AI Damage2013 Triumph Thunderbird: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 50% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
At 1st valve clearance inspection, it was discovered that the right-side exhaust decompression mechanism broke off of the camshaft and shattered, leaving metal pieces loose under the cam cover where they could potentially interfere with intake or exhaust valve operation. Not all pieces are accounted for.
Niose from rear drive hub and drive belt ;feeling like rear tire is loose but its been checked. Wearing rear tires out fast 2000miles a tire. When coming out of turn ill get a wiggle feels like something loose.its been doing this ever sence new
Motorcycle has defectively designed carbon fiber belt drive system. Belt can easily be incorrectly adjusted which can cause the belt edge to be worn away, causing belt to snap at high speed.
While driving down long steady hills with closed or partial throttle, the engine backfires, stalls, and would no longer respond to the throttle. In two cases, the engine would restart after turning the ignition off and back on while still moving.
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Thunderbird has 3 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 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 2013 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.
Other 2013 models
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 2026-11-05.