Reliability & cost of ownership
Indian Chief Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Indian Chief? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Indian Chief problems by model year
30 recall entries and 61 owner complaints on file across 14 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chief | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2019 Chief | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2018 Chief | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 Chief | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2016 Chief | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2015 Chief | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2014 Chief | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2013 Chief | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2012 Chief | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2003 Chief | 2 | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 Chief | 4 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 Chief | 2 | 10 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 Chief | 4 | 40 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 Chief | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Indian Chief, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- suspension14 complaints
- electrical system10 complaints
- engine and engine cooling9 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic8 complaints
- exterior lighting5 complaints
- steering5 complaints
- structure5 complaints
- power train4 complaints