2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Software (exterior lighting) and headlights (exterior lighting)
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…
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Electrical system
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.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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…
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 5,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While riding the motorcycle the windshield adjustment motor failed to raise the windshield from a lowered position to a raised position resulting in exposing my head to road hazards. The worm gear car”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 26, 2021 · Visibility/wiper
“I am in cruise control 6th gear and it turns off and the bike is in neutral. I have to shift to 5th. The gear indicator is also slow to change to what gear I am in. I had the gear sensor replaced unde”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 30, 2021 · Power train
Compare Indian Chieftain Dark Horse model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Indian Chieftain Dark Horse model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 1 | 3 |
| 2020 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse
How do I know if my 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Indian dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V682000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Indian models
- Chief70 complaints
- Scout40 complaints
- Roadmaster21 complaints
- Chieftain15 complaints
- Chief Vintage13 complaints
- Spirit12 complaints
- Scout Bobber10 complaints
- Challenger Dark Horse9 complaints
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.