2002 Indian Spirit recalls and problems

The 2002 Indian Spirit has 7 recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is exterior lighting.

How the 2002 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

7recalls

5complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

5,700median 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 →

7 recalls

Structure

Aug 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V286000 · 6,570 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the weld attaching the fender mount to the front fork May crack and break.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WELD ATTACHING THE FENDER MOUNT TO THE FRONT FORK MAY CRACK AND BREAK.

Risk: This could cause the fender mount to fail resulting in the fender coming into contact with the wheel, resulting in the rider to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE FENDER MOUNT TO FAIL RESULTING IN THE FENDER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL, RESULTING IN THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will bolt a bracket onto each front fork. This bracket will hold the fender mount in place even if the weld fails. Owner notification is expected to begin during August 2003. Owners should contact Indian 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).

Exterior Lighting

Jul 22, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V258000 · 6,173 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the bracket used to support the teardrop headlight can crack, causing the bracket to break and the light to slip out of position or fall off.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE BRACKET USED TO SUPPORT THE TEARDROP HEADLIGHT CAN CRACK, CAUSING THE BRACKET TO BREAK AND THE LIGHT TO SLIP OUT OF POSITION OR FALL OFF.

Risk: This could cause a loss of visibility to the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new bracket. Owner notification is expected to begin during August 2003. Owners should contact imc 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

Apr 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V130000 · 1,643 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 engine 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 ENGINE 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 April 28, 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.

Indian motorcycle recall bulletin no. Imcsb-054. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Visibility

Nov 15, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V311000 · 5,464 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the fasteners that bolt the windshield to the mounting clamps can break, causing the windshield to come partially or completely off the bike.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FASTENERS THAT BOLT THE WINDSHIELD TO THE MOUNTING CLAMPS CAN BREAK, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO COME PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY OFF THE BIKE.

Risk: If this happens while the motorcycle is in use, the rider could be injured by the windshield.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN USE, THE RIDER COULD BE INJURED BY THE WINDSHIELD.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the windshields. Owner notification began January 16, 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.

Indian motorcycle recall bulletin no. Imcsb-050. 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).

Fuel System

Mar 21, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V083000 · 907 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, fractures can occur on either the left or right fuel tank at the top of the joint where the bracket is welded to the tank back plate.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT FUEL TANK AT THE TOP OF THE JOINT WHERE THE BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE TANK BACK PLATE.

Risk: Fuel can escape from the tank, increasing the risk of a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

FUEL CAN ESCAPE FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the gas tanks with tanks that have a redesigned mounting bracket. Owner notification began March 19, 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-038. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Fuel System

Feb 5, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V038000 · 146 vehicles

Problem: Some motorcycles May have a gas tank venting system that became clogged during production.

Original NHTSA wording

SOME MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE A GAS TANK VENTING SYSTEM THAT BECAME CLOGGED DURING PRODUCTION.

Risk: This clogging prevents the venting system from allowing pressure to escape from the gas tank, which could result in gas flowing back into the carburetor and possibly spilling onto the ground.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CLOGGING PREVENTS THE VENTING SYSTEM FROM ALLOWING PRESSURE TO ESCAPE FROM THE GAS TANK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN GAS FLOWING BACK INTO THE CARBURETOR AND POSSIBLY SPILLING ONTO THE GROUND.

Remedy & notes

All motorcycles have been inspected and, if necessary, corrected. This campaign is 100% completed.

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.

NHTSA investigations

HEADLIGHT SEPARATES

PE03024 · opened Jun 4, 2003 · closed Aug 11, 2003 · led to recall 03V258000

Summary

ODI AND INDIAN RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 6 REPORTS ALLEGING THE TEARDROP-SHAPED HEADLIGHT WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS RETAINING BRACKET ON THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, INDIAN RECALLED THE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.ODI HAS CONFIRMED INDIAN'S CLAIM THAT THIS PROBLEM RELATES ONLY TO THOSE MODELS WITH TEARDROP HEADLIGHT BUCKET.

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 Spirit years

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

Questions

Does the 2002 Indian Spirit have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Indian Spirit, the latest from Aug 4, 2003 (structure). 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 Spirit?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention exterior lighting (3), fuel system (1), power train (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.