2017 Indian ROADMASTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
5,550 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 9 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 4 |
| 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: 4; 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 (4). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10957550 · 2017-02-28 (February 28, 2017)
POLARIS CASE # 4018942. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2017 AT ABOUT 5:00 ' 5:30PM EST, MY 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER (THE 'BIKE') RETURNED THREE COMPUTER ERRORS AND FAILED TO START WHILE I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 4260 PEACHTREE RD NE IN BROOKHAVEN, GA. THE INFORMATION CENTER ON THE BIKE DIRECTED ME TO 'CONTACT DEALER' (THE 'INCIDENT'). AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE BIKE HAD 837 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED DEALER AS INSTRUCTED, WHO REFERRED ME TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT PARTNER ("SERVICE"). SERVICE INSTRUCTED ME THAT THERE WERE KNOWN ISSUES WI…
Owner-reported narrative. 837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11029674 · 2018-03-02 (March 2, 2018)
2017 BUICK ROADMASTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE SAFETY DEFECTS CONCERNING UN ECE REGULATION 10/ CAR 1CES-002,PART 15/FCC RULES AND CAR LICENSE EXEMPT RSS 210,PN: 9925933, AND DEALERSHIP AND RECALL ISSUES. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11029674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083822 · 2018-04-08 (April 8, 2018)
THE CLUTCH CABLE RUBS THE DASH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DASH AND CABLE IN TIME THE CABLE COULD BRAKE AND LOOSE CONTROL BY NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219719 · 2019-06-13 (June 13, 2019)
LORS DE FORTE PLUIE , LE MOTEUR TOURNE SUR UN SEUL CYLINDRE ET CALE PARFOIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256150 · 2019-09-17 (September 17, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 POLARIS INDIAN ROAD MASTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. THE TOUCHSCREEN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH AFFECTED THE GPS SYSTEM, RADIO, VEHICLE STATUS, AND TIRE PRESSURE READINGS. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF LIBERTYVILLE (416 N MILWAUKEE AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, [phone removed]) SUBMITTED A GOODWILL WARRANTY CLAIM TO THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360520 · 2020-09-22 (September 22, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11360520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11480933 · 2022-08-24 (August 24, 2022)
I just had my recall replaced 3 TIMES because it was reading neutral in 6th gear and dropping me out of cruise AND NEVER start while in neutral ever
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11480933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11524391 · 2023-05-30 (May 30, 2023)
The clutch switch has failed open. If the engine stalls while in traffic, the rider is required to shift the transmission into neutral before the engine will restart. This could be a dangerous situation depending on what terrane the bike and rider are on. The normal operation for restart of the engine in a stall situation is to simply pull the clutch lever in and hit the start button. The starter should engage regardless of where the gear selector is as long as the clutch lever is pulled in. When researching this problem on YouTube and the Indi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11524391 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V877000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2016-12-06 (December 6, 2016)
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Vintage, Chieftan, Chieftan Dark Horse, Springfield and Roadmaster motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to July 15, 2016. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel rail may contact other components and result in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket that will limit movement of the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-16-03.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V055000 · Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk
Reported: 2018-01-16 (January 16, 2018)
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Roadmaster motorcycles. Water may enter the trunk wiring harness, potentially causing the brake light to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied.
Consequence: If the brake light remains illuminated when the brakes are not applied, a vehicle behind the motorcycle may not know when the motorcycle is actually slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trunk wiring harness with an updated harness that contains sealing plugs in the connectors, free of charge. The recall began on January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-18-01.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V776000 · Electrical System | Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2019-10-29 (October 29, 2019)
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
Consequence: If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.
NHTSA campaign record ↗