RoadVitals

2013 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.
4
Latest May 13, 2019
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and electrical categories. 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

  • Engine228.6%
  • Powertrain (other)228.6%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Fuel system114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed May 13, 2019

AT 1ST VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT-SIDE EXHAUST DECOMPRESSION MECHANISM BROKE OFF OF THE CAMSHAFT AND SHATTERED, LEAVING METAL PIECES LOOSE UNDER THE CAM COVER WHERE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY INTERFERE WITH INTAKE OR EXHAUST VALVE OPERATION. NOT ALL PIECES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR. IT IS UNKNOWN WHEN THIS DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED UP AT LEAST 7 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF THE SAME PART, SAME SIDE ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL MOTORCYCLE, DIFFERENT YEARS.

NHTSA ID
11207150
Incident
May 2, 2019
Mileage
12,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 28, 2018

NIOSE FROM REAR DRIVE HUB AND DRIVE BELT ;FEELING LIKE REAR TIRE IS LOOSE BUT ITS BEEN CHECKED. WEARING REAR TIRES OUT FAST 2000MILES A TIRE. WHEN COMING OUT OF TURN ILL GET A WIGGLE FEELS LIKE SOMETHING LOOSE.ITS BEEN DOING THIS EVER SENCE NEW

NHTSA ID
11081821
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
3,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2015

MOTORCYCLE HAS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED CARBON FIBER BELT DRIVE SYSTEM. BELT CAN EASILY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BELT EDGE TO BE WORN AWAY, CAUSING BELT TO SNAP AT HIGH SPEED. BASIC PROBLEMS INCLUDE AN INADEQUATE ADJUSTING MECHANISM AND A CUSTOM BLENDED COATING ON THE DRIVE PULLEY THAT CAUSES THE BELT TO MAKE CHIRPING NOISES AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THE BELT AT AN UNREASONABLE SPEED IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. FACTORY SPECS STATE THAT THE DRIVE BELT SHOULD RUN AGAINST THE OUTER RIM OF THE REAR DRIVE PULLEY RATHER THAN IN THE CENTER. NO OTHER BELT DRIVE SYSTEM IS ADJUSTED THIS WAY AND THAT WOULD BE REGARDED AS AN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED BELT BY ANY OTHER BELT DRIVE MANUFACTURER. TRIUMPH HAS NOT MADE A BELT DRIVE SYSTEM SINCE THE 1920'S AND HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA. GATES RUBBER COMPANY DESIGNED THE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM AND THE COATING. THE REQUIREMENTS WERE THAT THE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM LAST THE LIVE OF THE GATES GT CARBON FIBER BELT (150,000 MILES). AS AN ASIDE, MOST BELT DRIVE SYSTEMS USED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON (THE ONLY COMPANY TO USE BELTS ON MOTORCYCLES SUCCESSFULLY THUS FAR) HAVE REAR DRIVE PULLEYS THAT LAST ABOUT 50,000 MILES. HARLEY DAVIDSON RECOMMENDS THAT THE BELT AND PULLEYS BE REPLACED TOGETHER AT 50,000 MILE INTERVALS. THE CORRECT FORMULA WAS TURNED DOWN BY TRIUMPH BECAUSE THE COATING PROCESS PRODUCED A BYPRODUCT CALLED HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM WHICH IS HEAVILY REGULATED BY THE EPA. TRIUMPH DEMANDED ANOTHER COATING. GATES DELIVERED IT BUT ADVISED AGAINST USING IT. TRIUMPH COVERED EARLY OWNER COMPLAINTS UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO PRESSURE FROM DEALERS BUT WHEN THE TRUE CAUSE WAS DISCOVERED TRIUMPH CEASED TO ADMIT IT KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERY THUNDERBIRD AND THUNDERBIRD STORM FROM 2009 TO THE PRESENT. THE BELT ON THIS BIKE IS SUPPOSED TO BE 32MM WIDE. AFTER DEALER ADJUSTMENT, THE BELT (WITHIN 600 MILES) IS ONLY 26MM WIDE.

NHTSA ID
10794824
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
12,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING DOWN LONG STEADY HILLS WITH CLOSED OR PARTIAL THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRES, STALLS, AND WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. IN TWO CASES, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON WHILE STILL MOVING. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPEATED ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644914
Incident
Jun 28, 2014
Mileage
1,500 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—
2013Viewing400—
2012110—
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.