RoadVitals

2008 Triumph Rocket Iii

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.
5
Latest Jan 27, 2020
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.
1
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 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Triumph Rocket Iii, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), engine and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 92 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

  • Powertrain (other)466.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%

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

1 campaign 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
07V455000

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

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 Jan 27, 2020

DURING ACCELERATION BIKE DROPS BETWEEN GEARS AND YOU HAVE NO POWER IT IS IN NUETRAL HAVE TO TRY.TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN AND PRAY YOU GET IT BEFORE SOMEONE HITS YOU FROM BEHIND. HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU DOWN SHIFT MAKE A TURN AND TRY TO ACCELERATE. ALSO AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND ACCELERATION IT HAPPENS. VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED A DEALER HE WANTS BIKE FOR 3 MONTHS AND $4000 TO REPAIR.. MILEAGE IS ONLY 32000

NHTSA ID
11302354
Incident
Jun 14, 2019
Mileage
31,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 21, 2019

AFTER BIKE SAT A SUMMER DUE TO ILLNESS WHEN I RODE BIKE IT STARTED COMING OUT OF GEAR ON ACCELERATION AND SPEED CHANGES. I HAD SHIFT COVE REPLACED 2 YEARS PRIOR NOW THIS ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES

NHTSA ID
11190483
Incident
Oct 29, 2017
Mileage
30,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH UPWARD ON A HILL, THE MOTOR VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE STAYING IN GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND MULTIPLE REPAIRS WERE MADE AND UPDATES TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10691080
Incident
Jan 17, 2014
Mileage
13,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A SPRING INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520731
Incident
Feb 28, 2013
Mileage
11,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 29, 2012

METZELER ME880 TIRE PRODUCED CUPPING AND TIRE SEPARATION AFTER 3000 MILES OR WEAR. METZELER CONTINUES TO IGNORE MY REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS TIRE WHICH SHOULD HAVE DELIVERED A MINIMUM OF 6000 MILES. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE SAME TIRE. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE TIRE, TIRE FAILURE CARRIES A GREAT RISK OF DEATH. METZELER HAS AN OBLIGATION - LEGALLY AND MORALLY - FOR CONSUMER SAFETY, AND THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO IGNORE COMPLAINTS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10468153
Incident
May 31, 2012
Mileage
10,240 mi

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.

COM5 - 34490

Dealer notice announcing the availability of Technical Bulletin 264.

COM6 - 34491

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009000—
2008Viewing511—
2007111—
2006921—
2005202150.7
2004011—

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.