U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Indian CHIEF: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

2,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	1	50.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Equipment

Power Train

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

Electrical System: 1; Equipment: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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.

2003

2004

2003: 1; 2004: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

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.

Owner report 10031014 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)

ALL 2002 AND 2003 CHIEF MODELS HAVE A KICK STAND THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LOCKING MECHANISM LIKE PRIOR YEAR MODELS. THIS ALLOWS THE KICK STAND TO FOLD UP AT THE SLIGHTEST FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THE VEHICLE TO FALL OVER CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO ANY PERSON, OR CRUSH AND KILL A CHILD, STANDING NEXT TO THE 600+ LBS VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054260 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)

IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

03V173000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported: 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE GAS TANK VENT TUBE, THE VENT TUBE CAN BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY IN WET WEATHER. VENT TUBE CLOGGING CAN CAUSE INTERRUPTION OF FUEL FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP. A CLOGGED VENT TUBE MAY ALSO CAUSE PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE GAS TANK AND PUSH A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER CAP SEAL.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENT OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT VENT TUBE WITH A LONGER TUBE REPOSITIONED TO PREVENT CLOGGING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

03V191000 · Visibility:Windshield

Reported: 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

CERTAIN WINDSHIELDS THAT WERE SOLD AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THESE MOTORCYCLES OR SOLD AS ACCESSORIES FOR ALL OTHER CHIEF MODELS MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE BRACKETS. THE BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE MOTORCYCLE ARE FORMED SUCH THAT THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE NOT FLUSH WITH THE BRACKET. THIS COULD PLACE EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK.

Consequence: BROKEN MOUNTING BOLTS COULD LEAD TO THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE AND EVEN FALLING OFF THE BIKE, POTENTIALLY STRIKING THE RIDER OR OTHERWISE CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKETS AND BOLTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

50.0%Usable mileage1 / 2 records

100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records

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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2022
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11441637 -Consistent problems with display -Headlight continually on and not adjustable -Computer module burns out very easily and lights/horn directly into the unit which makes it go out so easily Look up ODI 11441637 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 11311178 · 12,000 mi 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 AMERICAN BIKER LOCATED AT 679 TREELAND DR, LADSON, SC 29456, HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAI… Look up ODI 11311178 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 11499309 At 70mph on I-95 in the outside lane between Rt 50 and Rt 46 in Titusville FL, the vehicle tipover sensor triggered causing the motorcycle to engine to shut down. The roads were clear and dry, it was night time with no streetlights. The motorcycle immediately began to slow down, causing cars to veer around us as we coasted off the road and onto the shoulder. We were able to clear the alert and get the motorcycle to our FL residence (We winter in FL, reside in MA). On the way home, it triggered two more times, but we were on surface roads with l… Look up ODI 11499309 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Suspension	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Rear	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Manual Transmission	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable 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 failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Electrical System	Too few reports for a range	2,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train	Too few reports for a range	2,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	Too few reports for a range	2,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

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

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2019: 0 complaints · 2022: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2019	0	0	0
2022	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2019	0	0	0
2022	2	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 co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System	Equipment	Power Train	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Electrical System	—	0	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗
Equipment	0	—	0	0
Power Train	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 10054260 · 2,500 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILS CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND QUIT. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM SWITCH 3 TIMES WITH SAME RESULT! FRONT BRAKE LEAVER HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AT TIMES LIMITING BRAKING POTENTIAL ON FRONT TIRE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REAR DRIVE BELT IS WEARING REAR PULLEY EXCESSIVELY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT FAILURE. *CB Look up ODI 10054260 at NHTSA ↗	—

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.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
2003	1
2004	1