U.S. Fines Triumph Over Safety Concerns

[cloudbase]

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government has fined Triumph Motorcycles up to $2.9 million for violating safety reporting requirements.

Under an order issued to United Kingdom-based Triumph, the company must pay a $1.4 million cash penalty and spend at least $500,000 to improve safety practices. An additional $1 million in penalties could be levied if additional violations emerge.

Triumph recalled more than 1,300 motorcycles in September 2014 because of a defect that could reduce steering capability and increase the risk of a crash.

An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the company failed to report the defect for more than a year.

The company also failed to submit required documents, including injury claims and progress reports on recall repairs.

[Guzzistajohn]

So..... THAT'S why I keep crashing my Tiger

[oldbike54]

 Was Triumph aware of the defect , what is it , and were there any accidents because of this issue "

 Oh , and John , Matt doesn't need to know about this 

  Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

Was Triumph aware of the defect , what is it , and were there any accidents because of this issue "

 Oh , and John , Matt doesn't need to know about this 

  Dusty

I'm not tellin' him!

[Lannis]

Was Triumph aware of the defect , what is it , and were there any accidents because of this issue "

 Oh , and John , Matt doesn't need to know about this 

  Dusty

These days, it's equally possible that Triumph management knew there was a problem and tried to hide it (a la Ford Pinto fuel tanks) and our regulators have protected us, or whether some unelected bureaucrat in the DOT is throwing his weight around and hitting the foreign corporation with a Catch 22 over nothing ...

Lannis

[ITSec]

These days, it's equally possible that Triumph management knew there was a problem and tried to hide it (a la Ford Pinto fuel tanks) and our regulators have protected us, or whether some unelected bureaucrat in the DOT is throwing his weight around and hitting the foreign corporation with a Catch 22 over nothing ...

Lannis

Actually, the DOT and the NHTSA have been on a bit of a tear lately, and have hit quite a number of manufacturers with this same violation - failure to report a problem for which the manufacturer had reports and records. In all the published cases, the manufacturer had enough information reported to them that they knew, or should have known, that a defect existed and that it met the criteria for being reported to the feds. The fine is levied after a review of the manufacturer's records related to the problem. See the reports on the airbags, the ignition switch design, the Fiat-Chrysler 'failure to report and act', and so on. It's part of a major program by the feds to get more responsiveness from vehicle makers.

[Lannis]

Actually, the DOT and the NHTSA have been on a bit of a tear lately, and have hit quite a number of manufacturers with this same violation - failure to report a problem for which the manufacturer had reports and records. In all the published cases, the manufacturer had enough information reported to them that they knew, or should have known, that a defect existed and that it met the criteria for being reported to the feds. The fine is levied after a review of the manufacturer's records related to the problem. See the reports on the airbags, the ignition switch design, the Fiat-Chrysler 'failure to report and act', and so on. It's part of a major program by the feds to get more responsiveness from vehicle makers.

It's likely that you're right in this case.   But there are a growing number of examples of overzealous, over-the-top regulatory enforcement cases that don't even pass the snicker test, especially in environmental and "zoning" situations ....

Lannis

[ITSec]

It's likely that you're right in this case.   But there are a growing number of examples of overzealous, over-the-top regulatory enforcement cases that don't even pass the snicker test, especially in environmental and "zoning" situations ....

Lannis

To be sure... (or for those in Quebec - C'est vrai!)

[oldbike54]

 OK , but what was the problem ?

  Dusty

[Lannis]

OK , but what was the problem ?

  Dusty

Been trying hard to find it on-line and on the NHSTA site, but it ain't easy.

Triumph had a "recall" in 2008 for Ohlins shocks on some of their sport models, and a later one for Speed Triple handlebar clamps that didn't properly cinch down the handlebars.   

But this was a "reporting" violation, and may not have made it to the "recall" stage.   

Lannis

[ITSec]

OK , but what was the problem ?

  Dusty

The problem with the bikes was the recall in 2014 related to steering, I believe it affected 2012-2013 models. Details of the agreement, fine and background are at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/nhtsa-fines-triumph-08312015

[Lannis]

The problem with the bikes was the recall in 2014 related to steering, I believe it affected 2012-2013 models. Details of the agreement, fine and background are at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/nhtsa-fines-triumph-08312015

Yes, all the press releases use the same boiler-plate language:

" ....for a defect that could reduce steering capability and increase the risk of a crash."

I suppose that we gearheads would like to know what the defect was.    Could have been the handlebar-clamp thing, I suppose, or could have been non-properly-heat-treated tube cinch bolts, or anything.

