2017 Indian Chief Vintage Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 22, 2022 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Chief Vintage years
Not enough data 3rd of 11 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2017 Indian Chief Vintage. That ranks 3rd out of 11 Chief Vintage model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 287 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2017 Indian Chief Vintage problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Structure1 · ~287 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Structure1100%287——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2017 Indian Chief Vintage recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Exterior lighting:headlights; exterior lighting:lighting control module:softwareAug 19, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V635000 · 28,689 vehicles

Problem: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief, 2015 Chief Classic, 2014-2018 Chieftain, 2015-2020 Chief Vintage, 2016-2018 Chieftain Darkhorse, 2016-2020 Springfield, 2017-2018 Chieftain Limited, and 2018-2019 Chieftain Classic motorcycles. The electrical connection for the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) may fail, causing a loss of the front lights, including the headlight.

Risk: The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the electrical connection and VCM, as necessary. Dealers will update the VCM software, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-02. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 19V-339.

Exterior lighting:headlightsOct 27, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V682000 · 2,096 vehicles

Problem: Indian Motorcycles Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Cheiftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. These motorcycles may be equipped with a European-market, not US-market, halogen headlight assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-17-03.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

I recently purchased this bike new from lynwood motoplex here in the state of wa. It now has only 287 miles on it and the sidestand spring, part no. 7043056 broke in half. If this happened while i was riding and turning left this could cause injury or death by jacknifing the motorcycle. Vehicle was…

Structure · received Feb 10, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11072100

Other Indian Chief Vintage years

← 2016 Chief Vintage · 2018 Chief Vintage →

See all Indian Chief Vintage problems by year, every Indian model, or the VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Indian Chief Vintage?

Owners most often report structure problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Indian Chief Vintage?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 Indian Chief Vintage a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chief Vintage model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.