RoadVitals

2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse

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.
4
Latest Jul 14, 2025
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.
1
Latest Dec 6, 2016
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.
0
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Driver assistance116.7%
  • Exterior lighting116.7%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V877000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Dec 6, 2016
23,761 units potentially affected
The defect: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Vintage, Chieftan, Chieftan Dark Horse, Springfield and Roadmaster motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to July 15, 2016. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel rail may contact other components and result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket that will limit movement of the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-16-03.
Indian Motorcycle CompanyManufacturer number I-16-03View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jul 14, 2025

This vehicle has an issue with the gear position switch, which causes the wrong gear to display on the info screen intermittently. Sometimes at highway speed, with cruise control engaged, the bike will think it's in neutral, which cancels the cruise abruptly. The bike has been in for service for this issue many times, including a recall, but the issue persists, and the manufacturer has no more interest in trying to fix it on their dime. This is a huge safety issue and I think they should continue to pay to service the bike until this problem is fixed once and for all.

NHTSA ID
11673515
Incident
Jul 13, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed May 23, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Indian Motorcycle Chief Dark Horse. The contact stated while riding approximately 55-60 MPH on a rainy night, the motorcycle headlight turned off inadvertently. The high beam indicator warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact's son met him at the scene and brought an electrical wire that the contact connected to the light bulbs, and the headlights started working as needed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID
11465722
Incident
May 22, 2022
Mileage
38,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 15, 2018

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON & OFF WHILE IN FL IN MARCH, CODES 598 & 2348, CRUISE QUIT WORKING. JULY 12, 2018 TURNED OFF ONE RD ONTO ANOTHER, GETTING UP TO SPEED OF TRAFFIC. DOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN NOTICED DEER IN RD, APPLIED BRAKES ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK UP RATHER THAN ABS WORK. BIKE STARTED IN SLIDE/FISH TAIL, LET OFF AND RECOVERED. NOW ABS LIGHT ON AND NOT WORKING. BIKE HAS JUST 17,265 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
11111420
Incident
Jul 12, 2018
Mileage
17,265 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

M/C WAS PARKED, KICKSTAND DOWN, ENGINE OFF, TRANSMISSION IN FIRST GEAR. BEFORE STARTING, ELECTRICAL ON/OFF BUTTON, LOCATED ON GAS TANK, WAS ENGAGED. GEAR IDENTIFICATION LIGHT SHOWED FIRST GEAR, CLUTCH LEVER RETRACTED, TRANSMISSION FOOT PEG WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, LIGHT SHOWED NEUTRAL. ENGINE START BUTTON, LOCATED NEAR RIGHT HAND CONTROL, WAS ACTIVATED. ENGINE STARTED, M/C MOVED FORWARD AT RAPID SPEED, CAUSING THE RIDER TO RELEASE HOLD OF HANDLEBARS. RIDER IS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO REACH AND DEPRESS THE ELECTRICAL ON/OFF BUTTON, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE M/C CONTINUES FORWARD AT SPEED, FALLS TO ITS RIGHT AND SLAMS THE RIDER AGAINST THE PARKING LOT ASPHALT PAVEMENT. THE M/C RIGHTS ITSELF, CONTINUES FORWARD, FALLS TO ITS LEFT SIDE THROWING THE RIDER TO THE PAVEMENT. RIDER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, ONE BROKEN RIB, BROKEN COLLARBONE, COLLAPSED LUNG ON HIS RIGHT SIDE. RIDER WAS WEARING A FULL FACE HELMET, PADDED MOTORCYCLE JACKET, PADDED MOTORCYCLE PANTS, PADDED RIDING GLOVES, 8 INCH LEATHER LACE UP BOOTS. INDIAN MOTORCYCLES HAVE A SAFETY SWITCH ON THE KICKSTAND WHICH DO NOT ALLOW THE M/C TO START IF THE STAND IS DOWN AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR. THE M/C WILL NOT START IF IT IS IN GEAR, WITHOUT THE CLUTCH LEVER BEING PULLED IN. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT SHOWED NEUTRAL, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN FIRST GEAR, WHICH ALLOWED THE START BUTTON TO ENGAGE. IN THIS CASE, BOTH THE KICKSTAND SAFETY AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WERE FAULTY, WHICH ALLOWED THE STARTER BUTTON TO ENGAGE. PROGRESSIVE CLAIM NUMBER...18-4423966, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL REPORT NUMBER...9650-2018-01420. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON ALL 2018 MOTORCYCLES STATING THAT THEIR MOTORCYCLE MAY START UNEXPECTEDLY.

NHTSA ID
11096400
Incident
Apr 20, 2018
Mileage
7,900 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

I-22-03-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Indian Motorcycle identified that on Indian Scout Models there is a potential for damage to occur to electrical hardware or the vehicle harness if the battery ground cable and ground joint is not connected properly. Damage can occur during procedures that require the battery cable to be disconnected or during battery removal and installation.

IND-02-14-2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Best practices for gauges, speedometers, and tachometers providing information regarding how to clean and maintain. The version has been translated into French.

I-20-06 R02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Indian Motorcycle has determined that some 2014-2020 Full–Size (111 c.i. / 116 c.i.) and 2020 Challenger models sold in Japan show compliance concerns due to operating range frequency of key fob, Vehicle Control Module (VCM) or Wireless Control Module (WCM), and Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Mentioned devices operate in restricted in Japan frequency of 433Hhz.

IDH-HOLD

EQUIPMENT

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: STOP SALE on affected motorcycle(s) identified in your inventory until further notice.

I-20-06 R01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Indian Motorcycle has determined that some 2014-2020 Full–Size (111 c.i. / 116 c.i.) and 2020 Challenger models sold in Japan show compliance concerns due to operating range frequency of key fob, Vehicle Control Module (VCM) or Wireless Control Module (WCM), and Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Mentioned devices operate in restricted in Japan frequency of 433Hhz.

I-20-12-01

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This Team Tip has been released by Indian Motorcycle to provide information regarding odometer maintenance and address concerns about correct odometer value.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Indian Chief Dark Horse by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000—
2022230—
2019010—
2018020—
2017020—
2016Viewing410—
2015010—
2014010—
2010000—

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.