2017 INDIAN CHIEF — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
The 2017 INDIAN CHIEF has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (1 complaint), Power Train (1 complaint), and Service Brakes (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF, potentially affecting up to 107,586 vehicles.
Recall 19V776000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
| 52,745 vehicles affected
Defect: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
Consequence: If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.
View full details →Recall 19V776000 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
| 52,745 vehicles affected
Defect: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
Consequence: If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.
View full details →Recall 17V682000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 2,096 vehicles affected
Defect: Indian Motorcycles Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Cheiftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. These motorcycles may be equipped with a European-market, not US-market, halogen headlight assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety...
Consequence: The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE MOTORCYCLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN BIKER LOCATED AT 679 TREELAND DR, LADSON, SC 29456, HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE MOTORCYCLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN BIKER LOCATED AT 679 TREELAND DR, LADSON, SC 29456, HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DECELERATING, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF MARIETTA AND SLINGSHOT OF MARIETTA (1750 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, (770) 956-9577) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *TT *BF CONSUMER STATED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BAD AND VIBRATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY INDIAN WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM. *JB
Safety Rating for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2017 INDIAN CHIEF
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the INDIAN CHIEF
- 2012 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2013 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2014 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2015 INDIAN CHIEF — 1 complaint
- 2016 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2017 INDIAN CHIEF (current)
- 2018 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2019 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2020 INDIAN CHIEF — 0 complaints
- 2022 INDIAN CHIEF — 2 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