2017 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 2017 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 12,000 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 2017 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% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 50% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 50% | 37,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Indian Chief recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:manual transmission; electrical system
Problem: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
Risk: If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.
Exterior lighting:headlights
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 indian chief. The contact stated that after the motorcycle was started and with the transmission in neutral, the motorcycle spontaneously accelerated and struck a side of the house. There was no police report filed. No injuries were reported. The motorcycle was taken to…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DECELERATING, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF MARIETTA AND SLINGSHOT OF MARIETTA (1750 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, [redacted]) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE…
Other Indian Chief years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chief | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Chief | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 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 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 2017 Indian Chief?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Indian Chief?
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 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chief model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.