Indian Chieftain Problems by Year
NHTSA has 15 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on file for the Indian Chieftain, across 8 model years (2014–2024). The 2014 model year has the most complaints (6). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Indian Chieftain years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Chieftain model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2014 Chieftain: 6 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2019 Chieftain: 3 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2017 Chieftain: 2 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2016 Chieftain: 1 complaint, 4 recalls
- 2018 Chieftain: 1 complaint, 4 recalls
- 2015 Chieftain: 2 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Indian Chieftain problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 1 |
All Indian Chieftain model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chieftain | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2023 Chieftain | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2019 Chieftain | 3 | 3 | — | Engine | |
| 2018 Chieftain | 1 | 4 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 2017 Chieftain | 2 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Chieftain | 1 | 4 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2015 Chieftain | 2 | 4 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2014 Chieftain | 6 | 4 | — | Power Train |
More from Indian: all Indian models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian Chieftain years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2014 (6), 2019 (3), 2017 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Indian Chieftain?
Power Train, with 5 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Indian Chieftain have?
11 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.