Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2001 Indian Chief

Routine

Owners filed 10 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › front. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Front2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Suspension1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1
000
Electrical System1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Windshield03V191000
Filed May 5, 20033,625 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. CERTAIN WINDSHIELDS THAT WERE SOLD AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THESE MOTORCYCLES OR SOLD AS ACCESSORIES FOR ALL OTHER CHIEF MODELS MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE BRACKETS. THE BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE MOTORCYCLE ARE FORMED SUCH THAT THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE NOT FLUSH WITH THE BRACKET. THIS COULD PLACE EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK.

Risk. BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS COULD LEAD TO THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE AND EVEN FALLING OFF THE BIKE, POTENTIALLY STRIKING THE RIDER OR OTHERWISE CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKETS AND BOLTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator03V039000
Filed Feb 10, 20037,947 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMPUFIRE BRAND SERIES TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATORS, IF DAMAGED, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN BECOME STUCK IN AN OPEN MODE THAT ALLOWS BATTERY VOLTAGE TO FLOW BACK THROUGH THE REGULATOR.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REGULATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jun 25, 2003CA

CONSUMER NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BATTERY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2003CA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 23, 2003MI

THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD. *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Jun 19, 2002CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE MENTIONED MOTORCYCLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 8, 2001CA

PRIMARY CASE IS BLOWING OUT OIL. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Nov 8, 2001CA

REAR BRAKES WORE OUT AT 1800 MILES, DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Nov 8, 2001CA

FRONT FORK SEALS WERE LEAKING, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

Suspension
Filed Aug 14, 2001IL

AT 75 AND 80 MPH MOTORCYCLE WILL BEGIN TO WOBBLE. HERE WAS NO CONTROL, AND CONSUMER HAD TO SLOW IT DOWN TO STOP SHAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Aug 9, 2001CA

REAR BRAKES WENT OUT ON MOTORCYCLE. BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY WOREN OUT.*AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 6, 2001WA

FORK SEALS WERE LEAKING. SHOCK ABSORBERS FOR FRONT END OF MOTORCYCLE. CONTACT DEALER. *AK

10 of 10 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20222200Routine
20190100Routine
20180300Routine
20172200Routine
20160100Routine
20151100Routine
20140200Routine
20130100Routine
20120100Routine
20032200Routine
20024400Routine
2001 — this page10200Routine
200040410Routine
19999400Routine

Compare every Chief year →

Other Indian models

All Indian models →
Scout 40Roadmaster 21Chieftain 15Chief Vintage 13Spirit 12Scout Bobber 10Challenger Dark Horse 9Chieftain Dark Horse 7Chief Dark Horse 6Springfield 5

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 5, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.