2018 Indian Chief Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chief years
- Not enough data 9th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
NHTSA has received no owner complaints about the 2018 Indian Chief so far. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 0owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
2018 Indian Chief recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system; power train:manual transmission
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.
Electrical system
Problem: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2018 Indian Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Chieftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, Springfield Dark Horse, Roadmaster, Roadmaster Elite, Roadmaster Icon, and Roadmaster Classic motorcycles. Corrosion may develop within the right combination switch, potentially resulting in the motorcycle starting without the user's intent if the key fob is near the motorcycle and the required safety interlock conditions are met.
Risk: If the motorcycle starts unintentionally and is parked in an enclosed space, exposure to carbon monoxide may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right hand combination switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-18-04.
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.
Other Indian Chief years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chief | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 Chief | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 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 Chief | 40 | 4 |
| 1999 Chief | 9 | 4 |
See all Indian Chief problems by year, every Indian model, or the VIN decoder.
Embed this 2018 Indian Chief badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Indian Chief?
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file yet.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Indian Chief?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.