2001 Indian Chief Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chief years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Indian Chief. That ranks 2nd out of 14 Chief model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (3 complaints, 30%). There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 10owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 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 | 3 | 30% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Indian Chief recalls (2)
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.
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
- 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.
Consumer noticed an electrical short in vehicle causing damage to battery. Dealer has been notified. *ak
Consumer states while traveling 60 mph and without any indication vehicle stalled. *ak
The dealer refused to honor the recall for the windshield. *nlm
No summary listed for above mentioned motorcycle. *ak
Primary case is blowing out oil. Dealer cannot remedy. *ak
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 | 10 | 2 |
| 2000 Chief | 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 2001 Indian Chief?
Owners most often report suspension, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Indian Chief?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 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 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.