RecallRepo

2000 Indian Chief Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2000 Indian Chief has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 20,927 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 03V191000 2003-05-05 3,625 affected
Defect

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…

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 03V039000 2003-02-10 7,947 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMPUFIRE BRAND SERIES TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATORS, IF DAMAGED, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN BECOME STUCK IN AN OPEN MODE THAT ALLOWS BATTERY VOLTAGE TO FLOW BACK THROUGH THE REGULATOR.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REGULATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 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…

STEERING 02V144000 2002-05-30 4,765 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE HANDLE BAR RISER TOP CLAMP COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE BARS.

Consequence

LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL FIT THE MOTORCYCLES WITH A NEW RISER TOP CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 31, 2002. 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 1-408-846-7228.

SUSPENSION 02V124000 2002-05-03 4,590 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MADE BY SWAY-A-WAY, THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS TO THE SWING ARM COULD BREAK.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2002. 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 AT…

Complaints by component

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
1fires
SUSPENSION
4
SUSPENSION:REAR
4
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
STRUCTURE
2
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints52

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The motorcycle has multiple problem s. The windshield is loose /the charger will not charge at all/battery has low cell, and brakes will not hold at all. *ak”

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · reported 2003-09-23

“The motorcycle has multiple problem s. The windshield is loose /the charger will not charge at all/battery has low cell, and brakes will not hold at all. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · reported 2003-09-23

“The motorcycle has multiple problem s. The windshield is loose /the charger will not charge at all/battery has low cell, and brakes will not hold at all. *ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · reported 2003-09-23

“The motorcycle has multiple problem s. The windshield is loose /the charger will not charge at all/battery has low cell, and brakes will not hold at all. *ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2003-09-23

“Horn doesnt work,charging system doesnt work,windshield comes lose. *la”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN · reported 2003-09-01

“Horn doesnt work,charging system doesnt work,windshield comes lose. *la”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2003-09-01

“Horn doesnt work,charging system doesnt work,windshield comes lose. *la”

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · reported 2003-09-01

“Consumer states that t brakes have extended stopping distance. Dealer notified.*ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2003-06-14

Defect investigations

Investigation PE01039 Opened 2001-11-21 · closed 2002-04-30

REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE

SIX MANUFACTURER INCIDENTS OF BROKEN REAR SUSPENSION SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING BRACKETS AND FORTY-TWO OF BROKEN SHOCK BOLTS.THE ORIGINAL SWAY-AWAY REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS (IDENTIFIED BY A BLACK HOUSING) ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE SUBJECT BIKES' GVWR.SHOCK BOTTOMING (I.E., COIL BIND) CONSEQUENTLY OCCURS AT THE UPPER RANGE OF…

Investigation PE02037 Opened 2002-03-26 · closed 2002-05-24

HANDLEBAR LOOSENING

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING ONE OWNER COMPLAINT REGARDING TWO INSTANCES OF HANDLEBAR LOOSENING ON A 2000 INDIAN CHIEF MODEL MOTORCYCLE.THIS WAS OCCURRING BECAUSE THE HANDLEBAR RISER CLAMP MATERIAL WAS TWW SOFT RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE NECESSARY TO FULLY SECURE THE HANDLEBAR IN…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Indian Chief as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.