RoadVitals

2014 Indian Chief Vintage

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.
6
Latest May 22, 2018
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.
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Indian Chief Vintage, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and body & structure categories. 20 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

  • Engine233.3%
  • Fuel system233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%

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

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed May 22, 2018

WHILE IN MOTION AT 65 MPH ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY THE MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER. THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWO TIMES. AFTER EACH REPAIR THE BIKE WAS OKAY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAN THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
11097237
Incident
May 9, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2017

RECALL NOT PERFORMED AND MOTORCYCLE SOLD WITHOUT REPAIRS. DEALER IS DESERT THUNDER INDIAN MOTORCYCLE IN KINGMAN, AZ. MOTORCYCLE DID NOT START AND WAS TRAILED TO INDIAN MOTORCYCLE WHO SERVICED THE MOTORCYCLE IN LAS VEGAS. RECALLS WERE PREFORMED AND BATTERY POST REPLACED AFTER PURCHASING A NEW BATTERY DUE TO DEAD BATTERY FROM SELLER. SELLER WAS CALLED REGARDING RECALL AND STATED THE RECALL NOTICE IS NOT SENT TO THE DEALERS AND THE RECALL NOTICES WAS SENT TO THE PRIOR OWNER. ALSO STATED THAT HE DID NOT LOOK UP THE RECALL AND ADMITTED THAT HE WAS WRONG. THE DEALER WANTS A COPY O F THE SERVICE BILL SENT TO HIM FOR REVIEW AND REFUSES TO OFFER ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THE ERROR. I WOULD LIKE THE SADDLEBAGS AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AS COMPENSATION FOR MY INCONVENIENCE. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THAT I AM THREATENING HIM WHEN I SAID I WOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY AND YOUR AGENCIES. HE STARTED YELLING AT ME AND TELLING ME THAT I WAS THREATENING SO THAT I WOULD NOT ASK FOR ANY COMPENSATION. I HAVE CONTACTED INDIAN CORPORATION AND OPENED A COMPLAINT #4367648. THIS PURCHASE WAS ON 12-12-17 AND THE SERVICE WAS ON 12-14-17.

NHTSA ID
11055803
Incident
Dec 20, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V877000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10956814
Incident
Dec 6, 2016
Filed Jun 1, 2015

MOTORCYCLE WAS JUST PURCHASED ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, IT WAS CONSIDERED NEW BUT WAS A DEALER DEMO MODEL. WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO AN INTERSTATE ON-RAMP THE LEFT SIDE LEATHER SADDLE BAG BECAME UNATTACHED FROM MOTORCYCLE CAUSING IT TO FLY OFF OF VEHICLE AND LANDING ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY. OWNER PROCEEDED TO NEXT EXIT AND CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS EARLIER AND OWNER DID NOT OPEN LEFT SADDLE BAG, THE DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE THE BAG FREE OF CHARGE. AS OF WRITING THIS COMPLAINT THOUGH (1 JUNE 2015) OWNER HAS NOT RECEIVED REPLACEMENT SADDLE BAG.

NHTSA ID
10722639
Incident
May 16, 2015
Mileage
1,100 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE QUICK RELEASE LATCH THAT ATTACHED THE CONTACT'S SADDLE BAGS TO THE VEHICLE BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT DID NOT INSTALL THE SADDLE BAGS CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

NHTSA ID
10610446
Incident
Jun 29, 2014
Mileage
2,400 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 INDIAN CHIEF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE N14CCVAARB. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH THE SADDLE BAG FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS MADE ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,175.

NHTSA ID
10592815
Incident
May 13, 2014
Mileage
3,100 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

ISA-20-03

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Indian Motorcycle has identified a potential calibration issue affecting some 111/116 c.i. motorcycles. When active, the P1530 fault causes the motorcycle to operate in a reduced power (limp) mode.

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 Vintage by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2020010
2019010
2018130
2017120
2016120
2015420
2014Viewing600
2010000
2009030
2003030
2002010

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.