RoadVitals

2001 Triumph Bonneville

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Mar 7, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Triumph Bonneville, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, suspension and tires & wheels categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 85 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Other / unspecified675.0%
  • Suspension112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE06019ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BROKEN SPOKE/TIRE DEFLATION

Opened May 17, 2006
Closed Sep 19, 2006

THIS PE WAS OPENED ON THE BASIS OF 6 OWNER ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING REAR WHEEL SPOKE BREAKAGE WITH RESULTING REAR TIRE INNER-TUBE PUNCTURING.NO CRASHES WERE OR HAVE BEEN ALLEGED.AFTER GATHERING INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE FROM SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNERS, TRIUMPH DEALERS, AND TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES LTD, WE FIND NO DEFECT TREND CURRENTLY EXISTS CONCERNING THIS SUBJECT.SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE AS A RESULT OF OUR CONTINUED MONITORING, WE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTIO IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHEELS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 7, 2011

SPOKE BROKE IN THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10386713
Incident
Jan 5, 2011
Mileage
34,600 mi
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Dec 18, 2007

REAR WHEEL SPOKE BROKE WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH - LEFT, OUTER SPOKE. SPOKE THEN PIERCED THE INNER TUBE CAUSING A FLAT TIRE AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER AND MANEUVER THE MOTORCYCLE TO A NEARBY GAS STATION TO ARRANGE FOR PICKUP. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE WHEEL, I NOTICED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HUB FLANGE IS ANGLED OUTWARD, PUTTING ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE SPOKES WHERE THEY BEND AT THE HUB, CAUSING THEM TO ALL CURVE OR BEND, RATHER THAN GO STRAIGHT BETWEEN THE HUB AND THE RIM. THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN ALL OTHER MOTORCYCLES I'VE OWNED SINCE 1971 AND APPEARS TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. I HAVE SPOKEN OR HAD CORRESPONDENCE WITH APPROXIMATELY 90 OTHER OWNERS OF 2001-2007 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLES WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR FAILURES HOWEVER VERY FEW HAVE REPORTED THEM TO THE NHSTA. MORE INFORMATION ON THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE NHSTA PRIVATELY UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212209
Incident
Dec 16, 2007
Mileage
83,558 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 19, 2005

REAR WHEEL: SPOKE ON LEFT SIDE FAILED AT POINT WHERE SPOKE CONNECTS TO HUB. BROKEN SPOKE DID NOT CAUSE FLAT TIRE IN THIS INSTANCE BUT COULD HAVE AS SPOKE REMNANT WAS STICKING OUT BEYOND THE HUB AND IF IT HAD CAUGHT ON ANY STATIC STRUCTURE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN INTO THE TUBE AND TIRE. VEHICLE IS 2001 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143253
Incident
Nov 18, 2005
Mileage
18,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 16, 2005

I HAVE HAD 3 SPOKES BREAK ON THE REAR WHEEL, ON THE 3RD TIME IT CAUSED A FLAT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10139817
Incident
Oct 9, 2005
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 29, 2005

DT: WHILE RIDING A 2001 TRIUMPH, BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE THERE IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM OF THE SPOKES BREAKING OFF ON THE REAR WHEEL. ON THE REAR WHEEL THERE WERE FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPOKES, THE SAME SPOKE KNOWN AS THE OUTSIDE LEFT HAND SPOKE WAS THE SPOKE THAT CONTINUED TO BREAK. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE OR WHEEL. IT SIMPLY OCCURRED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THEY REPLACED THE SPOKE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL OR RIM. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 70 MPH, AND THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE. A CRASH WAS SOMEHOW AVOIDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED TRIUMPH DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER A REASON FOR THIS FAILURE. CONSUMER BECAME CONCERNED AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ISSUE. TRIUMPH, AMERICA WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REMEDY FOR THE CONSUMER, THEY STATED THIS WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OR SOME SORT OF ROAD HAZARD. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM ON THE MOTORCYCLE AT THIS TIME. TRIUMPH AMERICA,MODEL OF BONNEVILLE, 2001. *NM

NHTSA ID
10134949
Incident
Aug 4, 2005
Mileage
29,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 31, 2005

BROKEN SPOKE ON REAR WHEEL OF 2001 BONNEVILLE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134896
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
5,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 29, 2005

BROKEN SPOKE IN THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2001 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE. THE BIKE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED, AND NEVER ABUSED. I WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED IF SO MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE OF REAR WHEEL SPOKE BREAKAGE. CONSIDERING THERE ARE ONLY 2 WHEELS ON A MOTORCYCLE, AND ONE HAS A HISTORY SPOKE BREAKAGE, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANKS, PHIL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134458
Incident
Aug 26, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

COM3 - 32486

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2025-12.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

COM2 - 32455

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2025-12 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

TB255

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Technical Bulletin 255 provides instructions that applies to: Triumph Diagnostic Tool - Addition of Pinpoint Test Links to Smart Scan DTC Screen & Triumph Diagnostic Tool - Removal of IUPR Uploader Application

COM1 - 31796

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2025-11 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

31343

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2025-10 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

COM2 - 31089

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2025-09.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Triumph Bonneville by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014110—
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009000—
2008200—
2007000—
2006301—
2005301—
2004111—
2003401—
2002701—
2001Viewing701—
2000100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.