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Indian Chief Classic Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 7 model years of the Indian Chief Classic (2012–2018).

8
safety recalls, all years
0
owner complaints, all years
2015
year with most recalls

Pick your Indian Chief Classic model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2018 Indian Chief Classic20
2017 Indian Chief Classic20
2016 Indian Chief Classic30
2015 Indian Chief Classic40
2014 Indian Chief Classic30
2013 Indian Chief Classic10
2012 Indian Chief Classic10

All Indian Chief Classic recalls (8)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Indian Chief Classic, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Software (exterior lighting) and headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 22V635000 Reported 28,689 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief, 2015 Chief Classic, 2014-2018 Chieftain, 2015-2020 Chief Vintage, 2016-2018 Chieftain Darkhorse, 2016-2020 Springfield, 2017-2018 Chieftain Limited, and 2018-2019 Chieftain Classic motorcycles. The electrical connection for the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) may fail,…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the electrical connection and VCM, as necessary. Dealers will update the VCM software, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…

    Model years: 2015

  2. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 19V339000 Reported 6,487 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief and Chieftain motorcycles. Due to a problem within the Vehicle Control Module (VCM), all of the front lights, including the headlight, may go out while riding.

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) connector and update the VCM software. If the VCM connector is damaged, a new connector and VCM will be installed, free of charge.…

    Model years: 2014

  3. Electrical system

    NHTSA 18V228000 Reported 3,341 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2018 Indian Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Chieftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, Springfield Dark Horse, Roadmaster, Roadmaster Elite, Roadmaster Icon, and Roadmaster Classic motorcycles.…

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right hand combination switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-18-04.

    Model years: 2018

  4. Headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 17V682000 Reported 2,096 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    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,…

    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…

    Model years: 2017, 2018

  5. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 16V877000 Reported 23,761 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Vintage, Chieftan, Chieftan Dark Horse, Springfield and Roadmaster motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to July 15, 2016. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel rail may contact other components and result in a fuel leak.

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket that will limit movement of the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at…

    Model years: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

  6. Ignition (electrical system) and exhaust system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 16V446000 Reported 18,383 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chief Classic, Dark Horse, Chieftain, Roadmaster, Vintage, Springfield, and Chieftain Dark Horse motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 16, 2015. In the event of an engine misfire, unburned fuel may pass through parts of the exhaust system, raising…

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. The recall began July 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for…

    Model years: 2014, 2015, 2016

  7. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 15V721000 Reported 7,614 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chief Classic, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and 2016 Dark Horse motorcycles manufactured January 2, 2015, to October 23, 2015. Due to a problem with the rear brake master cylinder, the motorcycles may have a reduction in, or a complete loss of, rear…

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake master cylinder piston assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2015. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697.…

    Model years: 2015, 2016

  8. Rim (wheels)

    NHTSA 13V391000 Reported 861 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2009 Deluxe and Standard, 2009-2011 Roadmaster, 2009-2013 Vintage, 2010 Bomber, 2010-2013 Classic and Dark Horse, 2011 Blackhawk Dark and Blackhawk motorcycles. The rear rim may crack and cause a loss of air pressure.

    Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear rim, free of charge. Indian mailed an interim letter to owners in September 2013. Parts are now available. A second notice was sent to owners during April…

    Model years: 2012, 2013

Other Indian models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.