RoadVitals

2003 Triumph Speedmaster

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.
2
Latest Apr 16, 2004
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 Jun 2, 2004
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.
0
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Triumph Speedmaster, most frequently naming the driver assistance category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Driver assistance2100.0%

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
04V262000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Jun 2, 2004
2,792 units potentially affected
The defect: ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, UNDER CERTAIN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY CABLE TO THE STARTER MOTOR MAY COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE OIL COOLER RETURN PIPE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE INSULATION ON THE STARTER CABLE TO DEGRADE.
The risk: SHOULD THE STARTER MOTOR CABLE INSULATION BECOME WORN, A 12-VOLT ELECTRICAL SHORT WOULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE OR NOT ALLOWING THE MOTORCYCLE TO START.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL EXAMINE THE CABLE FOR SIGNS OF CONTACT WITH THE OIL COOLER PIPE. THE CABLE WILL BE RE-POSITIONED. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES (AMERICA) LTDView on NHTSA.gov
03V525000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Dec 11, 2003
5,148 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS DROPPED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE, AIR MAY ENTER THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR.
The risk: IF LEFT UNATTENDED, THE REAR BRAKE MAY NOT OPERATE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES (AMERICA) LTDManufacturer number 329/330View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Apr 16, 2004
Crash reported

AMENDED:CORRECTION. I WRECKED MY 2003 TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER IN OCTOBER 2003. THE DRAG BARS ON THE FRONT PUTS A RIDER FORWARD OVER THE GAS TANK. THE FRONT SHOCKS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE MASSIVE DUAL FRONT BRAKES AND THE FRONT SPRINGS GIVE TOO MUCH AND TRAVEL ABOUT 8" PUSHING THE DRIVER OVER THE HANDLEBARS. I FELL AND BROKE 2 RIBS AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AND IT TORE UP THE ENGINE. TRIUMPH WOULDN'T FIX THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I FELL ON THE BIKE AND I HAD TO PAY THE 2650.00 ENGINE REPAIR MYSELF. THESE BIKES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT IT KEEPS RUNNING WHEN FALLEN OVER AND,THE TRAVEL ON THE FRONT SHOCKS MUST BE AT LEAST 8" WITH THE TOO POWERFUL FRONT DUAL BRAKES. THE GEOMETRY OF THE BIKE PUSHES THE LARGER RIDER OVER THE HANDLEBARS BECAUSE OF THE FORCE CREATED BY THE DIVING FRONT END WITH THE DRIVER OVER THE GAS TANK BECAUSE OF THE DRAG BARS. IT IS A POOR AND DEFECTIVE DESIGN.THIS IS A DATE CORRECTION FROM AN ORIGINAL COMPLAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066275
Incident
Oct 17, 2003
Mileage
300 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 16, 2004
Crash reported

2003 TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER WEAK SHOCKS ON THE FRONT NOSE DIVE AND TRAVEL OVER 8 INCHES WITH THE POWERFUL DUAL FRONT BRAKES. THE DRAG BARS ON THE FRONT PUT THE RIDER UP OVER THE GAS TANK. WHEN HITTING THE POWERFUL BRAKES IT PUTS THE RIDER IN THE POSITION OF BEING ON A DOWNWARDS SLOPE AND IF HE WEIGHS OVER 200 POUNDS GRAVITY PUSHES THE DRIVER FORWARD OVER THE HANDLLBARS AS HE'S TRAVELING DOWNHILL BASED ON THE GEOMETRY OF THE BIKE.I WENT OVER THE HANDLEBARS AND BROKE TWO RIBS AT A 2MPH EMERGENCY STOP.ALSO, THE BIKE HAS NO KILL SWITCH AND IT KEEPS RUNNING AND IT DAMAGED THE LEFT BEARING ON THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10066274
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
300 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 Speedmaster by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015010—
2014010—
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009100—
2008000—
2007000—
2006000—
2005000—
2004030—
2003Viewing220—
2002010—

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.