2018 Indian Chieftain Limited Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chieftain Limited years
- Not enough data 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited. That is the most of any Chieftain Limited model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 20,000 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner 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 Limited 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% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Indian Chieftain Limited 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.
Loss of front lighting (headlight,Auxiliary lights). High Beam Indicator in dash blinking. Happened numerous times on trip. Would have been extremely dangerous in the dark. Being a motorcycle it makes it hard for other drivers to see me. The motorcycle is available for inspection and I will contact…
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 indian chieftain limited motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding approximately 70 mph, the motorcycle suddenly shut-off without warning. The contact stated that on two occasions he coasted to the shoulder and restarted the motorcycle. The motorcycle was not…
Other Indian Chieftain Limited years
← 2017 Chieftain Limited · 2023 Chieftain Limited →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chieftain Limited | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 Chieftain Limited | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 Chieftain Limited | 0 | 2 |
See all Indian Chieftain Limited problems by year, every Indian model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Indian models
Embed this 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited 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 Chieftain Limited?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited?
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 Limited a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chieftain Limited model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.