Triumph TF 450-E: Recall over engine stalling, one injured in the USA

• KBA recall 17075R, manufacturer code SRAN644: 50 motorcycles in Germany, 1,311 worldwide
• Remedy: Triumph replaces the complete cylinder head assembly free of charge
• In the USA there are twelve incident reports and one injury involving a broken bone

On 30 September 2026, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) published a recall for the Triumph TF 450-E. The cause is the exhaust rocker arm shaft in the cylinder head. It can seize, and the engine then loses power or, in the worst case, stalls while riding. The KBA classifies the recall as safety-relevant and is monitoring it. In Germany, only the TF 450-E is on the list. In the USA and Canada, however, Triumph has recalled all 450 models of its off-road range.

What defect is behind the Triumph TF 450-E recall?

The exhaust rocker arm shaft in the cylinder head can seize or become stiff. This reduces engine power, and in extreme cases the engine stops while riding.

The shaft is part of the valve train, the components that actuate the engine’s valves. The international recall notices cite insufficient clearance between the rocker arm and the shaft as the cause. Triumph itself describes the problem as excessive friction between these two parts. This friction can damage the valve train.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the exhaust valves can then also stay open or break. According to Triumph, the damage develops gradually. Power therefore drops off first before the engine cuts out completely in extreme cases. A sudden loss of power increases the risk of a crash, as the Canadian transport authority Transport Canada warns.

How many Triumph TF 450-E are affected by the recall?

According to the KBA, 50 motorcycles are affected in Germany, and the authority puts the worldwide figure at 1,311 vehicles. The KBA gives the production period as 13 February to 1 November 2025.

The figures from North America do not quite match this worldwide number. The CPSC speaks of around 1,560 affected motorcycles in the USA. Transport Canada reports a further 171 vehicles in Canada. Together, that is more than 1,700 motorcycles in North America alone and therefore more than the KBA’s worldwide figure. The North American figures, however, cover all four models of the TF 450 range, whereas the KBA only lists the TF 450-E. There is no official explanation for the discrepancy so far.

The time periods also differ. According to the CPSC, the affected motorcycles were sold at Triumph dealers in the USA from January 2025 to July 2026. The price there was between 10,000 and 15,000 US dollars (approx. 8,920 to 13,390 euros). The motorcycles were built in Thailand.

Which Triumph models are affected internationally?

In the USA and Canada, the recall covers the TF 450-C, TF 450-E, TF 450-X and TF 450-RC Edition. The German KBA data sheet, by contrast, only lists the TF 450-E.

Together, the four models form the 450 family in Triumph’s off-road line-up. The TF 450-RC Edition belongs to the 2025 model year. It was the first 450 model in the range. The TF 450-C for cross-country, the TF 450-E as an enduro and the TF 450-X as a motocrosser followed in the 2026 model year. So far there is no indication that the smaller TF 250 models are also affected.

In the USA, the CPSC describes the affected motorcycles as competition machines for closed courses in Jet Black and Pure White. The recall started in Canada first. Transport Canada published it on 3 August 2026, followed by the CPSC on 10 September 2026. The German recall was added at the end of September.

What is known about incidents and injuries?

According to the KBA, no incidents are known in Germany. In the USA, however, twelve cases have been reported to Triumph, including one accident with an injured rider.

In these twelve cases, according to the CPSC, the exhaust rocker arm shaft had seized or become stiff, or the exhaust valves were damaged. In one case, a person suffered a broken bone. The authority gives no further details about this accident. The number of reports refers exclusively to the USA.

How can owners check whether their Triumph TF 450-E is affected?

Whether a motorcycle is affected can only be determined via the 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN). Triumph offers a recall check on its website for this purpose; alternatively, any Triumph dealer can help.

According to the CPSC, the VIN is on the type plate on the left side of the steering head. In Canada, Triumph is also informing owners by post. Until the recall status has been clarified, Triumph advises against using the motorcycle off-road. Continued use is particularly risky if power is already noticeably dropping or the engine is running unusually. In the USA, the recommendation goes even further: owners there should stop using their TF 450 immediately and contact a dealer.

What Triumph does to the motorcycle in the workshop

The workshop does not just replace a single part but the complete cylinder head assembly. In the USA, according to the CPSC, the dealer first inspects the engine and then replaces the cylinder head. According to Triumph, a revised component is fitted that is intended to eliminate the friction problem. The repair is free of charge for owners, both in Germany and in North America.

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