Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Triumph Thunderbird

Nov 03, 2014 — Recall Campaign #14V694000

Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Triumph Thunderbird, Thunderbird ABS, Tiger 800,Tiger 800 ABS, Thruxton, and Bonneville motorcycles manufactured February 6, 2014, to August 7, 2014. The engine control unit may improperly activate the fuel injectors.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 417 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

14V694000

Manufacturer:	Triumph Motorcycles America, Ltd.
Recall date:	November 03, 2014
NHTSA Campaign #:	14V694000
Units affected:	417

Description:: Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Triumph Thunderbird, Thunderbird ABS, Tiger 800,Tiger 800 ABS, Thruxton, and Bonneville motorcycles manufactured February 6, 2014, to August 7, 2014. The engine control unit may improperly activate the fuel injectors.
Consequeces:: Improper signalling to, and activation of, the fuel injectors could cause the engine to unexpectedly lose power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective action:: Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will modify the internal ECU hardware, free of charge. The recall began December 4, 2014. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010. Triumph's number for this recall is SB519.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affects the following:

2014 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE Complaints
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE TO WORK IN THE CITY, WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE INSTRUMENTS TURNED OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BIKE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RE-START. MY MECHANIC FOUND WATER IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SPECIFIED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTROLS PASS THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD BEEN "BURNED OUT". I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR $690, IN ADDITION TO THE LABOR OF FINDING THE ISSUE AND REPLACING PART.;
2014 TRIUMPH ROCKET III ROADSTER Complaints
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
2014 TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING Complaints
WHEN RIDING BETWEEN 15 AND 40 MPH, SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, THEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR, I FEEL VIBRATION AND NOISE INDICATIVE OF POSSIBLE INCIPIENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I'M FILING THIS NOW FOR FEAR I MAY NOT SURVIVE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS, AS HAS HAPPENED WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER TRIUMPH ROCKET MOTORCYCLES WITH THIS SAME ENGINE/TRANSMISSION -- THAT WORST CASE SCENARIO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION BREAKS, LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL, AND PROBLEMATIC AT THAT POINT IF ONE STAYS UP TO A STOP, OR ONE GOES DOWN WITH LIFE AND LIMB AT RISK, TO THE POINT OF DEATH.;