NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster Recalls & Complaints

The 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Indian dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster, describing incidents dated July 17, 2009.

Most-cited components

Steering 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

The complaint on file reports a crash, with 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10284497 · Filed September 18, 2009
WELD FAILURE ON THE FORK STOPS ON A 2009 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE. CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOSE CONTROL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND RESULTED IN A RIDER LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE WELD ON THE FORK DOWN TUBE THAT PREVENTS THE HANDLE BARS FROM TURNING TOO FAR BROKE OFF AND CAUSED A RIDER…

Read the full complaint

Rear Wheel Rim may Crack

NHTSA #13V391000 · Wheels — Rim · NHTSA notice

Reported August 30, 2013 · Indian Motorcycle Company

Potentially affected: 861 vehicles

Repair completion: 38.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified April 4, 2014 · Vehicles built December 10, 2008 – November 1, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2009 Deluxe and Standard, 2009-2011 Roadmaster, 2009-2013 Vintage, 2010 Bomber, 2010-2013 Classic and Dark Horse, 2011 Blackhawk Dark and Blackhawk motorcycles. The rear rim may crack and cause a loss of air pressure.

Safety consequence

The cracked rim can lead to a flat rear tire, which could cause the rider to lose control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear rim, free of charge. Indian mailed an interim letter to owners in September 2013. Parts are now available. A second notice was sent to owners during April 2014. Owners may contact Indian at 1-888-704-5290.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SIDE STAND RETRACTION FEATURE/FMVSS 123

NHTSA #11V344000 · Structure — Motorcycle — Kickstand/Center Stand · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2011 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 699 vehicles

Owners notified August 4, 2011

Defect description

POLARIS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 INDIAN MOTORCYCLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 123, "MOTORCYCLE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS." THE SIDE STAND MAY NOT FOLD REARWARD AND UPWARD IF IT CONTACTS THE GROUND WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS MOVING FORWARD.

Safety consequence

IF THE STAND DOES NOT FOLD REARWARD AND UPWARD WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE MOVES FORWARD, THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE STAND FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INDIAN AT 651-408-7579.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

BODY CONTROL MODULE

NHTSA #11V343000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2011 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 699 vehicles

Owners notified August 4, 2011 · Vehicles built December 10, 2008 – April 8, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

POLARIS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 INDIAN MOTORCYCLES FOR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) WHICH CAN CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT TO TURN OFF IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. IF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS SLOWLY MOVED FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER (HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM), BOTH BEAMS MAY BE ON MOMENTARILY AND THE BCM INTERPRETS THIS AS AN OVERLOAD CONDITION.

Safety consequence

THE BCM TURNS OFF THE HEADLIGHT UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THAT THE KEY IS TURNED ON. THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLARIS AT 1-651-408-7579.

Notes

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster.

Steering; Structure

ODI #10284497

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 17, 2009 · Filed: September 18, 2009

WELD FAILURE ON THE FORK STOPS ON A 2009 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE. CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOSE CONTROL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND RESULTED IN A RIDER LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE WELD ON THE FORK DOWN TUBE THAT PREVENTS THE HANDLE BARS FROM TURNING TOO FAR BROKE OFF AND CAUSED A RIDER TO CRASH. UPON INSPECTION OF THE WELD AFTER THE CRASH IT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT THE WELD IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE FORK STOP IN PLACE. REVIEW OF THE CALL OUT SHEETS FOR THE ASSEMBLY OF THE BIKES CALLS FOR A 1/4 INCH WELD ALL THE WAY AROUND THE FORK STOP LUG. THIS LUG HAS A 1/16TH TACK WELD ON 3 SIDES. IT APPEARS TO BE A TACK WELD THAT WAS PUT ON TO HOLD THE LUG IN PLACE PRIOR TO FINAL WELD. THE PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IS THAT WHEN THE WELD BREAKS IT ALLOWS THE BARS TO BE TURNED TOO FAR RESULTING IN AN ABILITY TO OVERSTEER THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAD THIS OVER STEER HAPPEN TO ME ON 3 OCCASIONS AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE OWNER OF THE BIKE WAS NOT SO LUCKY. IT CAUSED HIM TO CRASH IN A LOW SPEED TURN. I KNOW OF 1 OTHER INCIDENT WHERE A RIDER WENT DOWN IN A LOW SPEED TURN WHILE ON A DEMO RIDE IN THE NORTH EAST AREA OF THE UNITED STATES. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE LUG AND WELDS AND I CAN PROVIDE CALL OUT SHEETS FOR THE WELD FROM AN EARLIER VERSION OF THE FRAME THAT WAS ASSEMBLED IN GILROY, CALIFORNIA. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THIS ISSUE REALLY CONCERNS ME AS THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE LUG MIGHT BREAK. IN THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES THE OVER STEER CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR BODILY INJURY. I HAVE CONTACTED MR. CHRIS BERNAUER THE GENERAL MANAGER OF INDIAN MOTORCYCLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND HE REFUSES TO DISCUSS IT WITH ME. I CAN ALSO TELL YOU INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK FROM THE OWNER MR. JOHN WHITE AND NOW HAS IT IN THEIR KINGS MOUNTAIN FACILITY. I SUSPECT PART OF THE BUY BACK AGREEMENT WAS AN NDA. I AM NOT BOUND BY ANY NDA AND RODE THE MACHINE 8700 MILE. *TR

Check your 2009 Indian Chief Roadmaster VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Indian Chief Roadmaster at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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