IllustrationTRANSMISSION LINKAGE DISCONNECTS IN SIDE TRANSSO YOU EITHER GET STUCK IN GEAR OR NEUTRAL 2ND TIME THIS HAPPNED. *TR
2005 Triumph Rocket Iii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rocket Iii years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
425–50K
050–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
20 reports with mileage · 0 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 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 reports2 injury reports
Power Train complaints
5 reportsBIKE 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. *TR
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 AN…
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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. *LJ
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 PROB…
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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. *JB
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.
Official recalls
207V455000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Sep 26, 2007
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, WHEN THE ENGINE IS RETURNING TO IDLE IT MAY STALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS, THE RIDER WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE ENGINE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND DOWNLOAD NEW ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 678-854-2010.
05V004000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Jan 7, 2005
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, DAMAGE TO THE OIL SEAL OCCURRED DURING FINAL ASSEMBLY. ONCE DAMAGED SOME OF THE OIL IN THE DRIVE UNIT COULD ESCAPE PAST THE SEAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF UNDETECTED THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT COULD RUN LOW OF OIL AND SEIZE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 678-854-2010.
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
1PE07030 · Motorcycle Stalling
Opened Jun 20, 2007 · Closed Oct 19, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
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.