Indian CHIEF DARK HORSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
17,265 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 50.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 33.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11096400 · 2018-05-16 (May 16, 2018)
M/C WAS PARKED, KICKSTAND DOWN, ENGINE OFF, TRANSMISSION IN FIRST GEAR. BEFORE STARTING, ELECTRICAL ON/OFF BUTTON, LOCATED ON GAS TANK, WAS ENGAGED. GEAR IDENTIFICATION LIGHT SHOWED FIRST GEAR, CLUTCH LEVER RETRACTED, TRANSMISSION FOOT PEG WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, LIGHT SHOWED NEUTRAL. ENGINE START BUTTON, LOCATED NEAR RIGHT HAND CONTROL, WAS ACTIVATED. ENGINE STARTED, M/C MOVED FORWARD AT RAPID SPEED, CAUSING THE RIDER TO RELEASE HOLD OF HANDLEBARS. RIDER IS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO REACH AND DEPRESS THE ELECTRICAL ON/OFF BUTTON, TURNING OFF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465722 · 2022-05-23 (May 23, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Indian Motorcycle Chief Dark Horse. The contact stated while riding approximately 55-60 MPH on a rainy night, the motorcycle headlight turned off inadvertently. The high beam indicator warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact's son met him at the scene and brought an electrical wire that the contact connected to the light bulbs, and the headlights started working as needed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repai…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11465722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11644359 · 2025-02-23 (February 23, 2025)
The unit stalls upon startup, within minutes of takeoff from a start (both cold and warm), and even occasionally while riding and decelerating. Unsolicited stalling of unit creates unpredictable riding conditions and immediate loss of power and control while riding. Independent shop notated that the unit stalled on them both before and after a service (oil and plugs). Dealer may not admit but I witnessed numerous times from two different dealers in which they started it up in the back of the shop and I heard it stall on them as they were bringi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11644359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111420 · 2018-07-15 (July 15, 2018)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON & OFF WHILE IN FL IN MARCH, CODES 598 & 2348, CRUISE QUIT WORKING. JULY 12, 2018 TURNED OFF ONE RD ONTO ANOTHER, GETTING UP TO SPEED OF TRAFFIC. DOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN NOTICED DEER IN RD, APPLIED BRAKES ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK UP RATHER THAN ABS WORK. BIKE STARTED IN SLIDE/FISH TAIL, LET OFF AND RECOVERED. NOW ABS LIGHT ON AND NOT WORKING. BIKE HAS JUST 17,265 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111420 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2022: 3