2002 Indian Chief recalls and problems

The 2002 Indian Chief has 4 recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

Pictured: a 2003 model; the 2002 may differ in details. Photo: 2003 Indian Chief by Naked Racer Moto Co, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2002 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 7 Chief model years — 3rd most.

4recalls

4complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

600median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Visibility

May 5, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V191000 · 3,625 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Fuel System

May 5, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V173000 · 1,979 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Fuel leakage in the present of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Sep 13, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V246000 · 948 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the rear brake caliper could contact the rotor as a result of a misalignment of the caliper carrier.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER COULD CONTACT THE ROTOR AS A RESULT OF A MISALIGNMENT OF THE CALIPER CARRIER.

Risk: The rear brake can overheat and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE REAR BRAKE CAN OVERHEAT AND FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the motorcycle to ensure that the rear brake caliper and rotor are correctly positioned. If they are not, the dealer will replace the swing arm and rear brake assembly. Owner notification began August 28, 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.

Indian motorcycle recall bulletin no. Imcsb-048.also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension

Jul 8, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V180000 · 590 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the rear axles are made of a material with a lower than desirable yield strength.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR AXLES ARE MADE OF A MATERIAL WITH A LOWER THAN DESIRABLE YIELD STRENGTH.

Risk: Under repeated heavy loads, the rear axle could deform causing excessive wear in the rear wheel bearings potentially leading to overheating and seizing of the bearings, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

UNDER REPEATED HEAVY LOADS, THE REAR AXLE COULD DEFORM CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS POTENTIALLY LEADING TO OVERHEATING AND SEIZING OF THE BEARINGS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the rear axles on these motorcycles. Owner notification began August 16, 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 1-408-846-7228.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine2

Electrical System1

Service Brakes1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

NHTSA investigations

REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE

PE01039 · opened Nov 21, 2001 · closed Apr 30, 2002 · led to recall 02V124000

Summary

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 THE MACHINE'S WEIGHT CARRYING CAPACITY AND THE RESULTING LOADS BREAK THE SHOCK MOUNTING BRACKETS AND/OR BOLTS.INDIAN IS RECALLING THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES TO INSTALL SHOCK ABSORBERS FROM PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION.THE PROGRESSIVES HAVE A GREATER LOAD CARRYING CAPABILTY AND MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY THE GOLD COLOR.WITH INDIAN'S RECALL, ODI IS CLOSING THIS PE.

2002 vs. other Indian Chief years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Indian Chief have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Indian Chief, the latest from May 5, 2003 (visibility). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Indian Chief?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (2), electrical system (1), service brakes (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.