Model year record
The 2006 Triumph Rocket III has 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (6 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainManual transmission | 6 | 9,500 mi |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
The contact owns 2006 Triumph Rocket III. The contact stated while riding the motorcycle at approximately 50 MPH, there was a vibration. The contact noticed the rear output shaft bearing assembly had deteriorated. The contact also mentioned that the shift lever was loosened and not installed properly. The contact made it safely to the destination. The contact notified a local dealer and provided the dealer with a video of the failure that was experienced. The motorcycle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The output shaft bearing part was ordered by the contact. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.
TRANSMISSION DANGEROUSLY JUMPING OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 1S AND 2ND, HITS NEUTRAL SPOTS UNDER POWER. ADDITIONALLY GETTING DANGEROUS STEERING SHAKE BETWEEN 45-25 MPH DECELERATIONS. BIKE HAS UNDER 9,900'MILES. DEALER FOUND A TRANSMISSION OIL SEAL INSTALLED BACKWARDS BY FACTORY, UPON TEAR DOWN/DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSMISSION TRIUMPH SO FAR REFUSES ANY HELP, BIKE TOO OLD THEY SAY. BIKE IS A $6,300 TOTAL LOSS' DUE TO REPAIR COST EXCEEDING $6,400+ FOR TRANSMISSION ALONE.
FIRST NOTICED AFTER PURCHASE IN 2013 WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE MANUAL FIVE SPEED TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME, UNDER VARIOUS LOAD CONDITIONS AND ROAD HAZARDS. SPEAKING WITH TRIUMPH CORPORATE SERVICE, THEY RECOGNIZE THE FAULT, HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WORLD WIDE, AND OFFER ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, A PART UPGRADE AS A REPAIR. THEY DO NOT HOWEVER COVER LABOR TO EFFECT THE UPGRADE AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD. NOT EFFECTING A RECALL AND PUTTING THOUSANDS AT RISK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS IT CAUSES ERRATIC MOTORCYCLE BEHAVIOR WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,300.
WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH 2ND GEAR THE BIKE JOLTS AS IT APPARENTLY SKIPPING A TOOTH ON THE GEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE FORUMS AS WELL AS A WORKING WITH TRIUMPH DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT HAS OCCURRED ON HUNDREDS OF THESE BIKES. TRIUMPH ACTUALLY HAD AN UPGRADE KIT TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN ISSUE BUT ONLY IF IT HAPPENED WHILE THE BIKE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY ITS AGE BUT STILL ONLY HAD 8K MILES. TRIUMPH REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND IN MY OPINION (AS WELL AS THAT OF MANY OTHER OWNERS) IT IS A HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE SO THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE REPAIR KIT HAS A…
2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET 3, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. TRIUMPH HAS A TRANSMISSION UPGRADE THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR
TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT TRIUMPH IS CONTENT ON LETTING THEM FAIL AND THEN THE CONSUMER IS STUCK FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE TRIUMPH FORUMS HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN WARRANTY THEN THEY HAVE AN UPGRADE KIT THAT THEY INSTALL. HOWEVER THEY ARE PLAYING THE WAIT AND SEE GAME SO THAT THOSE OWNERS THAT HAVE THE ISSUE AFTER THE WARRANTY IS UP THEY CAN CHARGE FOR THE UPGRADE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FAILURES CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. I HAVE READ SOME OF FROM FAILING AS EARLY AS 3K MILES ALL THE WAY OUT TO 35K. TRIUMPH DECIDED TO NOT DO A RECALL AND TO GAMBLE WITH LIVES TO SEE IF THEY…
THE TIMING CHAIN HAS STARTED MAKING A RATTLE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BREAK. AFTER GOOGLING IT I FOUND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE CHAIN BREAK CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE DESTRUCTION. SOME HAVE HAD THE MOTOR SEIZE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS IS VERY HIGH AND APPARENTLY TRIUMPH CHOOSES TO LET THE MACHINES FAIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES SO THAT THEY CAN CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
FOLLOWING OUR OPENING OF THIS PE AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES LTD, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO LAUNCH A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL OF ALL ROCKET III MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN AND UN-FORESEEN TIP-OUT STALLING.THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN IN LIEU OF RESPONDING TO NHTSA'S INFORMATION REQUEST AND INVOLVES THE INSTALLATION OF AN UPGRADED ECU INCORPORATING REVISED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. WITH TRIUMPH'S SAFETY-RELATED RECALL, THIS PE IS CLOSED.