2008 Triumph Tiger 1050 Ccm Abs 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 2008 Triumph Tiger 1050 Ccm Abs, 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
- Engine945.0%
- Electrical525.0%
- Exterior lighting210.0%
- Brakes15.0%
- Body & structure15.0%
- Interior & seats15.0%
- Visibility15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE OVERHEATING ISSUES THAT WHERE NOT RESOLVED BY TREBOUR MOTORCYCLES I HAD MORE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING AND THE BIKE REACHING THE MAXIMUM TEMP VERY QUICKLY. ONCE THE OUTSIDE TEMPS DIPPED BELOW 70 I COULD RIDE THE BIKE WITHOUT IT OVERHEATING AND I TOOK IT TO LOCOMOTION MOTORSPORTS. THEY HAD IT FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND DID EXTENSIVE TESTS WITH IT. THEY EVEN BENCHMARKED IT AGAINST AND BRAND NEW BIKE IN THEIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BIKES FAN WAS COMING ON MUCH LATER THAN ON THE NEW BIKE AND RESULTING IN A HIGHER TEMP AND THEN THE SHOP WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO OVERHEAT. THEY REPLACED THE FOLLOWING PARTS: A RELAY EFI, FAN SQUARE COWL, COOLING FAN, AND COOLING FAN RELAY. (THIS IS MY 2ND REPLACEMENT FAN IN A YEAR AND 3RD TOTAL FAN INSTALLED ON THE BIKE) ALL OF THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
AFTER MULTIPLE OVERHEATING AND STARTING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 I PICKED MY BIKE UP FROM TREBOUR MOTORCYCLES AND THEY SAID THAT THE BIKE WAS IN GREAT WORKING ORDER AND THAT IT WILL NO LONGER OVERHEAT. APPROX 1 1/2 HOURS LATER AFTER I ARRIVED IN NEW YORK CITY, THE TEMP GAUGE WAS AT 9 THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND THE FAN FUSES WHERE BLOWING LIKE CRAZY. I PULLED OVER CALLED TREBOUR WITH THE NEWS THAT THEY FAILED AGAIN TO REPAIR MY BIKE AND PURCHASED A PACK OF FUSES FROM RADIO SHACK AND PROCEEDED HOME TO FIND ANOTHER SHOP TO TAKE THE BIKE TO. *TR
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH RELENTLESS STARTING ISSUES AND OVER HEATING ISSUES. ON THIS DAY I WENT OUT TO START THE BIKE AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I TRIED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULD NOT START. I EVENTUALLY TOOK THE BATTERY OUT AND HOOKED IT UP TO A CHARGER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS FULLY CHARGED UP. IN THE COMING MONTHS I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO START THE BIKE WITH A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. ON TODAY FEB 17, 2011 I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO LOCOMOTION MOTORSPORTS TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS THIS TIME. *TR
LESS THAN 2 HOURS AFTER PICKING UP MY TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 FROM TREBOUR MOTORCYCLES AND AFTER THE SHOP MANAGER JOE REASSURED ME THAT THE BIKE WAS IN TOP-NOTCH CONDITION AFTER MY OVER HEATING AND NON STARTING REPAIRS BY HIS SHOP, THE BIKE STARTED TO OVERHEAT IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ON A DANGEROUS ROAD WITHOUT A SHOULDER AND WAS LUCKILY ON A DOWNGRADE. I NOTICED THE COOLANT IN THE RESERVE TANK WAS BOILING SO I TURNED THE BIKE OFF AND COASTED DOWN THE DECLINE. ONCE I GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOWNGRADE, WHICH WAS A TOLL ENTRANCE INTO THE LINCOLN TUNNEL IN NEW JERSEY, I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE BIKE TO A NON USED LANE. AFTER THE BIKE COOLED DOWN AND THE OVERHEATING WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF, I TRIED TO START THE BIKE. NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED AGAIN AND THE BIKE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE CAME BY TO GIVE ME A HAND AND NOTHING WE COULD DO WOULD START THE BIKE. THIS WAS LESS THAN 2 HOURS AFTER A CERTIFIED TRIUMPH MECHANIC SWORE TO ME UP AND DOWN THAT THE BIKE WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION AFTER HE PERSONALLY REPAIRED IT. I HAD TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY TOW TRUCK COME TO GET THE BIKE AND TOW IT BACK TO THE SHOP WHILE I JUMPED ON A BUS BACK TO NYC. THE FAILING OF THIS BIKE OCCURRED ON A VERY DANGEROUS STRETCH OF ROADWAY AND PUT ME IN HARMS WAY. AFTER I GAVE THE SHOP MANAGER A TONGUE LASHING HE HAD THE BIKE FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS. TREBOUR AND TRIUMPH DID NOTHING TO DEAL WITH THE OVERHEATING ISSUE EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE FAN FUSE. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SHOT AND REPLACED. (IF YOUR COUNTING THAT IS MY 3RD FACTORY BATTERY IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS) ALL OF THIS UNDER WARRANTY. JOE THE SHOP MANAGER ONCE AGAIN COULD NOT REPLICATE THE OVERHEATING ISSUE UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE I PICKED UP THE BIKE. HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME HE FINALLY GOT IT TO OVERHEAT AND HIS SOLUTION...WAS TO CLEAN THE 10% OF THE RADIATOR THAT WAS A DIRTY FROM THE TIRE SPITTING UP ROAD DIRT AND RAIN WATER. AS YOU CAN GUESS...THAT DID NOT FIX THIS DANGEROUS OVER HEATING PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LOW BEAM IS VERY DIM AND APPEARS FOGGY INSIDE THE LENS. IT APPEARS THE REFLECTOR BEHIND THE LAMP IS LOOSING ITS ABILITY TO REFLECT THE LIGHT ONTO THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHT IS DEFECTIVE. BOTTOM LINE: THE LIGHT PATTERN ON THE ROAD IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO RIDE THE BIKE AT NIGHT. THE RIDER CANNOT SEE THE ROAD IN THE DARK. THE FACTORY HEADLIGHT IS DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE. *TR
