1999 INDIAN CHIEF — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
22
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
The 1999 INDIAN CHIEF has received a total of 22 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar (3 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (2 complaints), and Service Brakes Hydraulic (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF, potentially affecting up to 20,927 vehicles.
Recall 03V191000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
| 3,625 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN WINDSHIELDS THAT WERE SOLD AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THESE MOTORCYCLES OR SOLD AS ACCESSORIES FOR ALL OTHER CHIEF MODELS MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE BRACKETS. THE BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE MOTORCYCLE ARE FORMED SUCH THAT THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE NOT FLUSH WITH THE BRACKET. THIS COULD PLACE EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK.
Consequence: BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS COULD LEAD TO THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE AND EVEN FALLING OFF THE BIKE, POTENTIALLY STRIKING THE RIDER OR OTHERWISE CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKETS AND BOLTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A...
View full details →Recall 03V039000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
| 7,947 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMPUFIRE BRAND SERIES TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATORS, IF DAMAGED, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN BECOME STUCK IN AN OPEN MODE THAT ALLOWS BATTERY VOLTAGE TO FLOW BACK THROUGH THE REGULATOR.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REGULATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN...
View full details →Recall 02V144000 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
| 4,765 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR RISER TOP CLAMP COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE BARS.
Consequence: LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL FIT THE MOTORCYCLES WITH A NEW RISER TOP CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN...
View full details →Recall 02V124000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 4,590 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MADE BY SWAY-A-WAY, THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS TO THE SWING ARM COULD BREAK.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
22 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionrearshock Absorber | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingturn Signal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainclutch Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsmaster Cylinder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionrear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
CONSUMER STATES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE 2 RECALLS ON BIKE REPAIRED SINCE 05/02. RECALL IDS: 02V144000 AND 02V124000. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS REPEATEDLY ADVISED WAITING ON PARTS. CONSUMER FINALLY SPOKE WITH OWNER WHO BLAMED DELAY ON CERTAIN EMPLOYEES NO LONGER WORKING FOR DEALERSHIP. OWNER ADVISED WOULD ORDER PARTS AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING NOW FOR 3.5 WEEKS. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER, DEALER IS CHARGING FOR RECALL. MR
SHOCKS TEAR OUT OF FRAME WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, REAR SWING ARM PIVOT SHAFT WANTS TO PULL IT FURTHER THAN THE SHOCK WILL ALLOW IT. *AK *SLC
AT 4,000 MILES FRONT BRAKES WOULD FADE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLASH, FRONT BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL ON TWO OCCASIONS, REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY THREE OCCASIONS, FRONT ROTOR WARPED, REAR MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE, DRIVE BELT NOISY, OIL LEAK, ENGINE BACKFIRES. REAR TURN SIGNAL LENS COLLECTS MOISTURE. HANDLE BAR MASTER BAD. BLOWN CLUTCH DUE TO ASSEMBLED WRONG IN FACTORY. FUEL TANKS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS AROUND MOUNTING BRACKETS CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ON THE HOT ENGINE. SHOCKS SQUEAK. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *SLC
AT 4,000 MILES FRONT BRAKES WOULD FADE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLASH, FRONT BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL ON TWO OCCASIONS, REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY THREE OCCASIONS, FRONT ROTOR WARPED, REAR MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE, DRIVE BELT NOISY, OIL LEAK, ENGINE BACKFIRES. REAR TURN SIGNAL LENS COLLECTS MOISTURE. HANDLE BAR MASTER BAD. BLOWN CLUTCH DUE TO ASSEMBLED WRONG IN FACTORY. FUEL TANKS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS AROUND MOUNTING BRACKETS CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK ON THE HOT ENGINE. SHOCKS SQUEAK. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *SLC
Safety Rating for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1999 INDIAN CHIEF.
Other Model Years of the INDIAN CHIEF
- 1999 INDIAN CHIEF (current)
- 2000 INDIAN CHIEF — 52 complaints
- 2001 INDIAN CHIEF — 10 complaints
- 2002 INDIAN CHIEF — 4 complaints
- 2003 INDIAN CHIEF — 4 complaints
Other INDIAN Models
- INDIAN SCOUT — 65 total complaints
- INDIAN ROADMASTER — 33 total complaints
- INDIAN CHIEFTAIN — 19 total complaints
- INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE — 18 total complaints
- INDIAN SPIRIT — 15 total complaints
- INDIAN CHIEF DARK HORSE — 13 total complaints
- INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER — 12 total complaints
- INDIAN CHIEFTAIN DARK HORSE — 10 total complaints