2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse problems

Filed Jul 14, 2025 · Electrical · WI

This vehicle has an issue with the gear position switch, which causes the wrong gear to display on the info screen intermittently. Sometimes at highway speed, with cruise control engaged, the bike will think it's in neutral, which cancels the cruise abruptly. The bike has been in for service for this issue many times, including a recall, but the issue persists, and the manufacturer has no more interest in trying to fix it on their dime. This is a huge safety issue and I think they should continue to pay to service the bike until this problem is fixed once and for all.

Filed May 23, 2022 · Lights · 38,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2016 Indian Motorcycle Chief Dark Horse. The contact stated while riding approximately 55-60 MPH on a rainy night, the motorcycle headlight turned off inadvertently. The high beam indicator warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact's son met him at the scene and brought an electrical wire that the contact connected to the light bulbs, and the headlights started working as needed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Filed Jul 15, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 17,265 miles · MI

Check engine light on & off while in fl in march, codes 598 & 2348, cruise quit working. July 12, 2018 turned off one rd onto another, getting up to speed of traffic. Doing about 55 MPH when noticed deer in rd, applied brakes only to have it lock up rather than ABS work. Bike started in slide/fish tail, let off and recovered. Now ABS light on and not working. Bike has just 17,265 miles on it.

Filed May 16, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 7,900 miles · ID · crash · 1 injury

M/c was parked, kickstand down, engine off, transmission in first gear. Before starting, electrical on/off button, located on gas tank, was engaged. Gear identification light showed first gear, clutch lever retracted, transmission foot peg was shifted into neutral, light showed neutral. Engine start button, located near right hand control, was activated. Engine started, m/c moved forward at rapid speed, causing the rider to release hold of handlebars. Rider is eventually able to reach and depress the electrical on/off button, turning off the engine. The m/c continues forward at speed, falls to its right and slams the rider against the parking lot asphalt pavement. The m/c rights itself, continues forward, falls to its left side throwing the rider to the pavement. Rider sustained a concussion, one broken rib, broken collarbone, collapsed lung on his right side. Rider was wearing a full face helmet, padded motorcycle jacket, padded motorcycle pants, padded riding gloves, 8 inch leather lace up boots. Indian motorcycles have a safety switch on the kickstand which do not allow the m/c to start if the stand is down and the transmission is in gear. The m/c will not start if it is in gear, without the clutch lever being pulled in. The transmission light showed neutral, when the transmission was still in first gear, which allowed the start button to engage. In this case, both the kickstand safety and the transmission indicator were faulty, which allowed the starter button to engage. Progressive claim number...18-4423966, california highway patrol report number...9650-2018-01420. Indian motorcycle has issued a recall on all 2018 motorcycles stating that their motorcycle may start unexpectedly.