The Used Car Index

2018 Indian Chieftain Limited problems

NHTSA lists 2 complaints for the 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as INDIAN CHIEFTAIN LIMITED.

At a glance

Complaints
2
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
28,689
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
32

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM150.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING150.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control150.0%0.69
visibility or lighting150.0%0.67
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate2100.0%0.88

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 2 tagged complaints of 2 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

22V635000

Date: 2022-08-19. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief, 2015 Chief Classic, 2014-2018 Chieftain, 2015-2020 Chief Vintage, 2016-2018 Chieftain Darkhorse, 2016-2020 Springfield, 2017-2018 Chieftain Limited, and 2018-2019 Chieftain Classic motorcycles. The electrical connection for the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) may fail, causing a loss of the front lights, including the headlight.

Consequence: The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the electrical connection and VCM, as necessary. Dealers will update the VCM software, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-02. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 19V-339.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V228000

Date: 2018-04-10. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2018 Indian Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Chieftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, Springfield Dark Horse, Roadmaster, Roadmaster Elite, Roadmaster Icon, and Roadmaster Classic motorcycles. Corrosion may develop within the right combination switch, potential (excerpt)

Consequence: If the motorcycle starts unintentionally and is parked in an enclosed space, exposure to carbon monoxide may increase the risk of injury. (excerpt)

Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right hand combination switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-18-04. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V682000

Date: 2017-10-27. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: Indian Motorcycles Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Cheiftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. These motorcycles may be equipped with a European-market, not US-market, halogen headlight assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to co (excerpt)

Consequence: The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-17-03. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

32 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
EQUIPMENT19
POWER TRAIN5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
SERVICE BRAKES1
STRUCTURE1

11015422

Date: 2025-02-13. Type: Other. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

This Indian Motorcycle help center article provides information regarding brake inspection and maintenance regarding 2014+ Indian Chieftain motorcycles.

10219495

Date: 2022-08-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Indian Motorcycle has determined that an electrical defect may exist in 2014-2020 Heavyweight Air Cooled Indian Motorcycles, resulting in the unexpected loss of forward lighting. This defect may also cause heat damage to the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) and Pin 11 of the center VCM connector. Ind

10209965

Date: 2022-03-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: 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

10208642

Date: 2022-02-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.

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

10189624

Date: 2021-03-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Indian Motorcycle has determined that some 2014-2020 FullA?A A 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 (TP

10189626

Date: 2021-03-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

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

10189623

Date: 2021-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Indian Motorcycle has determined that some 2014-2020 FullA?A A 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 (TP

10185170

Date: 2020-12-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: 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.

10185171

Date: 2020-12-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: 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.

10178896

Date: 2019-12-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN.

Indian Motorcycle has determined the gear position switch used on 2014-2019 (111 c.i.) motorcycles may provide an inaccurate signal, which can lead to an incorrect gear being displayed. Oxidation on the contacts of the gear position switch may cause a change in resistance values resulting in the rid

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
CHIEFTAIN LIMITED2

Same model, other years

All model years | All Indian models

Other Indian models, 2018

Sources

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