2000 Indian CHIEF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
4,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 40 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Suspension: 4; Suspension:Rear: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2
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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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). 38 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 8 |
2000: 4; 2001: 13; 2002: 15; 2003: 8
Pattern summary
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10016418 · 2003-04-23 (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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031487 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT T BRAKES HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765040 · 2002-08-01 (August 1, 2002)
MOTORCYCLE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 40 MPH WENT INTO A SKID ALMOST HIT BY VEHICLE BEHIND ME TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. NEW TRANS INSTALLED AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY REPLACED TRANS UNDER WARRANTY WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION -------- FRONT SUSPENSION DIVES WHEN BRAKING HAS BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES.STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM EVEN WORSE IS THAT THE FRONT END WOBBLES LEFT TO RIGHT AT 65-70MPH IN GRADUAL TURNS UNSTABLE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765042 · 2002-08-01 (August 1, 2002)
MOTORCYCLE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 40 MPH WENT INTO A SKID AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. TRANSMISSION FAILED. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE REPLACED TRANS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. NEW TRANS INSTALLED AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY....FRONT SUSPENSION DIVES WHEN BRAKING AND WOBBLES LEFT TO RIGHT AT 65-70 MPH IN GRADUAL TURNS UNSTABLE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.KICKSTAND HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES.KICK STAND AND FLOORBO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040434 · 2003-09-23 (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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8021163 · 2002-10-18 (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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8013596 · 2002-07-10 (July 10, 2002)
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MOTORCYCLE WOULD STALL OUT AND DIE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE. *AK THE REAR CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND STALL OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8013596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 882008 · 2001-03-02 (March 2, 2001)
CONSUMER HAD FOUND HANDLE BAR LOOSE. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO NO CONTROL ON STEERING. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE THEY SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH TRIPPLE BAR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRIPLE BAR WITH ALUMINIUM BAR INSTEAD OF THE ONE THAT FACTORY HAD INSTALLED. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882008 at NHTSA ↗