SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2008 Triumph Rocket Iii Touring

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
20081
2011
Compare all Rocket Iii Touring years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
3Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
30,000 miles · Oct 4, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE INTERIOR CLUTCH PIN DISENGAGED, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH OPERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE INTERIOR CLUTCH PIN DISENGAGED, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH OPERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10546754

5,000 miles · Aug 11, 2009
Power Train

FAILURE OF CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON 2008 MODEL TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. 1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - NEW BIKE, 5000KMS, LOUD NOISE COMING FROM CLUTCH HOUSING. REQUESTED SUPPLIER TO EXAMINE THIS. THEY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK IT HOME AND DISMANTLED THE CLUTCH MYSELF TO FIND THAT T…

Read full complaint

FAILURE OF CLUTCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON 2008 MODEL TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLE. 1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - NEW BIKE, 5000KMS, LOUD NOISE COMING FROM CLUTCH HOUSING. REQUESTED SUPPLIER TO EXAMINE THIS. THEY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK IT HOME AND DISMANTLED THE CLUTCH MYSELF TO FIND THAT THE CASE HARDENING ON THE CLUTCH ACTUATOR ROD HAD FAILED AND THE NEEDLE ROLLER BEARINGS HAD DUG INTO THE SHAFT CAUSING THIS NOISE. THE SHAFT WAS VERY CLOSE TO FAILING AND THE NEEDLE ROLLERS WERE DAMAGED. I SET PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE BIKE SUPPLIER (BIKEBIZ) AND THEY AGREED TO FIX IT. I TOOK 10 WEEKS TO GET ANY ACTION FROM TRIUMPH TO PROVIDE THE PARTS. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND WILL NOW GET RID OF THE BIKE. ENGINE NUMBER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280142

4,800 miles · Aug 11, 2009
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN INTERNAL PART (LIFTER SHAFT). MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE THAT DATE(5 WEEKS NOW), AWAITING PART REPLACEMENT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED PART. WHEN IT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE OF CLUTCH OPERATION IS THE RESULT. IT CAN BRAKE AT ANY SPEED…

Read full complaint

CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN INTERNAL PART (LIFTER SHAFT). MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE THAT DATE(5 WEEKS NOW), AWAITING PART REPLACEMENT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED PART. WHEN IT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE OF CLUTCH OPERATION IS THE RESULT. IT CAN BRAKE AT ANY SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING. CLUTCH FAILURE CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES WHILE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280065

Official recalls

2

08V686000 · Structure

Dec 19, 2008

TRIUMPH IS RECALLING 8 MY 2008 ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLES. THERE COULD BE A MISSING WELD ON THE BACK OF THE PANNIER RAIL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE PANNIER RAIL MAY, AFTER TIME, BE WEAKENED LEADING TO A FULL FRACTURE OF THE RAIL AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF PANNIER AND RAIL FROM THE MOTORCYCLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PANNIER RAIL. ALL MOTORCYCLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

08V145000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 26, 2008

TRIUMPH IS RECALLING 356 MY 2008 ROCKET III TOURING MOTORCYCLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS," AND PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE CERTIFICATION LABEL, LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT FRAME TUBE, INCLUDES INCORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING TIRE SIZES AND PRESSURES, AS WELL AS AN INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OWNER MAY UNDER-INFLATE THE FRONT TIRE IF USING THE INCORRECT INFORMATION. UNDER-INFLATION MAY CAUSE A TIRE TO SLIP OR COME OFF THE RIM CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-539-8782.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.