2016 Indian Chieftain Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2016 Indian Chieftain, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2016 Indian Chieftain
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 and manual transmission (power train)
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.
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.
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Ignition (electrical system) and exhaust system (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
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.…
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Indian Chieftain have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 7,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My 2016 indian chieftain that has @7500 miles display flickers. This happens when the throttle is operated in all conditions. I have been informed that numerous chieftains were in the shop for the sam”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 10, 2017 · Electrical system
Compare Indian Chieftain model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Indian Chieftain model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Indian Chieftain | 4 | 6 |
| 2015 Indian Chieftain | 4 | 2 |
| 2016 Indian Chieftain | 4 | 1 |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain | 4 | 1 |
| 2019 Indian Chieftain | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 Indian Chieftain | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Indian Chieftain | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2016 Indian Chieftain
How do I know if my 2016 Indian Chieftain 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2016 Indian Chieftain; 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 15V721000).
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
- Chief Vintage13 complaints
- Spirit12 complaints
- Scout Bobber10 complaints
- Challenger Dark Horse9 complaints
- Chieftain Dark Horse7 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.