1999 Indian CHIEF: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2; Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 9 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 6; 2002: 2
Pattern summary
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 738157 · 2000-12-22 (December 22, 2000)
HANDLE BARS WILL PIVOT UP OR DOWN WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED. ALL HAND CONTROLS ARE OUT OF REACH OF THE RIDER, AND THE RIDER CAN NOT STEER THE MOTORCYCLE. IF THEY SLIP DOWNWARD, AS WAS MY CASE, THE RIDERS LEGS CAN BE PINNED BY EITHER THIER OWN ARMS OR THE HANDLE BARS. THIS IS A DEFECT KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALSHIP I BOUGHT THE BIKE FROM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020965 · 2002-10-16 (October 16, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER, DEALER IS CHARGING FOR RECALL. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8021048 · 2002-10-17 (October 17, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE 2 RECALLS ON BIKE REPAIRED SINCE 05/02. RECALL IDS: 02V144000 AND 02V124000. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS REPEATEDLY ADVISED WAITING ON PARTS. CONSUMER FINALLY SPOKE WITH OWNER WHO BLAMED DELAY ON CERTAIN EMPLOYEES NO LONGER WORKING FOR DEALERSHIP. OWNER ADVISED WOULD ORDER PARTS AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING NOW FOR 3.5 WEEKS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021048 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 890212 · 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)
MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCING SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH OR MORE, AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACE ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK THE FRONT MASTERCYLINDER FAILED. REAR PADS NEEDED REPLACING. REPLACE HEAD LIGHT BULB. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 890230 · 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)
REAR SHOCK BOLTS ARE SHEARING OFF THE TOP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACED SHOCKS ON EIGHT OCCASIONS. PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890230 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V124000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2002-05-03 (May 3, 2002)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MADE BY SWAY-A-WAY, THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS TO THE SWING ARM COULD BREAK.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN AT 1-408-846-7228.
NHTSA campaign record ↗02V144000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Reported: 2002-05-30 (May 30, 2002)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR RISER TOP CLAMP COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE BARS.
Consequence: LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL FIT THE MOTORCYCLES WITH A NEW RISER TOP CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-408-846-7228.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V039000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMPUFIRE BRAND SERIES TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATORS, IF DAMAGED, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN BECOME STUCK IN AN OPEN MODE THAT ALLOWS BATTERY VOLTAGE TO FLOW BACK THROUGH THE REGULATOR.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REGULATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V191000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
CERTAIN WINDSHIELDS THAT WERE SOLD AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THESE MOTORCYCLES OR SOLD AS ACCESSORIES FOR ALL OTHER CHIEF MODELS MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE BRACKETS. THE BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE MOTORCYCLE ARE FORMED SUCH THAT THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE NOT FLUSH WITH THE BRACKET. THIS COULD PLACE EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK.
Consequence: BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS COULD LEAD TO THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE AND EVEN FALLING OFF THE BIKE, POTENTIALLY STRIKING THE RIDER OR OTHERWISE CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKETS AND BOLTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.
NHTSA campaign record ↗