The Triumph Bonneville spans 1994–2026 with 27 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2002, 2001, 2003 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1994, 1995, 1996. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Triumph Bonneville is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1994 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Triumph Bonneville VIN — every digit explained
Every Triumph Bonneville carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Triumph and the country it was built in (real Triumph codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Bonneville.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- UKSAT · SMT
- Brazil97N
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Bonneville, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Triumph Bonneville have?
The Triumph Bonneville has 27 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1994–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2017 Triumph Bonneville recalls 2
Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
What's wrong. Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Bonneville T120 and Bonneville T120 Black motorcycles. During use, the heated hand grips may expand and cause the throttle to stick open.
Risk. If the throttle sticks open, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix. Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will install a spacer to prevent the throttle from sticking, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010. Triumph's number for this recall is SB 546.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
What's wrong. Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain accessory Adjustable Brake Levers, sold as part of an aftermarket lever replacement kit, part number A2021334. These brake levers are intended for installation on 2016 and 2017 Thruxton 1200, Street Twin, Bonneville T120, and Bonneville T120 Black motorcycles. Under certain conditions, the brake levers may contact the handlebar before maximum braking force is applied.
Risk. Without the ability to apply maximum front braking, the distance needed to stop the motorcycle may be lengthened, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake levers, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010.
2016 Triumph Bonneville recalls 2
Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
What's wrong. Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Bonneville T120 and Bonneville T120 Black motorcycles. During use, the heated hand grips may expand and cause the throttle to stick open.
Risk. If the throttle sticks open, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix. Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will install a spacer to prevent the throttle from sticking, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010. Triumph's number for this recall is SB 546.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
What's wrong. Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain accessory Adjustable Brake Levers, sold as part of an aftermarket lever replacement kit, part number A2021334. These brake levers are intended for installation on 2016 and 2017 Thruxton 1200, Street Twin, Bonneville T120, and Bonneville T120 Black motorcycles. Under certain conditions, the brake levers may contact the handlebar before maximum braking force is applied.
Risk. Without the ability to apply maximum front braking, the distance needed to stop the motorcycle may be lengthened, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake levers, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010.
2014 Triumph Bonneville recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. Improper signalling to, and activation of, the fuel injectors could cause the engine to unexpectedly lose power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix. 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.
2004 Triumph Bonneville recalls 1
Suspension:rear
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THERE MAY BE A POOR WELD ON THE REAR SUSPENSION UNIT BODY.
Risk. FAILURE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION UNIT MAY COMPROMISE THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION UNITS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TRIUMPH AT 1-678-854-2010.
Best and worst years for the Triumph Bonneville
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 33 tracked years, the worst years are 2002, 2001, 2003 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1994, 1995, 1996.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Bonneville | — | Best | |
| 1995 Bonneville | — | Best | |
| 1996 Bonneville | — | Best | |
| 1997 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 1998 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 1999 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2000 Bonneville | Engine And Engine Cooling | Average | |
| 2001 Bonneville | Wheels | Avoid | |
| 2002 Bonneville | Wheels | Avoid | |
| 2003 Bonneville | Wheels | Avoid | |
| 2004 Bonneville | Tires | Average | |
| 2005 Bonneville | Wheels | Average | |
| 2006 Bonneville | Fuel System | Average | |
| 2007 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2008 Bonneville | Structure | Average | |
| 2009 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2010 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2011 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2012 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2013 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2014 Bonneville | Electrical System | Average | |
| 2015 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2016 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2017 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2018 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2019 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2020 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2021 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2022 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2023 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2024 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2025 Bonneville | — | Average | |
| 2026 Bonneville | — | Average |
What are the most common Triumph Bonneville problems?
The most-reported Triumph Bonneville problems are Tires (1 reports), Wheels (21 reports) and Gasoline (2 reports) — out of 30 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Triumph Bonneville specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Triumph Bonneville. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Triumph Bonneville window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Triumph Bonneville cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Bonneville holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Triumph Bonneville tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Triumph Bonneville get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Triumph Bonneville have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Triumph Bonneville cost to own?
A Triumph Bonneville depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Bonneville is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Bonneville loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Bonneville ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Triumph Bonneville safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Bonneville yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Triumph Bonneville last?
A well-maintained Triumph Bonneville typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Triumph Bonneville’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Bonneville’s VIN free →All Triumph Bonneville model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Triumph Bonneville — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2022 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2021 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2019 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2017 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2016 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2015 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2014 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2013 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2008 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2007 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2005 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2004 Bonneville | 4 recalls | — | — |
| 2003 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2002 Bonneville | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2001 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2000 Bonneville | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1999 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 1998 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 1997 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 1996 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 1995 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
| 1994 Bonneville | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Bonneville?
By owner-complaint volume, 2002, 2001, 2003 drew the most reports. 1994, 1995, 1996 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Bonneville have?
27 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1994–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Bonneville last?
A well-maintained Bonneville typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Bonneville reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Bonneville is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Triumph Bonneville warranty?
New Triumph models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Triumph dealer.
Where is the Triumph Bonneville made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Bonneville's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Triumph may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Bonneville have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.