Since Guzzi had the same sort of problem with front ends about 13 years ago, it would be interesting to know if it was a real danger, or if it was a missing warning label ....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

The problem with the bikes was the recall in 2014 related to steering, I believe it affected 2012-2013 models. Details of the agreement, fine and background are at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/nhtsa-fines-triumph-08312015

 Still no specifics regarding the safety issue , which indicates that this is a paperwork matter and not a real safety problem . I have no ax to grind with NHTSA , but seems to me they are guilty of not providing all of the information .

  Dusty

[ITSec]

Going from the dates referenced, it's likely the actual recall involved was this:

SUMMARY:
Triumph Motorcycles America, LTD (Triumph) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Triumph Street Triple and Street Triple R motorcycles manufactured July 1, 2012, to October 1, 2013, and equipped with ABS. In the affected motorcycles, the four bolts that secure the two cable guides on either side of the headstock do not contain threadlock. As a result, the bolts could loosen.
CONSEQUENCE:
If the bolts loosen, steering movement could be restricted, increasing the risk of a crash.
REMEDY:
Triumph will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four bolts with new bolts containing threadlock, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2014. Owners may contact Triumph customer service at 1-678-854-2010. Triumph's number for this recall is Service Bulletin 501.
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.

The fine was related to a paperwork problem, the recall (with inadequate notification as required) was related to a real safety issue.

[oldbike54]

 Thanks Cousin  Still , sounds like NHSTA is guilty of omitting pertinent info ,

  Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

So..... THAT'S why I keep crashing my Tiger

I was trying to turn your Tiger when it bit me. SEE!  It wasn't my fault!

[ITSec]

Thanks Cousin  Still , sounds like NHSTA is guilty of omitting pertinent info ,

  Dusty

Actually, the NHTSA website has the details including copies of two notices sent to Triumph warning them they hadn't sent the status reports on the recall. It does take some digging, but I have the background for that...

[oldbike54]

Actually, the NHTSA website has the details including copies of two notices sent to Triumph warning them they hadn't sent the status reports on the recall. It does take some digging, but I have the background for that...

 Good thing there are smart people like you to interpret for folks like me 

 In one of his books , PJ O'Rourke visits NHTSA expecting to find a bunch of anti car types , instead he found a bunch of gearheads . Think that is interesting and enlightening .

 Dusty

[SmithSwede]

On the other hand, who can forget Joan Claybrook and the motorcycle which steered by its rear wheel?

[oldbike54]

On the other hand, who can forget Joan Claybrook and the motorcycle which steered by its rear wheel?

 Even her underlings told her that wasn't gonna work 

  Dusty

[bpreynolds]

Just curious, any domestic companies been hit by NHTSA lately? 

[oldbike54]

Just curious, any domestic companies been hit by NHTSA lately?

 Yep , Chrysler (Jeep) , and GM .

  Dusty

[bpreynolds]

Yep , Chrysler (Jeep) , and GM .

  Dusty

Those aren't American made products.
 

[oldbike54]

Those aren't American made products.
 

 Not 'Murican owned , still largely made here , or at least that is their story and they are sticking to it  Wait , isn't GM still a domestic company , well , besides Buick ?

  Dusty

[ITSec]

Those aren't American made products.
 

Umm - we're talking the modern automotive (and by extension, motor vehicle) industry. I think just about anybody in any country can point to a company that is supposedly 'theirs' and say, "waiddaminutt!" Well, except maybe a guy in Dehli talking about Mahindra or Tata 

[Thunderbutt]

I heard this was all exposed by the NSA while investigating the latest batch of Hillary's emails

[oldbike54]

I heard this was all exposed by the NSA while investigating the latest batch of Hillary's emails

 Nah , "twas exposed by the Keebler Elves , led by Elvis 

  Dusty

[ITSec]

Nah , "twas exposed by the Keebler Elves , led by Elvis 

  Dusty

Don't Be Cruel, Dusty!

[oldbike54]

Don't Be Cruel, Dusty!

 Little known secret , Elvis was really made up of hundreds of Keebler Elves working in concert . The reason why he got chubby was because during the '70s there was a decrease in demand for cookies , more Keebler Elves out of work = more Elvis .

  Dusty

[ITSec]

Little known secret , Elvis was really made up of hundreds of Keebler Elves working in concert . The reason why he got chubby was because during the '70s there was a decrease in demand for cookies , more Keebler Elves out of work = more Elvis .

  Dusty

Maybe that explains all the cookie crumbs on the Las Vegas Strip - and why we've never managed to get rid of them...