2000 Indian Chief Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chief years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Indian Chief. That is the most of any Chief model year in the database (14 years). The most reported problem area is suspension (11 complaints, 28%). Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 40owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2000 Indian Chief problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 11 | 28% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 13% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 10% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2000 Indian Chief recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition can potentially cause the regulator to catch on fire.
Fix: 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.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: On certain motorcycles, the handle bar riser top clamp could allow excessive movement of the handle bars.
Risk: Loss of control of the motorcycle could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in the collapse of the rear suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Handlebar loosening (PE02037) — opened Mar 26, 2002, closed May 24, 2002, led to recall 02V144000.
- Rear suspension collapse (PE01039) — opened Nov 21, 2001, closed Apr 30, 2002, led to recall 02V124000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Horn doesnt work,charging system doesnt work,windshield comes lose. *la
The motorcycle has multiple problem s. The windshield is loose /the charger will not charge at all/battery has low cell, and brakes will not hold at all. *ak
Consumer states that t brakes have extended stopping distance. Dealer notified.*ak
The consumer received recall notice #03v039000 subject: voltage regulator. The consumer called kerry ford on 4/28/2003 who stated that the parts had to be ordered. The consumer had not received a call from kerry ford on the date when the recalled parts should have been available. *nlm
When the brakes are applied, the turn signals flash three times. While they are flashing, the turn signals can not be turned on which caused me to be struck in the side while making a left turn. *jb
Other Indian Chief years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chief | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Chief | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 Chief | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 Chief | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 Chief | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Chief | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 Chief | 4 | 4 |
| 2001 Chief | 10 | 2 |
| 2000 | 40 | 4 |
| 1999 Chief | 9 | 4 |
See all Indian Chief 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 2000 Indian Chief?
Owners most often report suspension, engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2000 Indian Chief?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2000 Indian Chief a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chief model years, the 2000 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.