2016 Indian Scout Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Indian Scout, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical333.3%
- Brakes222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Fuel system111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
- Steering111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2016 INDIAN SCOUT, 3036 MILES EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING AND RUNNING TERRIBLE. AFTER HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DECIDED TO TURN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE SLID AND THE BACK TIRE SQUEALED AND BIKE DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET SO IT APPEARS THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I'D LEFT PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER VEHICLE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER SUDDENLY STOPPING IT DIED AND SPUTTERED AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TRIES WITH TRAFFIC BACKING UP BEHIND ME TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START PERIODICALLY LAST YEAR BUT ITS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE, VERY CURVY, AND HILLY ROAD. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THIS ROAD.
THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS) AND THE MAIN CHASSIS HARNESS WAS NOT PROPERLY FASTENED BY THE FACTORY, AND FAILED AFTER RUBBING ON THE REAR TIRE FROM BEING UNPROPERLY FASTENED. THE BIKE LOST SAFETY SIGNALS AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
2016 INDIAN SCOUT, 3036 MILES EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING AND RUNNING TERRIBLE. AFTER HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DECIDED TO TURN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE SLID AND THE BACK TIRE SQUEALED AND BIKE DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET SO IT APPEARS THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I'D LEFT PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER VEHICLE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER SUDDENLY STOPPING IT DIED AND SPUTTERED AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TRIES WITH TRAFFIC BACKING UP BEHIND ME TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START PERIODICALLY LAST YEAR BUT ITS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE, VERY CURVY, AND HILLY ROAD. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THIS ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 INDIAN SCOUT 900. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY DEPRESSING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO INDIAN MOTORCYCLE REDLANDS (215 E REDLANDS BLVD, REDLANDS, CA 92373) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS GOING TO BE REPAIRED WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 641932. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,080.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2016 INDIAN SCOUT SIXTY HAS ONLY 1,526 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT, AND TOOK DELIVERY ON NOV. 1ST, 2016. WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ONE DAY RECENTLY, IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. IT FREQUENTLY SOUNDED LIKE IT MISFIRED, PLUS WHEN I ROLLED OUT ON THE THROTTLE AT TAKEOFF, AND AT CRUISING SPEEDS, IT WOULD BE DELAYED IN RESPONSE, INSTEAD OF INSTANTLY, WHICH IT ALWAYS DID BEFORE. I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE MORE THROTTLE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STANDSTILL JUST TO AVOID STALLING THE ENGINE.FINALLY WHEN I GOT HOME, THE FRONT END OF THE BAFFLES OF THE EXHAUST WAS TURNED BLUE, MEANING THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING LEAN, CREATING EXCESS HIGH HEAT. THE BAFFLES WERE CHROME COLORED BEFORE THIS. WHILE RIDING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, AND THEIR WAS A CHECK ENGINE CODE # 3056. I LOOKED UP THE CODE, AND IT INDICATED AN OXYGEN SENSOR WENT BAD. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A WELL MAINTAINED MOTORCYCLE, WITH ONLY 1,526 TOTAL MILES ON IT. THAT IS ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY SIX MILES TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION. THE AGE OF THE MOTORCYCLE IS IRRELEVANT. AS OF NOW, POLARIS INDICATES NO RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, AND THAT IS WHY I'M REPORTING IT. POLARIS NEEDS TO COVER 100% THE COST OF THIS REPAIR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER. I HAVE SAT AT A LIGHT, BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE ME TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER. I HAVE SAT AT A LIGHT, BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE ME TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A NEW LEFTOVER 2016 SCOUT ABS ON APRIL 8, 2017 FROM THE MARIETTA, GA DEALERSHIP. ON APRIL 19, 2017, I HAD TO SEMI-PANIC STOP AND BRAKE REALLY HARD WHEN AN SUV PULLED OUT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT ABOUT 30 MPH IN AN URBAN SETTING. ONCE I BEGAN ACCELERATING AGAIN, I NOTICED THE LEFT HANDGRIP HAD BROKEN LOOSE, SLID TOWARD THE END OF THE HANDLEBAR, AND WAS ONLY HOLDING ON BY A COUPLE OF INCHES. IT COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WITH A LOSS OF EQUALIZING HAND PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BAR. ON THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME, IT TURNED VERY FREELY. IT WAS VERY LOOSE TAKING ALMOST NO FORCE TO REMOVE/REPLACE IT. HAD I LET GO OF THE LEFT GRIP FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, THE WIND AND VIBRATION WOULD'VE SLID IT COMPLETELY OFF. IT IS NOT A STRETCH FIT HANDGRIP. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT A 2" TO 3" INCH SQUIGGLE OF ADHESIVE RESIDUE ONLY ON THE UPPER PART OF THE BAR. I HAD BEEN RIDING IN THE RAIN THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS STILL A LITTLE WET INSIDE THE HANDGRIP. THAT MAY BE AN EXTENUATING FACTOR, BUT STILL NOT A GOOD EXCUSE FOR IT TO COME OFF ONLY 11 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. IT MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MODEL YEARS AND THE SCOUT SIXTY MODEL, TOO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .