RoadVitals

2006 Triumph Rocket Iii Classic

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.
6
Latest Sep 18, 2012
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.
2
Latest Sep 26, 2007
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Triumph Rocket Iii Classic, most frequently naming the transmission, fuel system and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 93 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

  • Transmission350.0%
  • Fuel system233.3%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

Sep 26, 2007
4,696 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, WHEN THE ENGINE IS RETURNING TO IDLE IT MAY STALL.
The risk: IF THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS, THE RIDER WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE ENGINE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND DOWNLOAD NEW ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 678-854-2010.
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTDView on NHTSA.gov

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Mar 6, 2006
33 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR CLAMP BOLTS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
The risk: THE HANDLE BARS COULD LOOSEN WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE CLAMP BOLTS AND TIGHTEN IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE07030ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

MOTORCYCLE STALLING

Opened Jun 20, 2007
Closed Oct 19, 2007

FOLLOWING OUR OPENING OF THIS PE AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES LTD, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO LAUNCH A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL OF ALL ROCKET III MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN AND UN-FORESEEN TIP-OUT STALLING.THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN IN LIEU OF RESPONDING TO NHTSA'S INFORMATION REQUEST AND INVOLVES THE INSTALLATION OF AN UPGRADED ECU INCORPORATING REVISED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. WITH TRIUMPH'S SAFETY-RELATED RECALL, THIS PE IS CLOSED.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMLed to recall 07V455000

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 18, 2012

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE A TURBOCHARGER WHILE RIDING IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT THE SHIFT PEDAL WAS LIMP, I HAD TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH HANDLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BY APPLYING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN GEAR AND THE SHIFTER MECHANISM DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS I WILL HAVE TO PULL THE ENTIRE MOTOR OUT AND SPLIT THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE CRANK CASE. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS BIKE CHANGING OIL AT HALF OF THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE SINCE MARCH 2006 AND ONLY HAVE 12000 MILES ON IT. THAT IS ONLY 2000 MILES A YEAR TO HAVE SUCH A COSTLY LABOR INTENSIVE PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW USAGE AS WELL AS DEFECTIVE STICKING OF GEARS THAT I READ ABOUT IN BLOGS FOR SIMILAR MODEL YEARS INDICATES AN INTRINSIC DESIGN PROBLEM BY TRIUMPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10475881
Incident
Sep 11, 2012
Mileage
12,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 12, 2010

TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 3000 RPM WITH A SLIGHTLY HEAVY APPLICATION OF THROTTLE IT WILL JUMP OUT OF SECOND GEAR, IT SEEMS HARD TO GET IT INTO SECOND AND THIS HAPPENS UP AND DOWN SHIFTING. OTHER TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL ONLY. THE BIKE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THIS CONDITION. TRIUMPH HAS UPGRADE KITS THAT COVER FROM VIN 000000 TO 337294, # T1000008 FOR SILVER ENGINES AND # T1000009 FOR BLACK ENGINES. THIS KIT HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON MY BIKE AND IT FIXED THE ISSUE. TRIUMPH ONLY PAID FOR THE PARTS, I WAS STUCK WITH A $1500.00 BILL FOR LABOR AND FLUIDS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE JOB. CURRENTLY TRIUMPHS STAND ON THE UPGRADE KIT IS "THE "UPGRADE" KIT THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF IS NOT MEANT TO FIX ANYTHING. IT IS SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MODELS PRODUCTION. IT IS ONLY GIVEN TO DEALERS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING THE MOTOR OUT OF THE FRAME FOR SOME OTHER REASON, SO THAT THEY CAN PUT THE NEWER PARTS IN WHILE IT IS APART. THERE IS NO NEED TO EXCHANGE ANY OF THE PARTS IF THERE IS NO NEED TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. AS LONG AS YOUR BIKE IS OPERATING AS EXPECTED, THERE IS NO NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING." INCLUDED IN THE KIT ARE THE PARTS TO DO THE FOLLOWING: REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE CHAIN TENSION BLADES AND CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. REPLACE CLUTCH PRESSURE SPRINGS. REPLACE ALTERNATOR BOLT AND WASHER. REPLACE TORSION DAMPER SHAFT BEARINGS AND SHAFT OUTER COVER. REPLACE OUTPUT SHAFT SECOND GEAR AND SPLINED DOG RING. REPLACE OUTPUT SHAFT THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR SPLINED BUSHES AND TWO SPLINED WASHERS WITH THE SHOULDER SPLINED BUSHES. REPLACE THE INPUT SHAFT BELLVILLE WASHERS AND THRUST WASHER AND INSERT A NEW SHIM ADJACENT TO FIFTH GEAR AND NEW OUTPUT SHAFT NUT. REPLACE THE DETENT ARM. REPLACE THE GEAR POSITION SHAFT. REPLACE OIL TANK SEALING WASHERS. REPLACE THE FUEL TANK LEVEL SENDER AND BRACKET. REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND THE COILS. MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT AND MAIN HARNESS. MODIFY THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS AND MAIN HARNESS CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325175
Incident
Jan 18, 2010
Mileage
24,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 28, 2009

