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Ktm 990 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ktm 990 car check

Is the Ktm 990 reliable? We analysed 1,353 real MOT tests across 194 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,353 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.6%
Typical Mileage
14,385mi
Annual Mileage
1,126mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
20yrs

The Ktm 990 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ktm 990.

Ktm 990 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ktm 990. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ktm 990 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ktm 990 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.7%
2014
86.9%
2013
91.3%
2012
89.6%
2011
90.2%
2010
86.6%
2009
84.2%
2008
90.2%
2007
86.4%
2006

Ktm 990 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ktm 990 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 3

Ktm 990 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Ktm 990 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 6

Ktm 990 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ktm 990 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
385 mi/yr
Typical
1,126 mi/yr
Average
1,662 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,279 mi/yr

Ktm 990 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ktm 990 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 138 87.7% 5,609 10,034 14,080
2013 314 86.9% 6,451 12,321 19,028
2012 115 91.3% 8,220 13,422 29,636
2011 96 89.6% 11,389 14,195 19,490
2010 102 90.2% 9,046 14,382 21,304
2009 186 86.6% 12,496 19,513 28,140
2008 139 84.2% 10,229 16,310 25,372
2007 132 90.2% 10,426 16,130 28,974
2006 81 86.4% 9,937 17,418 27,799

How Long Does a Ktm 990 Last?

Based on 194 Ktm 990 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.5 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
20 years

Ktm 990 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ktm 990 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,385 mi
75th Percentile
22,402 mi
95th Percentile
41,818 mi
Max Recorded
78,229 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ktm 990

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2012

91.3% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
2008

84.2% MOT pass rate from 139 tests

The best year to buy a used Ktm 990 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.3% across 115 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ktm 990 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ktm 990 THIS CAR 87.6% 1,353 14,385 mi 20 yrs
Ktm 125 76.8% 13,595 10,169 mi 21 yrs
Ktm 950 86.8% 11,776 15,596 mi 23 yrs
Ktm 640 LC4-E 83.6% 9,903 8,082 mi 27 yrs
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Tb Auto 85.5% 703 28,653 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ktm 125 (76.8% pass rate) and the Ktm 950 (86.8% pass rate), the Ktm 990 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ktm 990?

The Ktm 990 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.6% across 1,353 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm with 3 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Ktm 990 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Ktm 990 owner drives around 1,126 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ktm 990 models stay on UK roads for around 20 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ktm 990 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ktm 990 reliable?
Based on 1,353 MOT tests, the Ktm 990 has a 87.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ktm 990?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm.
How many miles does a Ktm 990 do per year?
The typical Ktm 990 does around 1,126 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ktm 990 last?
Most Ktm 990 models stay on UK roads for around 20 years based on our analysis of 194 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ktm 990?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ktm 990?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ktm 990 is 2012 with a 91.3% pass rate across 115 tests.