Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2019 Indian Chieftain Classic

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Lighting Control Module › Software22V635000
Filed Aug 19, 202228,689 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. 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, causing a loss of the front lights, including the headlight.

Risk. The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

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 September 27, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-02. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 19V-339.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Aug 26, 2025SD

The motorcycle will lose all power and completely shut down. This will happen when the battery voltage meter indicates full voltage. This happened multiple times on our 2022 trip and again on our 2023 trip despite having the issue diagnosed at a dealer. We were told that everything was fine and no issues noted and the battery is good. In 2024 the battery indicator light came on, we took the bike to the dealership and had to have a new stator, regulator and battery. We took the bike on a trip in 2025. On this trip the voltage dropped to where the bike would not run. After getting the bike to the dealership we were informed that the regulator was shot.

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2019
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2019 — this page1100Routine
20180300Routine
20170100Routine

Compare every Chieftain Classic year →

Other Indian models

All Indian models →
Chief 70Scout 40Roadmaster 21Chieftain 15Chief Vintage 13Spirit 12Scout Bobber 10Challenger Dark Horse 9Chieftain Dark Horse 7Chief Dark Horse 6

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: Aug 19, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.