Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2017 Indian Roadmaster
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
646.2%
Median failure at 5,418 miles
Other & Unspecified
215.4%
Median failure at 1,100 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
215.4%
Median failure at 13,000 miles
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
17.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Median failure at 837 miles
Engine & Cooling
17.7%
Median failure at 837 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
350.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
116.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
233.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2017peak 3Jun 2023
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Las Vegas, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My motorcycle went in a couple of years ago for a check because it would show neutral but be in gear and vice versa. The dealer cleaned the contacts and pins. It was fine for a bit and now at 55K miles it’s back to doing the same thing. It will show neutral and I’m on the highway doing 65 mph. The. Third gear and I’m stopped with the clutch out. The dealer is now saying we have to pay for this to be checked during routine servicing? 1.8 hours at $165.00 and hour? That’s bs. They know the problem are the pins and springs but they, the dealer, won’t change them. Because parts, to me, are $130 then $$300 in labor. They’re making a huge profit of their mistake. I’ve included a photo of the parts for the repair and the inflated prices for them.
NHTSA complaint #11525199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Enumclaw, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The clutch switch has failed open. If the engine stalls while in traffic, the rider is required to shift the transmission into neutral before the engine will restart. This could be a dangerous situation depending on what terrane the bike and rider are on. The normal operation for restart of the engine in a stall situation is to simply pull the clutch lever in and hit the start button. The starter should engage regardless of where the gear selector is as long as the clutch lever is pulled in. When researching this problem on YouTube and the Indian Motorcycle Forum, it is wide spread.
NHTSA complaint #11524391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I just had my recall replaced 3 TIMES because it was reading neutral in 6th gear and dropping me out of cruise AND NEVER start while in neutral ever
NHTSA complaint #11480933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I just had my recall replaced 3 TIMES because it was reading neutral in 6th gear and dropping me out of cruise AND NEVER start while in neutral ever
NHTSA complaint #11480933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkhorn, NE
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11360520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkhorn, NE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V776000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11360520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesGurnee, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 POLARIS INDIAN ROAD MASTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. THE TOUCHSCREEN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH AFFECTED THE GPS SYSTEM, RADIO, VEHICLE STATUS, AND TIRE PRESSURE READINGS. INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF LIBERTYVILLE (416 N MILWAUKEE AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 984-2542) SUBMITTED A GOODWILL WARRANTY CLAIM TO THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #11256150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,000 milesGuillaucourt, AE
POWER TRAIN
LORS DE FORTE PLUIE , LE MOTEUR TOURNE SUR UN SEUL CYLINDRE ET CALE PARFOIS.
NHTSA complaint #11219719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,100 milesDES Moines, IA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLUTCH CABLE RUBS THE DASH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DASH AND CABLE IN TIME THE CABLE COULD BRAKE AND LOOSE CONTROL BY NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP
NHTSA complaint #11083822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, NE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2017 BUICK ROADMASTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE SAFETY DEFECTS CONCERNING UN ECE REGULATION 10/ CAR 1CES-002,PART 15/FCC RULES AND CAR LICENSE EXEMPT RSS 210,PN: 9925933, AND DEALERSHIP AND RECALL ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #11029674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 837 milesAtlanta, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POLARIS CASE # 4018942. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2017 AT ABOUT 5:00 ' 5:30PM EST, MY 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER (THE 'BIKE') RETURNED THREE COMPUTER ERRORS AND FAILED TO START WHILE I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 4260 PEACHTREE RD NE IN BROOKHAVEN, GA. THE INFORMATION CENTER ON THE BIKE DIRECTED ME TO 'CONTACT DEALER' (THE 'INCIDENT'). AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE BIKE HAD 837 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED DEALER AS INSTRUCTED, WHO REFERRED ME TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT PARTNER ("SERVICE"). SERVICE INSTRUCTED ME THAT THERE WERE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ('ECM') AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS ('MAIN HARNESS') DISCONNECT THROUGH VIBRATION, BUT SUCH ISSUES ARE REPAIRED OSTENSIBLY BY A NYLON ZIP-TIE AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AWAITING MANUFACTURER ACTIONS. THE ECM HAS NO POSITIVE LATCHING COMPONENT ON IT TO SECURE THE MAIN HARNESS TO THE ECM AND THUS MAINTAIN A SOLID CONNECTION. THE MAIN HARNESS VIBRATES LOOSE OVER TIME, IN MY CASE 837 MILES, FROM THE ECM AND THUS KILLS THE BIKE, JUST AS I EXPERIENCED. DEALER REPORTED THAT MY INCIDENT IS ONE OF AT LEAST TWO THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE ECM AND MAIN HARNESS ON A BRAND-NEW CHIEFTAIN AND MY ROADMASTER (DOP 12/2/2016), SINCE ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER, 2016; DEALER HAVING SOLD ABOUT 20 MOTORCYCLES SINCE OCTOBER, 2016. THAT IS A FAILURE RATE OF 10% FROM DEALER ALONE OVER A ROUGHLY 1/3 OF A YEAR. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THE BIKE IS COMPLETELY POWERED OFF WHEN THE MAIN HARNESS DISCONNECTS FROM THE ECM: THE ENGINE DIES, NO TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION, NO EMERGENCY FLASHERS, NO HEADLIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS. I HAPPENED TO BE IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. HOWEVER, WERE THIS TO HAPPEN AT SPEED ON A FREEWAY, OR ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY ON WHICH THERE IS NO SHOULDER, A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS PART OF GEORGIA, SUCH FAILURE COULD HAVE MORE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. IN MY VIEW, LIVES ARE AT RISK.
