2021 Indian CHALLENGER DARK HORSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
24V069000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2024-02-02 (February 2, 2024)
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Challenger, Challenger Dark Horse, Challenger Limited, 2022 Challenger Dark Horse Icon, Challenger Elite, FTR 1200, FTR 1200 Rally, FTR 1200 S, FTR 1200 R Carbon, Pursuit Dark Horse, Challenger JD Limited Edition, Pursuit Limited Icon, Pursuit Dark Horse Premium, Pursuit Limited, Pursuit Limited Premium, 2019-2020 FTR 1200 S, FTR 1200, and 2020 FTR 1200 Rally motorcycles. The brake lights may illuminate unexpectedly and without brake application from the rider. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Unintended illumination of the brake lights may create confusion for the drivers following the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABS module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 1, 2024. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-24-03.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 350.0%ODI 11640996Despite the type, brands, or age of battery, the vehicle frequently fails to start; multiple attempts must be made to start the engine unless the charge gets depleted to an unrecoverable level. Disconnecting the battery to eliminate any parasitic draw issues, temperatures below 60°F present significant starting issues. The vehicle was purchased in August 2024, the original AGM battery frequently failed to start beginning December 2024. Two different lithium batteries were installed and another common off the shelf AGM, same problem. There is an… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 350.0%ODI 11640996Despite the type, brands, or age of battery, the vehicle frequently fails to start; multiple attempts must be made to start the engine unless the charge gets depleted to an unrecoverable level. Disconnecting the battery to eliminate any parasitic draw issues, temperatures below 60°F present significant starting issues. The vehicle was purchased in August 2024, the original AGM battery frequently failed to start beginning December 2024. Two different lithium batteries were installed and another common off the shelf AGM, same problem. There is an… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 11638659Cruisetech 130/60B19 66H front. Tire irregular wear and vibration on a 2024 indian challenger motorcycle; original equipment installed tire as delivered. Metzler denied warranty replacement due to OEM, also not covered under vehicle manufacturers warranty citing as a wear item. 6600mi, purchase date August 2024, 0 miles. Tire is a 12000mi left expected with over 50% tread remaining. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 1168433416,328mi. Vehicle has been into two different dealerships with engine nosie concerns, 3 times total, at the top and bottom ends on right side; each said "normal." Rider opinion: when in comparison to other same model/year bikes DO NOT make the same rattling; i recently made an appointment again for september 16th to address this issue and others under warranty including a sticking throttle (second occurrence). Today, 1 September 2025, the engine hesitated twice pulling onto highway maintaining appx 75mph matched with traffic, I didnt notice an… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 117309762026 update Dealer replaced left front brake caliper and both front pad sets due to brake shudder; left brake caliper seized (warranty). Rotors not replaced, installed aftermarket at own expense. Dealer previously replaced left switch cube due to volume up stuck on (warranty). Motorcycles of dulles damaged covers and lost screw; indian of fredericksburg corrected cover issue. Engine experiencing significantly worsening overhead valvetrain rattle on acceleration and varying steady state rpm (dealer claims non issue). Amsoil 15w60 or indian oil… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11761824 · 1,000 miThe contact owns a 2025 Indian Super Chief Dark Horse Motorcycle. The contact stated that while operating the motorcycle and riding at various speeds, the motorcycle was pulling to the right. The contact added two 4-kilogram weights to the left saddle bag to assist with balancing the motorcycle; however, the failure persisted. The motorcycle was taken to the local dealer, and an alignment was performed. The contact was informed by the local dealer that the motorcycle would continue to drift to the right due to the design. The manufacturer was n… |
| Tires | 1100.0%ODI 11763319180/60 R16 m/c Mezeler Cruistec rear tire. Tire has internal malfunction, possible design or manufacturing flaw. LARGE bulge developed on right 1/3 of tire tread making riding the motorcycle dangerous. MULTIPLE failures of this tire brand/model & size have been seen and posted on facebook Indian Challenger and Harley Road Glide owners pages. This IS NOT an isolated incident. I believe this model & size of tire needs to be recalled by the manufacturer and replaced with a SAFE alternative. Tire is at roughly 50% tread life. Never overloaded.… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11618003To utilize apple car play with the ride command head unit it requires that Bluetooth headphones must be connected along with the phone being plugged in. In Wisconsin it’s illegal to have headphones on while driving. I’m am at risk of breaking the law and receiving a citation if I use the software the way it’s intended. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2022: 0 complaints · 2023: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.