2003 Indian Chief recalls and problems

The 2003 Indian Chief has 2 recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2003 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 7 Chief model years — 4th most.

2recalls

2complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

2,500median 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 →

2 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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

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

2003 vs. other Indian Chief years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Indian Chief have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2003 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 2003 Indian Chief?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (1), equipment (1), power train (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.