2013 Triumph Thunderbird

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Engine2
2. Power train2
3. Electrical system1
4. Fuel/propulsion system1
5. Wheels1

Latest complaints

• May 13, 2019PA12,000 mi
  Engine
  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…

  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.

• Mar 28, 2018PA3,000 mi
  Power train · Wheels

  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

• Nov 19, 2015TX12,000 mi
  Power train
  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…

  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.

• Oct 15, 2014MD1,500 mi
  Electrical system · Engine · Fuel/propulsion system

  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

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 11011144Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-13 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11008179Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-12 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11006921Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-11 and that dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11005458Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-10 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11005456Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-09.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11005455Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-09 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11003732Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-08.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11003730Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-08 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 11000794Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-07 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10253644Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-04 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10253642Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-03 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10252943Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-02 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10251740Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2024-01 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10249307Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-08 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10247139Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-06 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10239437Dealer notice advising of a bug notification affecting calibration download function on certain systems.
• 10239435Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-02.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10236782Technical Bulletin 230 provides instructions that applies to Electronic Systems Commissioning and Motorcycle Unlocking, Introduction of New Instrument Hardware, Triumph Diagnostic Tool 2023-02 Update - Calibrations Removed From Service and Encapsulated Fixings.
• 10236781Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-02 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10236780Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-02 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10236313Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2023-01.3 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10231157Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-08.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10231156Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-08 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10231150Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-07 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10228576Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-11.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10228572Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-11 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10228571Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-10 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10212877Triumph has released diagnostic software version 2022-01
• 10212078Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-03.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10210482Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2022-02 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10192922Crackshaft position sensor/ignition pickup, front brake hose p-clip, headlight fixings, reed valve cover torque fixing, engine bar plugs, lower yoke wire guide, front fork oil level and volume, motorcycle assembly guide update-backrest bar, rear bevel box parts kit, and pannier frame.
• 10192921Mudgaurd extension, swinging arm/chain rubbing strip, final drive unit, maximum payload, twist grip position sensor, rear suspension drag link and drop link fixings, recommended crankcase sealnt, silencer heat sheild clamp fixings, front brake caliper bolts, oxygen sensor, seat latch fixings, belly pan fixings, and top toke washer.
• 10192918Additional grease to NLGI 2 specification (Triumph recommends Castrol Grease) has been added to fill the gap between the seal and the needle roller bearing within the rear pulley carrier on the above models from VIN 667870. All Thunderbird Models from start of production. When the rear wheel spindle has been removed for whatever reason, check and, if necessary, add grease to fill the gap between the seal and the needle roller bearing, as shown in the illustration below.
• 10192917Applies to all Thunderbird models except Thunderbird Commander and Thunderbird LT. A new clutch cable has been introduced to the above models from VIN 693388 and is retrofittable. Parts no longer support the original clutch cable. The difference between the original and new condition clutch cable is that the inner cable's free length at the clutch actuation lever is 18 mm longer than the original. The additional length is to allow the repositioning of the clutch actuation lever to eliminate any possibility of clutch drag. The fitting of the new condition clutch cable is the same as for Thunderbird Commander as described in the Service Manual and Technical News 158 issued 07/2014.
• 10186191Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-12 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10182506Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-10 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10181210Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-9.1 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10175253Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-05 and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10173770Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-4.2 available and dealers should begin using it immediately.
• 10172477Dealer notice announcing the availability of Diagnostic software 2020-3 and dealers should begin using it immediately.

Every Triumph Thunderbird model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.