2003 Indian Chief Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chief years
- Not enough data 5th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Indian Chief. That ranks 5th out of 14 Chief model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 2,500 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 50% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 50% | 2,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Indian Chief recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: On certain motorcycles, due to the positioning of the gas tank vent tube, the vent tube can become clogged with debris, particularly in wet weather. Vent tube clogging can cause interruption of fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the motorcycle to stop. A clogged vent tube may also cause pressure to build up in the gas tank and push a small amount of gas out of the fuel filler cap seal.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the present of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the current vent tube with a longer tube repositioned to prevent clogging. Owner notification began may 13, 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.
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.
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.
Ignition switch fails causing engine to back fire and quit. Switch has been replaced with oem switch 3 times with same result! Front brake leaver has excessive travel at times limiting braking potential on front tire. Problem is intermittent. Rear drive belt is wearing rear pulley excessively…
All 2002 and 2003 chief models have a kick stand that does not have a locking mechanism like prior year models. This allows the kick stand to fold up at the slightest forward movement of the motorcycle and the vehicle to fall over causing serious injury to any person, or crush and kill a child…
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 | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 Chief | 4 | 4 |
| 2001 Chief | 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 2003 Indian Chief?
Owners most often report electrical system, equipment, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Indian Chief?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 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 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.