NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Indian Chief Recalls & Complaints

The 2000 Indian Chief has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Indian dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2000 Indian Chief. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2000 Indian Chief owner complaints

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Indian Chief, describing incidents dated July 2, 1999 to September 23, 2003.

Most-cited components

Suspension 11 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Exterior Lighting 5 complaints
Steering 5 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
Service Brakes 4 complaints

Of the 40 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 40 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10041630 · Filed October 11, 2003
HORN DOESNT WORK,CHARGING SYSTEM DOESNT WORK,WINDSHIELD COMES LOSE. *LA
ODI #10040434 · Filed September 23, 2003
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEM S. THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE /THE CHARGER WILL NOT CHARGE AT ALL/BATTERY HAS LOW CELL, AND BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD AT ALL. *AK
ODI #10031487 · Filed July 30, 2003
CONSUMER STATES THAT T BRAKES HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Read all 40 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2000 Indian Chief in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE02-037: HANDLEBAR LOOSENING
Closed May 24, 2002
- Recall 02V-144
Preliminary Evaluation PE01-039: REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE
Closed April 30, 2002
- Recall 02V-124

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

INDIAN/WINDSHIELDS

NHTSA #03V191000 · Visibility — Windshield · NHTSA notice

Reported May 5, 2003 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 3,625 vehicles

Indian campaign IMCSB-056 · Owners notified May 30, 2003 · Vehicles built July 1, 2000 – March 3, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE/VOLTAGE REGULATOR

NHTSA #03V039000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported February 10, 2003 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 7,947 vehicles

Indian campaign IMCSB-045 · Owners notified February 14, 2003 · Vehicles built March 1, 1999 – May 20, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RECALL BULLETIN NO. IMCSB-045. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE/HANDLE BAR

NHTSA #02V144000 · Steering — Steering Wheel/Handle Bar · NHTSA notice

Reported May 30, 2002 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 4,765 vehicles

Indian campaign IMCSB-040 · Owners notified May 31, 2002 · Vehicles built March 1, 1999 – August 30, 2000 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR RISER TOP CLAMP COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE BARS.

Safety consequence

LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL FIT THE MOTORCYCLES WITH A NEW RISER TOP CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 31, 2002. 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 1-408-846-7228.

Notes

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RECALL BULLETIN NO. IMCSB-040. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE/SHOCK ABSORBER

NHTSA #02V124000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 2002 · INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY

Potentially affected: 4,590 vehicles

Indian campaign IMCSB-039 · Owners notified May 8, 2002 · Vehicles built June 1, 1999 – October 31, 2000 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MADE BY SWAY-A-WAY, THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS TO THE SWING ARM COULD BREAK.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2002. 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 AT 1-408-846-7228.

Notes

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RECALL BULLETIN NO. IMCSB-039. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 Indian Chief. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

40 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Indian Chief.

Electrical System; Visibility

ODI #10041630

Incident: September 1, 2003 · Filed: October 11, 2003

HORN DOESNT WORK,CHARGING SYSTEM DOESNT WORK,WINDSHIELD COMES LOSE. *LA

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Electrical System; Visibility

ODI #10040434

Incident: September 23, 2003 · Filed: September 23, 2003

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEM S. THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE /THE CHARGER WILL NOT CHARGE AT ALL/BATTERY HAS LOW CELL, AND BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD AT ALL. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10031487

Incident: June 14, 2003 · Filed: July 30, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT T BRAKES HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Electrical System

ODI #10020475

Filed: May 23, 2003

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #03V039000 SUBJECT: VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER CALLED KERRY FORD ON 4/28/2003 WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM KERRY FORD ON THE DATE WHEN THE RECALLED PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. *NLM

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10016418

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: September 9, 2000 · Filed: April 23, 2003

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE TURN SIGNALS FLASH THREE TIMES. WHILE THEY ARE FLASHING, THE TURN SIGNALS CAN NOT BE TURNED ON WHICH CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK IN THE SIDE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *JB

Electrical System

ODI #10014973

Filed: April 1, 2003

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10014791

Incident: March 31, 2003 · Filed: March 31, 2003

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR FOR A LEAK, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

Steering

ODI #10009469

Incident: September 15, 2002 · Filed: February 26, 2003

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED REGARDING THE WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR.*JB

Structure

ODI #9001776

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 2, 1999 · Filed: April 14, 2000

GOING AROUND A LEFT HAND CORNER AT 50 MPH THE LEFT FLOOR BOARD SCRAPED ON GROUND CONSISTANTLY LOOSE CONTROL SENDING BIKE TO THE GROUND.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #8021163

Incident: September 18, 2002 · Filed: October 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY DIED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE BULB. DEALER STATED THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THREE WEEKS LATER LIGHTS SHORTED OUT AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

Other Indian Chief model years

Check your 2000 Indian Chief VIN

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

Check an Indian VIN