AI Damage2010 Triumph Thunderbird: common problems
Owners of the 2010 Triumph Thunderbird filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 43% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 14% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 triumph thunderbird. The contact stated that the motorcycle made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alignment needed to be readjusted. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Turning right from a side street onto a major road, I began accelerating and the throttle became inoperative, snapping immediately back to idle speed. Subsequent turning of the throttle grip had no effect.
This happens when shutting the throttle off to make a corner or a stop light, or to adjust speed in traffic. The engine backfires through the intake of the throttle bodies and the airbox under the vehicle seat and dies.
While traveling down a long steep incline at approximately 40 mph,and down shifting to slow the motorcycle,the motor stack fired thru the throttle bodies and quit for no apparent reason. As luck had it,there was no traffic on the road at the time.
I was driving my 2010 triumph thunderbird motorcycle to work and the assembly that attaches the throttle cable to the throttle grip froze. I had not throttle control and had to coast the bike to a safe stop on the left shoulder of a highway. This was the second time in a year that this has happened.
The rear brakes on my 2010 triumph thunderbird began making noise. I took the bike into the dealer and apparently the brake pads are worn to nothing and the rotor is worn to the point of having to be replaced. The bike only has 4000 miles on it and the first scheduled maintenance check on the brakes is 6000 miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 triumph thunderbird motorcycle. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 11v277000 (equipment) and the dealer was contacted. The dealer advised that the part needed for repairs was not readily available.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,539 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Thunderbird has 3 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Triumph Thunderbird?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 7.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Triumph Thunderbird?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2010 Triumph Thunderbird from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.