Indian CHIEF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
70 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
4,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 70 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
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 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Suspension: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Suspension:Rear: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 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: 5; 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 (5). 64 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 | 5 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 25; 2002: 19; 2003: 15; 2004: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 889553 · 2001-06-01 (June 1, 2001)
OIL LEAKAGES; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER HAD FRONT AND REAR BRAKES SERVICE, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REBUILT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FRONT ROCKER COVER LEKING, HEAD LIGHTS AND DRIVING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, OIL LEAKING AT PUSH RODS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 890209 · 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)
AT 4,000 MILES FRONT BRAKES WOULD FADE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLASH, FRONT BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL ON TWO OCCASIONS, REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY THREE OCCASIONS, FRONT ROTOR WARPED, REAR MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE, DRIVE BELT NOISY, OIL LEAK, ENGINE BACKFIRES. REAR TURN SIGNAL LENS COLLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890209 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 889555 · 2001-06-01 (June 1, 2001)
5 SPEED TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889555 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 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 10024953 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024953 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 ↗
Owner report 11499309 · 2022-12-29 (December 29, 2022)
At 70mph on I-95 in the outside lane between Rt 50 and Rt 46 in Titusville FL, the vehicle tipover sensor triggered causing the motorcycle to engine to shut down. The roads were clear and dry, it was night time with no streetlights. The motorcycle immediately began to slow down, causing cars to veer around us as we coasted off the road and onto the shoulder. We were able to clear the alert and get the motorcycle to our FL residence (We winter in FL, reside in MA). On the way home, it triggered two more times, but we were on surface roads with l…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11499309 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2022: 2