RoadVitals

2012 Triumph Thunderbird

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.
1
Latest Dec 5, 2013
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 Jan 29, 2013
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2012 Triumph Thunderbird, most frequently naming the driver assistance category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 94 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 assistance1100.0%

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

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
13V032000

WHEELS

Jan 29, 2013
250 units potentially affected
The defect: Triumph Motorcycles (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Daytona 675 and Street Triple motorcycles and 2012 Thunderbird and Thunderbird Storm motorcycles. The wheels were assembled with bearings of an unknown quality.
The risk: Wheel bearings of poor quality could fail unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a motorcycle crash.
The remedy: Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bearings free of charge. Owners may contact Triumph at 1-678-854-2010 for more information.
Triumph Motorcycles America, LTDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Dec 5, 2013

WHILE RIDING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE HEATED THROTTLE GRIP SUDDENLY BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP IMMEDIATELY TO IDLE. I HAD TO QUICKLY TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WERE NOT EXPECTING MY MOTORCYCLE TO SUDDENLY SLOW TO A STOP. THE GRIP BROKE WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE ATTACHES TO THE GRIP INSIDE THE RIGHT SIDE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS HOUSING. THIS GRIP IS CONSTRUCTED OF FLIMSY PLASTIC. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER RIDERS AS EVIDENCE BY FORUM POSTING SUCH AS THIS; HTTP://WWW.TRIUMPHRAT.NET/THUNDERBIRD-CRUISER-CHAT/183312-BUSTED-THROTTLE.HTML I CONSIDER THIS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THIS SAFETY CRITICAL APPLICATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554982
Incident
Dec 3, 2013
Mileage
3,640 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.

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 Thunderbird by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014210—
2013400—
2012Viewing110—
2010710—
2003000—
2002000—
2001000—
2000100—
1999000—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—

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.