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Indian Chief Vintage Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints across 11 model years of the Indian Chief Vintage (2002–2026). The most-complained-about year is 2014.

11
safety recalls, all years
13
owner complaints, all years
2003
year with most recalls
2014
year with most complaints

Pick your Indian Chief Vintage model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2026 Indian Chief Vintage10
2020 Indian Chief Vintage10
2019 Indian Chief Vintage10
2018 Indian Chief Vintage31
2017 Indian Chief Vintage21
2016 Indian Chief Vintage21
2015 Indian Chief Vintage24
2014 Indian Chief Vintage06
2009 Indian Chief Vintage30
2003 Indian Chief Vintage30
2002 Indian Chief Vintage10

What Indian Chief Vintage owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The 2014 model year has the most, with 6.

All Indian Chief Vintage recalls (11)

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

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 26V397000 Reported 392 vehicles potentially affected Indian Motorcycle Company

    Indian Motorcycle Company LLC (IMC) is recalling certain 2026 Chief Vintage motorcycles. The VIN label states the incorrect rear rim width. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Wheels and Rims - other than passenger cars."

    Remedy: IMC will mail owners information labels with instructions, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 15, 2026. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026.…

    Model years: 2026

  2. 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, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

  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. 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

  6. 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: 2009

  7. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 11V343000 Reported 699 vehicles potentially affected INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

    Polaris is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 indian motorcycles for the body control module (BCM) which can cause the headlight to turn off in some circumstances. If the headlight switch is slowly moved from one position to another (high beam to low beam or low beam to high beam), both beams may be on momentarily and the BCM…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the BCM free of charge. The safety recall began on august 4, 2011. Owners may contact polaris at 1-651-408-7579.

    Model years: 2009

  8. Kickstand/center stand (structure)

    NHTSA 11V344000 Reported 699 vehicles potentially affected INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

    Polaris is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 indian motorcycles for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 123, "motorcycle controls and displays." the side stand may not fold rearward and upward if it contacts the ground when the motorcycle is moving forward.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the side stand free of charge. The safety recall began on august 4, 2011. Owners may contact indian at 651-408-7579.

    Model years: 2009

  9. Headlights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 03V258000 Reported 6,173 vehicles potentially affected INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

    On certain motorcycles, the bracket used to support the teardrop headlight can crack, causing the bracket to break and the light to slip out of position or fall off.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new bracket. Owner notification is expected to begin during august 2003. Owners should contact imc at 1-888-899-2997.

    Model years: 2003

  10. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 03V173000 Reported 1,979 vehicles potentially affected INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

    On certain motorcycles, due to the positioning of the gas tank vent tube, the vent tube can become clogged with debris, particularly in wet weather. Vent tube clogging can cause interruption of fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the motorcycle to stop. A clogged vent tube may also cause pressure to build up in the gas tank and push a…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the current vent tube with a longer tube repositioned to prevent clogging. Owner notification began may 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

    Model years: 2002, 2003

  11. Equipment

    NHTSA 03V132000 Reported 70 vehicles potentially affected INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

    On certain motorcycles equipped with factory designed front and rear engine guards, the guards do not allow sufficient clearance between the motorcycle and the ground during routine cornering.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the current engine guards and give the owners a $250 credit toward the purchase of parts and accessories for their motorcycles. Redesigned engine guards will be provided in approximately 90 days.…

    Model years: 2003

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.