2005 Triumph Rocket III problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ROCKET III HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF IGNITION FAILURE AND TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE BIKE WILL SIMPLY TURN OFF, OFTEN IN THE PROCESS OF STEERING. THE TRIUMPH RAT FORUMS ARE FULL OF STORIES HIGHLIGHTING THIS PROBLEM, AND MY BIKE ALONE HAS HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT TRIUMPH REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10863028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

UNDER ACCELERATION, ENGINE HAS A RATTLE LIKE A SPRAY PAINT CAN. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE, DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN/SPROCKET ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TRIUMPH TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS, BEFORE IT FAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10606881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AT APP. 8,500 MILES GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MOTOR JUST SHUT OFF. IN THE PAST YEAR SEVERAL TIMES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT WORKING. SWITCHED BIKE OFF THEN BACK ON STARTED WORKING. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TRIUMPH DEALER TODAY. OWNER SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING. TOLD ME $400.00 PLUS FOR PART. DIDN'T EVEN ASK WHAT COST TO PUT IT ON WAS. HE SHOWED ME ON THE COMPUTER WHERE TRIUMPH HAS A MODIFICATION OF THE NEW SWITCH. TELLS ME THERE IS PLENTY OF THEM GOING OUT. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THERE IS TO MUCH POWER GOING TO THE SWITCH AND HE WILL INSTALL A BYPASS RELAY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. NOT HAPPY.

NHTSA complaint #10547699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE TO WORK. THE IGNITION FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO QUIT MOMENTARILY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ON THE WAY HOME, THEN AGAIN IN THE PARKING LOT ON THE WAY INTO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. THAT EVENING, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START AT ALL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A LOOSE SOLDER JOINT IN THE IGNITION MODULE. NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DUAL HEADLIGHTS ARE POWERED THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND WHEN A HEADLIGHT IGNITION SWITCH BYPASS RELAY IS INSTALLED, THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10414924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TRIUMPH ROCKET III MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD REV VERY HIGH AND CAUSE PROBLEMS WHILE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2007 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM); HOWEVER, FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #10413523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION LINKAGE DISCONNECTS IN SIDE TRANSSO YOU EITHER GET STUCK IN GEAR OR NEUTRAL 2ND TIME THIS HAPPNED.

NHTSA complaint #10268501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

BIKE JUMPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR OR WONT GO INTO 3RD, ALMOST GOT RUNOVER. THE SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE APPEAR TO BE LIKE A PAINT CAN RATTLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR DRIVE LOCKING DOWN AND THE IDLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10241754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TRIUMPH ROCKET III. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSES THE BEARING NOT TO RECEIVE OIL, THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO STOP TURNING, LOCKS THE REAR TIRE, AND THE UPPER SHAFT CREATES A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, THE FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOSE OIL AND THE REAR TIRE TO BECOME SLIPPERY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ARE REPAIRING THE VEHICLES THAT WERE SOLD OVERSEAS, NOT THE ONES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE APART, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 03/11/08.

NHTSA complaint #10218676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TRIUMPH ROCKET III. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSES THE BEARING NOT TO RECEIVE OIL, THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO STOP TURNING, LOCKS THE REAR TIRE, AND THE UPPER SHAFT CREATES A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, THE FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOSE OIL AND THE REAR TIRE TO BECOME SLIPPERY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ARE REPAIRING THE VEHICLES THAT WERE SOLD OVERSEAS, NOT THE ONES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE APART, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 03/11/08.

