2003 Indian Spirit Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Dec 10, 2003 · 3 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Spirit years
Not enough data 3rd of 5 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Indian Spirit. That ranks 3rd out of 5 Spirit model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (3 complaints, 100%). There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2003 Indian Spirit problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Structure3
Exterior Lighting1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Structure3100%———
Exterior Lighting133%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2003 Indian Spirit recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

StructureAug 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V286000 · 6,570 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the weld attaching the fender mount to the front fork may crack and break.

Risk: This could cause the fender mount to fail resulting in the fender coming into contact with the wheel, resulting in the rider to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will bolt a bracket onto each front fork. This bracket will hold the fender mount in place even if the weld fails. Owner notification is expected to begin during august 2003. Owners should contact indian at 1-888-899-2997.

Exterior lighting:headlightsJul 22, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V258000 · 6,173 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the bracket used to support the teardrop headlight can crack, causing the bracket to break and the light to slip out of position or fall off.

Risk: This could cause a loss of visibility to the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a new bracket. Owner notification is expected to begin during august 2003. Owners should contact imc at 1-888-899-2997.

Fuel system, gasoline:deliveryApr 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V130000 · 1,643 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, due to the positioning of the gas tank vent tube, the vent tube can become clogged with debris, particularly in wet weather. Vent tube clogging can cause interruption of fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the engine to stop. A clogged vent tube may also cause pressure to build up in the gas tank and push a small amount of gas out of the fuel filler cap seal.

Risk: Fuel leakage in the present of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the current vent tube with a longer tube repositioned to prevent clogging. Owner notification began april 28, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact indian motorcycle at 1-888-899-2997.

Visibility:windshieldNov 15, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V311000 · 5,464 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the fasteners that bolt the windshield to the mounting clamps can break, causing the windshield to come partially or completely off the bike.

Risk: If this happens while the motorcycle is in use, the rider could be injured by the windshield.

Fix: Dealers will replace the windshields. Owner notification began january 16, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact indian motorcycle at 1-888-899-2997.

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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Headlight separates (PE03024) — opened Jun 4, 2003, closed Aug 11, 2003, led to recall 03V258000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Unable to have recall repairs completed due to company closing down.*mr the consumer stated there were no parts available from the manufacturer. *jb *nm

Structure · received Dec 2, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10050209

Recall #03v286000 concerning fender mount. Dealer cannot get the parts from the manufacturer to perform the repairs.*ak

Structure · received Oct 1, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10042053

Consumer received recall#03v258000 and recall# 03v286000. The sales dealer could not perform the repairs because they could not get into contact with the manufacturer to get the parts. Consumer requested a call back.*ak

Exterior Lighting · received Sep 26, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10040744

Other Indian Spirit years

← 2002 Spirit

YearComplaintsRecalls
200334
2002 Spirit57
2001 Spirit44
2000 Spirit01
1999 Spirit01

See all Indian Spirit 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 2003 Indian Spirit?

Owners most often report structure, exterior lighting problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 3 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Indian Spirit?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2003 Indian Spirit a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Spirit model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.