2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 CLASSIC, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. TRIUMPH HAS A TRANSMISSION UPGRADE THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10297209
Incident
Dec 25, 2009
Mileage
20,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 20, 2008

ENGINE DEVELOPS A HIGH ERRATIC IDLE UP TO 3000 RPMS AT WILL NO MATTER WHAT GEAR AND WHAT SPEED. I HAVE TO STAND ON THE BREAKS TO KEEP IT AT 55 MPH IN HIGH GEAR. AT LOW SPEED THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AT IDLE RPM'S THAT ARE ABOVE NORMAL OPERATING SPEEDS WHICH MAKES IT A RUNAWAY MOTOR AND DANGEROUS TO CONTROL SOME TIMES THE RPM IS SO HIGH AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN I LET OFF THE CLUTCH IT SPINS THE TIRE AS IT LEAPS FORWARD. TRY RIDING WITH ANY VEHICLE STUCK IN HIGH RPM AND IT WILL KILL SOMEONE!!! THE DATE IS WHEN I TOOK IT TO TRIUMPH THIS STARTED THIS SPRING IN FEBRUARY AT DAYTONA AND HAS GOT SO MUCH WORSE I CAN NOT SAFELY IT WILL END UP CAUSING INJURIES IF NOT DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228317
Incident
Apr 24, 2008
Mileage
22,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 21, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DOWNLOADED THE NEW SOFTWARE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AND CAUSE THE RPM TO RACE TO 9. THE VIN AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,850.

NHTSA ID
10209613
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Mileage
3,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 2006

I PURCHASED A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. I HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AND HAVING IT STAY IN 1ST GEAR. I REPORTED THIS ON 500 MILE DEALER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL, "THEY ALL HAVE PROBLEMS". WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, WHEN THE BIKE IS SHIFTED INTO 1ST IT WILL ENGAGE ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME BUT AFTER ACCELERATING ABOUT 10 YARDS IT POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL, CARS BEHIND THEN MUST FREQUENTLY STOP ABRUPTLY TO AVOID COLLISION. I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT YET BUT GETTING CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW OF OTHER MAKES OF MOTORCYCLES THAT DO THIS. THERE ISN'T REALLY AN INCIDENT DATE, IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEB 2006. TO AVOID THE PROBLEM ONE MUST ALWAYS HOLD THE CLUTCH IN WHILE STANDING. NUMBER OF FAILURES REFERS TO NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY BIKE. I AM REPORTING IT IN CASE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPORT SIMILAR EVENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10155107
Incident
Apr 11, 2006

Manufacturer communications

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

COM1-35109

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Triumph Diagnostic Tool 2026-07 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

COM2 - 34886

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Triumph Diagnostic Tool 2026-06.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

COM6 - 34491

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Triumph Diagnostic Tool version 2026-06 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

COM5 - 34490

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Technical Bulletin 264.

TB264

Technical Bulletin 264 provides instructions that relates to: Triumph Diagnostic Tool - New Motorcycle Connection and Diagnostics Workflow, Triumph Diagnostic Tool - End of Support for Microsoft Windows 10.

COM4 - 34435

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dealer notice advising the availalbility of TDT version 2026-05.2 which resolves the ABS as Not Connected issues in SmartScan, on Tracker 400 & Thruxton 400 models.

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 Rocket Iii Classic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009000
2008111
2007111
2006Viewing621
2005010
2004010

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.