mattighofen and founded in 1934. The cars are a separate question: 87.5% of the KTM vehicles in our records were assembled in Austria.
Where are KTM cars made?
Across 2 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: Austria (87.5%), India (12.5%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns KTM?
KTM is part of Pierer Mobility AG.
How many KTM models are there?
We track 32 KTM models spanning 1999–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the KTM warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is KTM reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every KTM model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.
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