Indian CHIEFTAIN DARK HORSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
6,348 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 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 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 42.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 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). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 11447437 · 2022-01-14 (January 14, 2022)
NHTSA, My 2019 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse had stage 2 Cams installed and tune on November 24, 2021, by an approved Indian dealership of Peoria. Since then my motorcycle has been shutting off while driving on city streets when downshifting while slowing down or upshifting when taking off from a stop position. I have brought it to the attention of the dealer but found no issue and no trouble codes found from the motorcycle. The only correction was a reflash for the ECM. Spoke to the national Indian Motorcycle customer service about my issue …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11577177 · 2024-03-13 (March 13, 2024)
The contact owns a 2019 Indian Chieftain Darkhorse. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and shifting into the next gear, the gear shift lever was not showing which gear the vehicle was driving in. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was occurring at various speeds and caused the vehicle to stall while slowing for traffic. The contact stated that the gear shift indicator indicated that the vehicle was in second gear and the vehicle was in third gear and the engine became bogged down and the vehicle stalled …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 11577177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11541115 · 2023-08-28 (August 28, 2023)
The contact owns a 2020 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse Motorcycle. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while her son was riding at undisclosed speeds, the motorcycle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the motorcycle. No warning light was illuminated. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11541115 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 0; 2023: 1; 2024: 2