Triumph THUNDERBIRD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
9,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2014 model years. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 2; Equipment: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Suspension: 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 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10029460 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD START SURGING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422536 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)
THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD BEGAN MAKING NOISE. I TOOK THE BIKE INTO THE DEALER AND APPARENTLY THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN TO NOTHING AND THE ROTOR IS WORN TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON IT AND THE FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK ON THE BRAKES IS 6000 MILES. IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE, THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE BIKE HAS STUCK 3 TIMES BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THIS ISSUE AND SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WILL SOMETIMES SHOW A MUCH SLOWER SPEED THAN ACTUALLY…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648460 · 2014-10-17 (October 17, 2014)
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A LONG STEEP INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH,AND DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE,THE MOTOR STACK FIRED THRU THE THROTTLE BODIES AND QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS LUCK HAD IT,THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. HOWEVER,IF I HAD TO ACCELERATE AT THAT INSTANT TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE,IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A TENSE SITUATION TO SAY THE LEAST. WHEN I GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL,I LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO RESTART THE MOTOR WHILE THE MACHINE WAS STILL MOVING AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. ALL WAS WELL AFTER THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644914 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN LONG STEADY HILLS WITH CLOSED OR PARTIAL THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRES, STALLS, AND WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. IN TWO CASES, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON WHILE STILL MOVING. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPEATED ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554982 · 2013-12-05 (December 5, 2013)
WHILE RIDING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE HEATED THROTTLE GRIP SUDDENLY BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP IMMEDIATELY TO IDLE. I HAD TO QUICKLY TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WERE NOT EXPECTING MY MOTORCYCLE TO SUDDENLY SLOW TO A STOP. THE GRIP BROKE WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE ATTACHES TO THE GRIP INSIDE THE RIGHT SIDE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS HOUSING. THIS GRIP IS CONSTRUCTED OF FLIMSY PLASTIC. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER RIDERS AS EVIDENCE BY FORUM POSTING SUCH AS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554982 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 0; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 1