Triumph ROCKET III problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
9,870 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 35 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 31.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 11.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System:Software | 1 |
Power Train: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Software: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10158555 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A SPRING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 398 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205125 · 2007-10-06 (October 6, 2007)
HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR RELEASING THE THROTTLE. NO ENGINE BRAKING AVAILABLE. HIGH IDLE 1300-2000RPM WHEN SHIFTING . PROBLEM DEVELOPED AFTER SERVICE BULLETIN 386 WAS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP , THEY FOUND HIGH IDLE BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. ECU PROGRAM PROBLEM I WAS TOLD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157256 · 2006-05-11 (May 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND WHILE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. THE MOTORCYCLE ALWAYS RESTARTED AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS TWISTED FOR ONE MINUTE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING, BUT RESET THE COMPUTER TWICE. HOWEVER, THE INTERMITTENT STALLING CONTINUES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224334 · 2008-04-13 (April 13, 2008)
I OWN A 2005 ROCKET 3 PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS AS I STILL AM WITH ENGINE NOISE (RATTLING). I HAD BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION WHEN FIRST SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD THESE SOUNDS WERE "NORMAL". ALSO THE FRONT DIRECTIONAL TIRE WAS INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY THE WRONG DIRECTION. (DEALER REPLACED TIRE FREE OF CHARGE). BIKE STALLS OFTEN WHILE STOPPED(FELL OVER ONCE HURTING LEG AND BACK) DEALER SAID ECU UPGRADE WAS AS PER TRIUMPH GUIDELINES. MY CONCERN NOW, THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, I WILL SUFFER THE SAME F…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120656 · 2005-06-08 (June 8, 2005)
DT: RIDING AT 5 TO 10 MPH COMING TO STOP, CONSUMER'S FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND A LOUD METAL PING SOUND OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THAT HAPPENED AT THE FACTORY. THE CONSUMER HAD HEARD LOUD SCRAPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND REPORTED THIS FACTOR TO THE DEALER WHICH FOUND NOTHING. 20 MINUTES LATER THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, BUT MANAGED TO KEEP THE BIKE UPRIGHT INJURING SELF IN PROCESS. THE MODEL IS A SPEEDMASTER . *NM THE DEALER FOUND …
Owner-reported narrative. 605 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863028 · 2016-05-04 (May 4, 2016)
THE ROCKET III HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF IGNITION FAILURE AND TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE BIKE WILL SIMPLY TURN OFF, OFTEN IN THE PROCESS OF STEERING. THE TRIUMPH RAT FORUMS ARE FULL OF STORIES HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROBLEM, AND MY BIKE ALONE HAS HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT TRIUMPH REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386888 · 2011-03-08 (March 8, 2011)
TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT TRIUMPH IS CONTENT ON LETTING THEM FAIL AND THEN THE CONSUMER IS STUCK FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE TRIUMPH FORUMS HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN WARRANTY THEN THEY HAVE AN UPGRADE KIT THAT THEY INSTALL. HOWEVER THEY ARE PLAYING THE WAIT AND SEE GAME SO THAT THOSE OWNERS THAT HAVE THE ISSUE AFTER THE WARRANTY IS UP THEY CAN CHARGE FOR THE UPGRADE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FAILURES CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140802 · 2018-10-17 (October 17, 2018)
TRANSMISSION DANGEROUSLY JUMPING OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 1S AND 2ND, HITS NEUTRAL SPOTS UNDER POWER. ADDITIONALLY GETTING DANGEROUS STEERING SHAKE BETWEEN 45-25 MPH DECELERATIONS. BIKE HAS UNDER 9,900'MILES. DEALER FOUND A TRANSMISSION OIL SEAL INSTALLED BACKWARDS BY FACTORY, UPON TEAR DOWN/DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSMISSION TRIUMPH SO FAR REFUSES ANY HELP, BIKE TOO OLD THEY SAY. BIKE IS A $6,300 TOTAL LOSS' DUE TO REPAIR COST EXCEEDING $6,400+ FOR TRANSMISSION ALONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,870 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140802 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1