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2017 Indian ChiefProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 2 owner complaints about the 2017 Indian Chief, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-776 the manufacturer reports only 64% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 64%Owner complaints20 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage12kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 24, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 Indian Chief has problems

2 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system10
Power train10
Service brakes10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2017 Indian Chief recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

64%repaired · 2022 Q1

Electrical system

Recall 19V-776 · Oct 29, 2019 · 52,745 vehicles · 33,738 repaired

Risk. If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

77%repaired · 2019 Q1

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 17V-682 · Oct 27, 2017 · 2,096 vehicles · 1,605 repaired

Risk. The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Indian.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other Chief year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Chief median. How we score

'99'00'01'02'03'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'22
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Chief owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN CHIEF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE MOTORCYCLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO…
Complaint 11311178 · Feb 24, 2020 · 12,000 miles

Own a 2017 Chief?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.