2016 Triumph Thruxton Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Triumph Thruxton, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes1781.0%
- Exterior lighting29.5%
- Body & structure14.8%
- Electrical14.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
the front brakes are inconsistent when engaged. the first squeeze of the brakes are spongy and almost completely squeeze down and then subsequent braking with completely clamp in 1”. The problem does not go away even after bleeding the brakes. This has occurred since ownership of over 1 year. I only came across other owners with the same issue after a google search and there is an forum thread on the issue.
Brakes feel spongy or grinding at times. The grip on the front brakes is not good.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT DISPLAYS THE SPEED AND RPMS IS DIMLY LIT BECAUSE OF OPAQUE PAINT USED ON BACK OF BOARD CONTAINING THE NUMBERS. FOR RIDING AT NIGHT THE NUMBERS ARE TOO DIM TO READ DRIVING SPEED OR ENGINE SPEED.
NEW MOTORCYCLE AND FIRST NIGHT OUT WITH IT. INSTRUMENT PANEL AT NIGHT IS NOT LEGIBLE. THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER) IS TOO DIM TO BE ABLE TO READ THE NUMBERS MAKING IT IMPOSIBLE TO DETERMINE SPEED AND RPMS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD 3 SIDE STAND SPRINGS FAIL DURING THIS CALENDAR YEAR 2020, IN LESS THAN 3,000 TOTAL MILES. 2 OF THE FAILED SPRINGS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED PARTS FROM A TRIUMPH INTERNAL SAFETY BULLETIN REPLACEMENT. THIS LAST SPRING FAILED 900 MILES AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED ONLY A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. ALL INSTALLATIONS WERE DONE BY THE AUTHORIZED TRIUMPH DEALERSHIP. ALL 3 OF THE SPRING FAILURES OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, TOP GEAR, IN TRAFFIC - WHEN IT FAILS, IT ACTIVATES A KILL SWITCH THAT CUTS POWER TO THE MOTOR, LEAVING ME IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AT SPEED WITH A NON-RESPONSIVE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, I EMAILED TRIUMPH AFTER SALES CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM AND THEIR HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE PETER CARLEO, MY EMAIL WAS NOT RESPONDED TO, I REPLIED AGAIN - AND NO RESPONSE. I HAVE NOW EMAILED THEM A THIRD TIME. MY DEALERSHIP SAID TODAY AFTER INSTALLING THE 4TH SPRING ON MY BIKE THIS YEAR THAT THEY CALLED TRIUMPH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE DISMISSED AND THAT I AM ON MY OWN TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TRAFFIC 3X DUE TO A SIDE STAND SPRING, A $6 PART FAILING 3X. THIS IS THE MOST SIMPLE OF PARTS AND ONE THAT IN MY 13 YEARS OF RIDING NEARLY EVERY DAY ON 3 DIFFERENT TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES, I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BEFORE. TRIUMPH NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND RECTIFY THIS ISSUE COMPLETELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED - IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY. MY SPRINGS FAILED ON 1/30/20, 6/17/20 AND 11/28/20, OVER THE COURSE OF LESS THAN 3,000 MILES TRAVELLED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The wire harness has torn under ignition. The traction control stops working, needles bounce, and at times will not start. The wire pulls when the handlebars are turned to the right. I brought it to Moto primo to have it fixed. There was a recall for this issue and they want to charge me over $700 for an issue that they are obviously aware of. I had the bike in AZ over last winter and brought it in on a different recall. Moto primo said that the dealer looked at the issue in Phoenix but did not replace the part. They told me that I have to deal with the dealer in Phoenix which is 1800 miles away. This is a very dangerous thing. The needles initially started bouncing when I was driving from Phoenix to Minneapolis. It was doing it again when I was in MN. I went to blogs and read that there were issues where the wires stretch and tear when the bars are turned to the right. I looked at the wiring and it was torn and stretches when the bars were turned.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .