RoadVitals

2004 Independence Freedom Express

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Sep 14, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Independence Freedom Express, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), driver assistance and engine categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)216.7%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Other / unspecified18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Transmission18.3%
  • Electrical18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05045ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

MOTORCYCLE TAG BRACKET SEPARATION

Opened Aug 19, 2005
Closed Dec 13, 2005

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER TWO OWNERS OF MOTORCYCLES PRODUCED BY INDEPENDENCE MOTORCYCLE COMPANY OF TUCSON, ARIZONA, ALLEGED THAT THE SIDE MOUNT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET (SECURED AT THE REAR AXLE) SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE.WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BRACKET REMAINED CONNECTED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BY THE TAILLIGHT WIRING.ODI HAS INSPECTED SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES AND PEER MODELS AND MET WITH THEIR OWNERS.ODI ALSO HAS DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER, SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE DEALERS, SERVICE PERSONNEL, AND AFTERMARKET COMPONENT SUPPLIERS.DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND MEETINGS, ODI BECAME AWARE OF TWO ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF TAG BRACKET FAILURE.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW, IT APPEARS THAT THE ALLEGED BRACKET SEPARATION RESULTS FROM UNINTENDED CONTACT BETWEEN A DISC LOCK (INSTALLED BY OWNERS TO PREVENT THEFTS) AND THE TAG BRACKET.THIS OCCURS WHEN OPERATORS FORGET TO REMOVE THE DISC LOCK PRIOR TO RIDING.IF NOT FRACTURED IMMEDIATELY, THE BRACKET MAY BE WEAKENED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAIL WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS UNDERWAY.BASED ON THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY KNOWN TO ODI, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST.THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 14, 2013
Crash reported

CUSTOMER REPORTED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE RIDING. THE SECOND OCCASION HE WAS GOING FORTY MILES AN HOUR AND WAS THROWN FROM THE BIKE. COSMETIC DAMAGE TO BIKE WAS REPAIRED. HE NOW FEELS IT IS UNSAFE TO RIDE AND CANNOT SELL THE BIKE FOR FEAR OF THE NEXT OWNER BEING HURT OR KILLED.D THIS IS BEING REPORTED BY HIS REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543621
Incident
Sep 5, 2013
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+6 more
Filed Aug 3, 2005
1 injury reported

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF 15 MPH, THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE RIDING. THE LICENSE PLATE BRACKET BROKE 3 TIMES, AND IN ONE INCIDENT STRUCK THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE HAD DRIVELINE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE LICENSE PLATE BRACKET AS WELL AS THE HORN. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS ON THE DRIVE TRAIN AND MOTOR. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS: GAS TANK, EXHAUST PIPE, TURN SIGNAL AND TAIL LIGHTS, SHOCKS, BUSHINGS, BRAKE PADS AND THROTTLE LINKAGE, AND THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING OIL.

NHTSA ID
10124912
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
31 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 6, 2005

VEHICLE CUT OFF ALL OF THE TIME , AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID
10115455
Incident
May 10, 2004
Mileage
500 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Independence Freedom Express by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005001—
2004Viewing301—
2003201—
2002001—
2001110—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.