2019 Indian Chieftain

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › motorcycle › kickstand/center stand. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/Center Stand1
101
Power Train1
000
Engine1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers19V882000
Filed Dec 11, 20195,474 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2019 Chieftain, Vintage, Roadmaster, Dark Horse, Springfield, and FTR1200 motorcycles. A 10A circuit breaker may be defective, tripping unexpectedly and causing a sudden loss of power and an engine stall.

Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Indian will notify owners and provide a new 10A circuit breaker and installation instructions. Owners may choose to have the part installed at a dealership, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-05.

Electrical System19V776000
Filed Oct 29, 201952,745 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights19V638000
Filed Aug 29, 20193,594 vehiclesIndian Motorcycle Company

Defect. Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2019 Chieftain motorcycles. The tail lights may be too bright, exceeding the maximum light output allowed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk. Due to increased brightness, other drivers may have difficulties discerning the brake light from the tail light, and thus may be unaware that the motorcycle is braking, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Indian will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control module software to correct the rear tail light's intensity, free of charge. The recall began September 18, 2019. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-04.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed May 23, 2021TN

Reference 19V-776 recall campaign 2014-2019 Indian Motorcycle (111 c.I.) gear position switch. This switch was replaced under this recall in June 2020 at 250 miles. The same issue now is happening one year later at 15k miles. This fix from Indian was not effective.

Engine
Filed Sep 14, 202017,800 milesCA

MULTIPLE TIME AFTER HAVING RECALL FOR 10A CIRCUIT BREAKER DONE BIKE HAS DIED ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED AS IF OUT OF GAS ONCE I PULL OVER AND TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON BIKE ACTS FINE AS THOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED I HAVE TAKEN IT TO NORTH COUNT INDIAN WHER I BOUGHT IT AND SINCE THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO REPEAT THEY STATED FINE AND BLEW IT OFF BUT BIKE HAS DONE IT 3 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT BACK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS MY LIFE IS IN DANGER ON THE FREEWAY IF THE BIKE CUTS OFF AND I CAN GET OFF I COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT INDIAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS ASAP!

Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/Center StandCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 24, 20196,519 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 INDIAN CHIEFTAIN. WHILE RIDING 40 MPH, THE KICKSTAND FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, THE KICKSTAND DUG INTO THE ROADWAY. AS A RESULT, THE MOTORCYCLE FLIPPED AROUND 180 DEGREES, STRUCK TWO MAILBOXES, DROVE THROUGH BRANCHES ON A PINE TREE, AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES ON THE RIGHT ELBOW AND CONTUSIONS ON THE LEG AND ELBOWS, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AWAY FROM THE CRASH SITE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO OFF ROAD EXPRESS (10320 WATTSBURG RD, ERIE, PA 16509, (814) 825-4747) TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROCEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,519.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20240200Routine
20230100Routine
2019 — this page3300Routine
20181400Routine
20172300Routine
20161400Routine
20152400Routine
20146400Routine

Compare every Chieftain year →

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: Dec 11, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.