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2016 Indian Roadmaster problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Indian Roadmaster is electrical system. It has 1.3 times the complaints of a typical Roadmaster model year.

Typical year1.3x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
4
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
27
Worst area
Electrical

The worst 2016 Indian Roadmaster problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Electrical
    3
  • Engine
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    3
  • Engine
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Recalls 5

Electrical systemReported October 29, 2019 · 52,745 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
Risk
If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1‑877‑204‑3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.

Recall number 19V776000 · Recall details

Electrical system: wiring: rear compartment/trunkReported January 16, 2018 · 7,392 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Roadmaster motorcycles. Water may enter the trunk wiring harness, potentially causing the brake light to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied.
Risk
If the brake light remains illuminated when the brakes are not applied, a vehicle behind the motorcycle may not know when the motorcycle is actually slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trunk wiring harness with an updated harness that contains sealing plugs in the connectors, free of charge. The recall began on January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1‑877‑204‑3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-18-01.

Recall number 18V055000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasolineReported December 6, 2016 · 23,761 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Vintage, Chieftan, Chieftan Dark Horse, Springfield and Roadmaster motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to July 15, 2016. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel rail may contact other components and result in a fuel leak.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Indian will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket that will limit movement of the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1‑877‑204‑3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-16-03.

Recall number 16V877000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust systemReported June 17, 2016 · 18,383 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chief Classic, Dark Horse, Chieftain, Roadmaster, Vintage, Springfield, and Chieftain Dark Horse motorcycles manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 16, 2015. In the event of an engine misfire, unburned fuel may pass through parts of the exhaust system, raising the exhaust temperatures.
Risk
Elevated exhaust temperatures may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Indian will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. The recall began July 2016. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1‑877‑204‑3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-16-02.

Recall number 16V446000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinderReported November 2, 2015 · 7,614 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chief Classic, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and 2016 Dark Horse motorcycles manufactured January 2, 2015, to October 23, 2015. Due to a problem with the rear brake master cylinder, the motorcycles may have a reduction in, or a complete loss of, rear brake power.
Risk
A full or partial loss of rear braking power may lengthen the distance needed to slow or stop the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Indian will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake master cylinder piston assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2015. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1‑877‑204‑3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-15-04.

Recall number 15V721000 · Recall details

See all 5 recalls for the 2016 Indian Roadmaster

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Indian Roadmaster 27

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 27 bulletins for the 2016 Indian Roadmaster

What 2016 Indian Roadmaster owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Feb 24, 2024 · Electrical, Lights · IN

Backlights on instrument cluster went out. I can no longer see my speedometer, tachometer, or fuel guage on my hour ride home from work which is always in the dark. The backlights are nonservicable which makes no sense to me. I feel like this is dangerous not being able to tell how fast you are going, and the way people drive these days, you can't use them to pace yourself. I also feel that being stranded on the side of the road because you ran out of gas is not the safest place to be for a motorcyclists, but I think that not knowing how fast you are going is the most dangerous. Making certain lights nonserviceable is a poor idea. It sure is an expensive motorcycle that I am afraid to ride now because I can't see everything I need to see in order to operate it safely.

Filed Sep 5, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · GA

the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V776000 Your website says that the issue is repaired with my vehicle, which it has not been. Yes I have taken it to not only one, but two different dealers to have the issue resolved multiple times. The issue still continues and Indian Motorcycles, in my belief, refuses to fix the problem at hand under the recall. To the point where they have said it is no longer the gear positioning switch. And it has now started costing me money while they toss parts at it with hopes it’ll repair the issue. I can’t afford to pay $1,000 plus each time I take it somewhere to have this recall repaired. This is a serious safety issue. Not only the possibility of the motorcycle being started while parked, but it also disengaged cruise control while being used. These motorcycles rapidly lose forward momentum when the throttle isn’t applied creating a risk of being rear ended and or run over on the interstate while the operator is trying to investigate the loss of throttle.

Filed Jan 3, 2017 · Fuel system · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 indian roadmaster. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v877000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Oct 26, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 3,300 miles · IL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 indian roadmaster. While driving 2 MPH, the vehicle tipped over. At the time of the issue, the cut off switch did not function and the engine continued to run. As a result, the contact's vehicle was propelled into another vehicle. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The dealer diagnosed that the failure was due to a calibration issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,300.

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Questions about the 2016 Indian Roadmaster

Is the 2016 Indian Roadmaster reliable?

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2016 Indian Roadmaster, 1.3 times a typical Roadmaster model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Indian Roadmaster?

Electrical system, with 3 complaints. Next is engine (1).

How many recalls does the 2016 Indian Roadmaster have?

5 recalls, covering electrical system, fuel system, gasoline and engine and engine cooling.

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