NHTSA vehicle safety data

2017 Indian Chief Recalls & Complaints

The 2017 Indian Chief has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 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 2017 Indian Chief. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2017 Indian Chief owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Indian Chief, describing incidents dated April 1, 2019 to June 29, 2019.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11311178 · Filed February 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE MOTORCYCLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO…
ODI #11193406 · Filed April 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DECELERATING, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF MARIETTA AND SLINGSHOT OF MARIETTA (1750 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, (770) 956-9577) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE…

Read all 2 complaints

Gear Position Display May Be Inaccurate

NHTSA #19V776000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported October 29, 2019 · Indian Motorcycle Company

Potentially affected: 52,745 vehicles

Repair completion: 73.8% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Indian campaign I-19-03 · Owners notified April 16, 2020 · Vehicles built August 20, 2012 – July 29, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

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.

Incorrect Headlight Installed/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #17V682000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported October 27, 2017 · Indian Motorcycle Company

Potentially affected: 2,096 vehicles

Repair completion: 76.57% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Indian campaign I-17-03 · Owners notified December 6, 2017 · Vehicles built April 5, 2017 – August 16, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Indian Motorcycles Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Cheiftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. These motorcycles may be equipped with a European-market, not US-market, halogen headlight assembly. 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."

Safety consequence

The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-17-03.

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2017 Indian Chief. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Indian Chief.

Power Train; Electrical System

ODI #11311178

Incident: June 29, 2019 · Filed: February 24, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE MOTORCYCLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN BIKER LOCATED AT 679 TREELAND DR, LADSON, SC 29456, HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Service Brakes

ODI #11193406

Incident: April 1, 2019 · Filed: April 2, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DECELERATING, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF MARIETTA AND SLINGSHOT OF MARIETTA (1750 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, (770) 956-9577) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *TT *BF CONSUMER STATED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BAD AND VIBRATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY INDIAN WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM. *JB

Other Indian Chief model years

Check your 2017 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.

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