THE FACTORY HEADLIGHTS AND LIGHT POSITION ON MY TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 IS DANGEROUSLY INEFFICIENT! THE LIGHTS ARE NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY OUT OF THE FACTORY AND YOU CAN NOT SEE A SAFE DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG COMPLAINT OF ALMOST EVERY OWNER OF THIS BIKE AND YET TRIUMPH DOES NOTHING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUES THIS CAUSES! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON PICKING MY BIKE UP FROM AN OVERHEATING REPAIR THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR BRAKES WHERE WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND REPLACED THEM. SINCE BRAKE PADS ARE NOT A WARRANTY ITEM I PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW BRAKE PADS CAN WEAR SO QUICKLY. THE BIKE HAD ONLY 2337 MILES ON IT AND WAS ON THE ROAD FOR 6 MONTHS. AFTER READING SOME SERVICE BULLETINS FROM TRIUMPH ABOUT CALIPER ISSUES I WONDERED IF MY REAR CALIPERS WHERE DEFECTIVE BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE NOT. *TR
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
DRIVING DOWN A WELL MAINTAINED GRAVEL ROAD, AT UNDER 20 MPH, I HIT A RUT, THE SUSPENSION BOTTOMED OUT AND I HEARD A TWANG SOUND. A HUNDRED MILES OR SO LATER I GOT OFF THE BIKE AND FOUND THAT THE MAIN FRAME WHERE THE TWO MOLDED IN BRACKETS THAT CONNECT THE UPPER ARMS OF THE SUB FRAME TO THE MAIN FRAME HAD BROKEN OFF. THE ONLY THINGS KEEPING THE SUB FRAME FROM COLLAPSING ONTO THE REAR TIRE AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WERE THE THREE 8MM IN DIAMETER SCREWS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK ON THE BIKE AND LUCKILY TO THESE BRACKETS ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HELPED KEEP IT OFF THE WHEEL. TRIUMPH REFUSES TO REPLACE THE FRAME, (AND THE VIN NUMBERS THAT IDENTIFY THE BIKE). AT THIS POINT THEY CLAIM THE BIKE WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN ON ROUGH ROADS (EVEN THOUGH IT HAS LONGER SUSPENSION TRAVEL THEN MOST STREET MOTORCYCLES) AND THAT IT IS MY FAULT FOR TAKING IT OFF THE PAVEMENT, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SIMILAR THINGS LIKE POT HOLES AND THE LIKE ON PAVED ROADS. IN SHORT EITHER THE FRAME IS INSUFFICIENTLY BUILT TO BE DRIVEN ON MANY OF OUR ROADS (THEIR CLAIM FOR THIS BREAKAGE) OR THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CASTING ON THIS SPECIMEN AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. (THE FRAME IS CAST ALUMINUM.) THE FIX IS TO EITHER WELD THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER AND ADD REINFORCEMENT OF SOME KIND, OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE MAINFRAME OF THE BIKE. AT PRESENT I HAVE FABRICATED STEEL CLAMP ON BRACKETS AND HAVE MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE FRAME. IF NOT I WILL SEE ABOUT GETTING THIS FRAME WELDED BACK TOGETHER AND LEAVE THE STEEL PIECES THERE AS BACK UP. I WOULD PROBABLY MOVE THE STEEL PIECES TO THE NEW FRAME AS WELL AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FRAGILE SYSTEM TO HOLD ALL THE WEIGHT OF THE BACK PORTION OF A BIKE. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OTHER TIGER HAS FAILED LIKE THIS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I NOTICED A TEAR IN THE SEAM OF MY SEAT OF MY TRIUMPH TIGER 1050. WHEN THE BIKE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OTHER REPAIRS I ASKED THE SHOP MANAGER TO SUBMIT A WARRANTY CLAIM. IT WAS DENIED BY TRIUMPH. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON DAY 2 OF OWNERSHIP OF A BRAND MY NEW 2008 TIGER 1050 ABS, I WAS RIDING IN THE RAIN. UPON STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE RADIATOR WHICH FOGGED UP MY HELMET WINDSCREEN, MY MIRRORS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WINDSHIELD. THIS PERSISTED AND CAUSED DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALONG WITH THE SMOKE WAS A NOXIOUS ODOR. I TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON A NON-RAINY DAY. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR, EVERY TIME IT RAINED. I FINALLY GOT IT TO DO IT FOR THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SMELLED A SMELL LIKE THAT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE. THEY DID SAY THE SMOKING WAS A RESULT OF WATER BEING SPLASHED UP ON THE RADIATOR DURING THE RAIN. I HAD OTHER BIKES AND RODE THEM IN THE RAIN WITH OUT THIS ISSUE. THE ISSUE FINALLY SUBSIDED WHEN I PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET FENDER EXTENDER THAT PREVENTS EXTRA WATER FROM GETTING ON THE RADIATOR. *TR
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 .