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. It is unknown when this damage occurred. The motorcycle was showing no signs of malfunction. An internet search turned up at least 7 similar incidents of the same part, same side on this make and model motorcycle, different years.
Vehicle safety record
2013 Triumph Thunderbird Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (2) and the transmission & drivetrain (2). There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2012 has 1 and the 2014 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Thunderbird year, for its age
#278 most complained-about 2013 vehicle
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2013 Triumph Thunderbird problems
Share of all 4 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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4 complaints about the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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. Basic problems include an inadequate adjusting mechanism and a custom blended coating on the drive pulley that causes the belt to make chirping noises and eventually wear the belt at an unreasonable speed if improperly adjusted. Factory specs state that the drive belt should run against the outer rim of the rear drive pulley...
Read the full complaint
rather than in the center. No other belt drive system is adjusted this way and that would be regarded as an incorrectly adjusted belt by any other belt drive manufacturer. Triumph has not made a belt drive system since the 1920's and has no experience in this area. Gates rubber company designed the belt drive system and the coating. The requirements were that the belt drive system last the live of the gates gt carbon fiber belt (150,000 miles). As an aside, most belt drive systems used by harley davidson (the only company to use belts on motorcycles successfully thus far) have rear drive pulleys that last about 50,000 miles. Harley davidson recommends that the belt and pulleys be replaced together at 50,000 mile intervals. The correct formula was turned down by triumph because the coating process produced a byproduct called hexavalent chromium which is heavily regulated by the epa. Triumph demanded another coating. Gates delivered it but advised against using it. Triumph covered early owner complaints under warranty due to pressure from dealers but when the true cause was discovered triumph ceased to admit it knew anything about the problem because it affects every thunderbird and thunderbird storm from 2009 to the present. The belt on this bike is supposed to be 32mm wide. After dealer adjustment, the belt (within 600 miles) is only 26mm wide.
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. In another instance, repeated attempts had to be made to get the engine restarted, after coasting to a stop on the side of the road. *Tr
Triumph Thunderbird: every year compared
All Thunderbird years2013 Triumph Thunderbird vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Triumph Thunderbird | 4 | 0 | C | |
| 2013 Triumph Daytona 675 | 3 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Tiger 800 XC | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Tiger | 2 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Tiger 800 | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Speed Triple | 1 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Explorer | 1 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Thruxton | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2013 Triumph Rocket Iii Classic Tourin | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird
Does the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (2), transmission & drivetrain (2), wheels & tires (1).
How many complaints has the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird had?
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 15, 2014 and the latest on May 13, 2019. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2013 Triumph Thunderbird a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Triumph Thunderbird year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Triumph Thunderbird years have the most complaints?
2010 (7), 2013 (4), 2014 (2). See every Triumph Thunderbird year compared.
What should I do if my 2013 Triumph Thunderbird has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data