Indian Chief Problems by Year
NHTSA has 70 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls on file for the Indian Chief, across 14 model years (1999–2022). The 2000 model year has the most complaints (40). The most reported problem area overall is suspension.
Indian Chief years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Chief year: 2000, 2001. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 Chief: 40 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2001 Chief: 10 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1999 Chief: 9 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2015 Chief: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2003 Chief: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2017 Chief: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Indian Chief problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 19 | 3 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Power Train | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Indian Chief model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chief | 2 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2019 Chief | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2018 Chief | 0 | 3 | — | — | |
| 2017 Chief | 2 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Chief | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2015 Chief | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2014 Chief | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2013 Chief | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2012 Chief | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2003 Chief | 2 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 Chief | 4 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2001 Chief | 10 | 2 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Chief | 40 | 4 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Chief | 9 | 4 | — | Suspension |
More from Indian: all Indian models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian Chief years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (40), 2001 (10) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Chief year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Indian Chief?
Suspension, with 19 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Indian Chief have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.