2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chieftain Dark Horse years
- Not enough data 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse. That is the most of any Chieftain Dark Horse model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is power train (1 complaints, 33%). There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 33% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights; exterior lighting:lighting control module:software
Problem: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief, 2015 Chief Classic, 2014-2018 Chieftain, 2015-2020 Chief Vintage, 2016-2018 Chieftain Darkhorse, 2016-2020 Springfield, 2017-2018 Chieftain Limited, and 2018-2019 Chieftain Classic motorcycles. The electrical connection for the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) may fail, causing a loss of the front lights, including the headlight.
Risk: The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the electrical connection and VCM, as necessary. Dealers will update the VCM software, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-02. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 19V-339.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While riding the motorcycle the windshield adjustment motor failed to raise the windshield from a lowered position to a raised position resulting in exposing my head to road hazards. The worm gear carrier that articulates the windshield is made of weak plastic.
I am in cruise control 6th gear and it turns off and the bike is in neutral. I have to shift to 5th. The gear indicator is also slow to change to what gear I am in. I had the gear sensor replaced under a recall but it seems to be the cause of this.
I have had this motorcycle for less than 1 year and the kickstand spring broke into two pieces. Luckily i was not riding when it happened because the kickstand will not stay up and if i was riding and made a left turn without knowing it was down i could have been thrown from the bike and killed
Other Indian Chieftain Dark Horse years
← 2017 Chieftain Dark Horse · 2019 Chieftain Dark Horse →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chieftain Dark Horse | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 Chieftain Dark Horse | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 Chieftain Dark Horse | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Chieftain Dark Horse | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 Chieftain Dark Horse | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 Chieftain Dark Horse | 0 | 1 |
See all Indian Chieftain Dark Horse problems by year, every Indian model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Indian models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse?
Owners most often report power train, unknown or other, visibility/wiper problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chieftain Dark Horse model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.