2016 Indian Chieftain Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Indian Chieftain has 4 recalls, the most serious involving both a rear brake master cylinder that can lose braking power and a gear position switch that can falsely show neutral, causing the motorcycle to lurch forward on startup.

On the brake side, reduced or total loss of rear braking force extends stopping distance and raises crash risk. The gear position issue stems from oxidized switch contacts that feed the wrong signal to the display, so the bike may be in gear when the rider believes it is safe to start. There is also a fire risk: an engine misfire can push unburned fuel through the exhaust system, raising exhaust temperatures to the point where ignition is possible. A fourth recall covers the electrical connector for the vehicle control module, which can fail and cut power to the front lights, including the headlight, leaving the rider without forward illumination.