2008 Triumph ROCKET III TOURING: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
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:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Power Train: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (4). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10280065 · 2009-08-11 (August 11, 2009)
CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN INTERNAL PART (LIFTER SHAFT). MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE THAT DATE(5 WEEKS NOW), AWAITING PART REPLACEMENT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED PART. WHEN IT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE OF CLUTCH OPERATION IS THE RESULT. IT CAN BRAKE AT ANY SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING. CLUTCH FAILURE CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES WHILE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280142 · 2009-08-11 (August 11, 2009)
FAILURE OF CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON 2008 MODEL TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. 1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - NEW BIKE, 5000KMS, LOUD NOISE COMING FROM CLUTCH HOUSING. REQUESTED SUPPLIER TO EXAMINE THIS. THEY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK IT HOME AND DISMANTLED THE CLUTCH MYSELF TO FIND THAT THE CASE HARDENING ON THE CLUTCH ACTUATOR ROD HAD FAILED AND THE NEEDLE ROLLER BEARINGS HAD DUG INTO THE SHAFT CAUSING THIS NOISE. THE SHAFT WAS VERY CLOSE TO FAILING AND THE NEEDLE ROLLERS WERE DAMAGED. I SET PHOTOGR…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546754 · 2013-10-04 (October 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE INTERIOR CLUTCH PIN DISENGAGED, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH OPERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639761 · 2014-09-29 (September 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES IN THE LEFT LANE, THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND SUDDENLY STALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC TWIST GRIP, WHICH HOUSES THE STEEL CABLE TO THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE, HAD SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE RIDI…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10700807 · 2015-03-21 (March 21, 2015)
WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR HAD A TOTAL LOSE OF POWER. HAD TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR TO CONTINUE THRU THE TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTION. WHEN TRYING TO UP SHIFT HAD LOSE OF POWER IN 4TH GEAR ALSO AND HAD TO SHIFT INTO 5TH TO MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER REMOVING CLUTCH CASE COVER FOUND A BROKEN BRASS SPRING IN BOTTOM OF THE CRANK. AFTER READING THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL IT APPEARED TO BE THE GEAR SELECTOR SPRING, WAS VERIFIED BY TRIUMPH TECH THAT IT WAS. NOW I HAVE TO TURN BIKE IN TO A TRIUMPH SERVICE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700807 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V145000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)
TRIUMPH IS RECALLING 356 MY 2008 ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS," AND PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE CERTIFICATION LABEL, LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT FRAME TUBE, INCLUDES INCORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING TIRE SIZES AND PRESSURES, AS WELL AS AN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR).
Consequence: AN OWNER MAY UNDER-INFLATE THE FRONT TIRE IF USING THE INCORRECT INFORMATION. UNDER-INFLATION MAY CAUSE A TIRE TO SLIP OR COME OFF THE RIM CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-539-8782.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V686000 · Structure
Reported: 2008-12-19 (December 19, 2008)
TRIUMPH IS RECALLING 8 MY 2008 ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLES. THERE COULD BE A MISSING WELD ON THE BACK OF THE PANNIER RAIL.
Consequence: THE PANNIER RAIL MAY, AFTER TIME, BE WEAKENED LEADING TO A FULL FRACTURE OF THE RAIL AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF PANNIER AND RAIL FROM THE MOTORCYCLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PANNIER RAIL. ALL MOTORCYCLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