2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 4 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 2 Chief Dark Horse model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 1 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasolineDec 6, 2016
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 16V877000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
2 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2025
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.
Power train, Electrical system, May 16, 2018, crash
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.