NHTSA complaint #10218676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

I OWN A 2005 TRIUMPH ROCKET MOTORCYCLE THAT PRODUCED EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE BECAUSE OF WORN KEY WAYS IN THE CAM CHAIN. I WAS TOLD WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE BIKE THAT THESE NOISES ARE NORMAL. HAVING RESEARCHED WEB SITES CONCERNING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THAT HIS IS PREVALENT IN 2005 ROCKET 3 MODELS DUE TO THE ABOVE LISTED PROBLEM. TRIUMPH HAS FIXED MY PROBLEM BY REPLACING ALL THE CAM CHAIN COMPONENTS VIA WARRANTY, BUT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10205522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN, SPROCKETS, BLADES AND TENSIONER ARE CONSTRUCTED AND ENGINEERED UNDER SUBSTANDARD GUIDELINES CAUSING FAILURE OF ONE OR ALL TIMING COMPONENTS AND ENGINE FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH. TRIUMPH HAS UPDATED THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THESE COMPONENTS IN LATER MODEL YEARS BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE EARLIER YEARS CONTAINING THE FAULTY COMPONENTS. INSTANCES OF FAILURE HAVE OCCURRED ANYWHERE FROM 1,000 TO 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED NUMEROUSLY ON TRIUMPH ROCKET III OWNERS GROUP WEBSITES UNDER THE TERM "PAINT CAN RATTLE" AS THE SOUND THAT IS PRODUCED BY THE FAILING COMPONENTS SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THE BALL BEARING RATTLE INSIDE A SPRAY CAN OF PAINT. SEVERAL FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND THE REBUILD COST OF $2,000+ HAS BEEN PUSHED ON TO THE CUSTOMER. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT A TIMING CHAIN IS A CONSUMABLE ITEM MUCH LIKE TIRES AND BRAKES BUT COMPLETE SPROCKET AND ENGINE FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED CONSUMABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10205317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A TRIUMPH ROCKET III MOTORCYCLE. 2005 MODEL YEAR BOUGHT IT IN OCT OF 2004. IT CAME WITH A TWO YEAR UNLIMITED MILES WARRANTY. AFTER OWNING FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR I STARTED TO DEVELOPED ENGINE NOISE/VIBRATION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY KEPT DENYING THAT IT HAD A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY COULDN'T DETECT THE NOISE OR VIBRATION. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCAL TRIUMPH DEALER/SERVICE CENTER FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THEY HAD IT FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, AND THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DETECT ANY NOISE OR VIBRATION, AND THEY CHARGED ME SHOP RATE FEES FOR THE ASSESSMENT, CLAIMING THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THEN THEY COULD NOT WRITE IT UP AS A WARRANTY CLAIM. NOW MY TWO YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER AND NOW THE VIBRATION IS SO BAD IT CAN NOW BE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET TO THE TIMING CHAIN. AND THEY WANT OVER 1500 DOLLARS JUST FOR PARTS. IT IS KNOWN TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. MY INQUIRY INTO THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER ROCKET III OWNERS REVEALED THAT TRIUMPH IS AWARE OF A SPECIFIC LOT OF TIMING CHAIN SPROCKETS THAT WERE SUBSTANDARD. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH MY BIKE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL, OR UNDER A EXTENSION OF WARRANTY FOR CIRCUMSTANCES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. OF THE MANY OWNERS THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART FAIL IT WILL TAKE OUT THE CHAIN AND BOTH CAMSHAFTS WILL STOP TURNING AND BEND ALL OF THE VALVES AND IN SOME CASES IT HAS BROKEN THE PISTONS. I BELIEVE MY ENGINE SHOULD BE FIXED BY TRIUMPH BEFORE IT BECOMES A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. RIGHT NOW I CAN STILL RIDE IT, BUT I FEEL THAT IT COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME, AND IT CAN LOCK UP THE ENGINE/CAUSE CRASH, BUT I AM ONLY HOPING THAT A RECALL OR ADMISSION OF RESPONSIBILITY WILL COME. I AM STILL PAYING $363 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THIS THING AND CANNOT FATHOM THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO FUND THIS MISTAKE ON THEIR PART. NO PUN INTENDED. THANKS....

NHTSA complaint #10205325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

LOWER TIMING CHAIN SPROCKET FAILURE. DESTROYING ENGINE,AND POSSIBLY LOCKING REAR TIRE AT SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10205386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR RELEASING THE THROTTLE. NO ENGINE BRAKING AVAILABLE. HIGH IDLE 1300-2000RPM WHEN SHIFTING . PROBLEM DEVELOPED AFTER SERVICE BULLETIN 386 WAS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP , THEY FOUND HIGH IDLE BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. ECU PROGRAM PROBLEM I WAS TOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10205125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TRIUMPH ROCKET THREE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND IT SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000 RPMS. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER STATED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE TUNED. THE DEALER TUNED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER TUNED THE COMPUTER FOUR MONTHS LATER AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2600. *AK UPDATED 05/23/07.

NHTSA complaint #10189051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A SPRING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10158555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND WHILE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. THE MOTORCYCLE ALWAYS RESTARTED AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS TWISTED FOR ONE MINUTE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING, BUT RESET THE COMPUTER TWICE. HOWEVER, THE INTERMITTENT STALLING CONTINUES.

NHTSA complaint #10157256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

THE TIRES ON THE MOTORCYCLE WERE BOUGHT WITH UNEVEN WEAR, AND THE DEALER SANDED THEM WITH AN ORBIT SANDER. THE SECOND SET OF TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED, THEY SHOOK WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. TOOK TO DEALER FOR 16 DAYS. DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT IT WAS NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10118865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND

THE KICK STAND EXTENDER RIDES UP TOO HIGH. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST BALANCE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND FELL OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

NHTSA complaint #10087293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.