2017 Indian Chieftain Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chieftain years
- Not enough data 3rd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Indian Chieftain. That ranks 3rd out of 8 Chieftain model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%). 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 2017 Indian Chieftain 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% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 50% | 27,660 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Indian Chieftain recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software; exterior lighting:headlights
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; 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.
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Indian Chieftain Motorcycle. The contact stated while riding the motorcycle at an undisclosed speed, the high beam indicator warning light illuminated. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. The contact stated that an appointment was…
I've received emails from polaris indicating active a recall but do not see the recall on your site when searching by vin.
Other Indian Chieftain years
← 2016 Chieftain · 2018 Chieftain →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chieftain | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 Chieftain | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Chieftain | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 Chieftain | 1 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 | 3 |
| 2016 Chieftain | 1 | 4 |
| 2015 Chieftain | 2 | 4 |
| 2014 Chieftain | 6 | 4 |
See all Indian Chieftain 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 2017 Indian Chieftain?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Indian Chieftain?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 Indian Chieftain a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chieftain model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.