NHTSA complaint #10957550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 837 milesAtlanta, GA
ENGINE
POLARIS CASE # 4018942. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2017 AT ABOUT 5:00 ' 5:30PM EST, MY 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER (THE 'BIKE') RETURNED THREE COMPUTER ERRORS AND FAILED TO START WHILE I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 4260 PEACHTREE RD NE IN BROOKHAVEN, GA. THE INFORMATION CENTER ON THE BIKE DIRECTED ME TO 'CONTACT DEALER' (THE 'INCIDENT'). AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE BIKE HAD 837 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED DEALER AS INSTRUCTED, WHO REFERRED ME TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT PARTNER ("SERVICE"). SERVICE INSTRUCTED ME THAT THERE WERE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ('ECM') AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS ('MAIN HARNESS') DISCONNECT THROUGH VIBRATION, BUT SUCH ISSUES ARE REPAIRED OSTENSIBLY BY A NYLON ZIP-TIE AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AWAITING MANUFACTURER ACTIONS. THE ECM HAS NO POSITIVE LATCHING COMPONENT ON IT TO SECURE THE MAIN HARNESS TO THE ECM AND THUS MAINTAIN A SOLID CONNECTION. THE MAIN HARNESS VIBRATES LOOSE OVER TIME, IN MY CASE 837 MILES, FROM THE ECM AND THUS KILLS THE BIKE, JUST AS I EXPERIENCED. DEALER REPORTED THAT MY INCIDENT IS ONE OF AT LEAST TWO THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE ECM AND MAIN HARNESS ON A BRAND-NEW CHIEFTAIN AND MY ROADMASTER (DOP 12/2/2016), SINCE ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER, 2016; DEALER HAVING SOLD ABOUT 20 MOTORCYCLES SINCE OCTOBER, 2016. THAT IS A FAILURE RATE OF 10% FROM DEALER ALONE OVER A ROUGHLY 1/3 OF A YEAR. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THE BIKE IS COMPLETELY POWERED OFF WHEN THE MAIN HARNESS DISCONNECTS FROM THE ECM: THE ENGINE DIES, NO TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION, NO EMERGENCY FLASHERS, NO HEADLIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS. I HAPPENED TO BE IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. HOWEVER, WERE THIS TO HAPPEN AT SPEED ON A FREEWAY, OR ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY ON WHICH THERE IS NO SHOULDER, A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS PART OF GEORGIA, SUCH FAILURE COULD HAVE MORE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. IN MY VIEW, LIVES ARE AT RISK.
NHTSA complaint #10957550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 837 milesAtlanta, GA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
POLARIS CASE # 4018942. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2017 AT ABOUT 5:00 ' 5:30PM EST, MY 2017 INDIAN ROADMASTER (THE 'BIKE') RETURNED THREE COMPUTER ERRORS AND FAILED TO START WHILE I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 4260 PEACHTREE RD NE IN BROOKHAVEN, GA. THE INFORMATION CENTER ON THE BIKE DIRECTED ME TO 'CONTACT DEALER' (THE 'INCIDENT'). AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE BIKE HAD 837 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED DEALER AS INSTRUCTED, WHO REFERRED ME TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT PARTNER ("SERVICE"). SERVICE INSTRUCTED ME THAT THERE WERE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ('ECM') AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS ('MAIN HARNESS') DISCONNECT THROUGH VIBRATION, BUT SUCH ISSUES ARE REPAIRED OSTENSIBLY BY A NYLON ZIP-TIE AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AWAITING MANUFACTURER ACTIONS. THE ECM HAS NO POSITIVE LATCHING COMPONENT ON IT TO SECURE THE MAIN HARNESS TO THE ECM AND THUS MAINTAIN A SOLID CONNECTION. THE MAIN HARNESS VIBRATES LOOSE OVER TIME, IN MY CASE 837 MILES, FROM THE ECM AND THUS KILLS THE BIKE, JUST AS I EXPERIENCED. DEALER REPORTED THAT MY INCIDENT IS ONE OF AT LEAST TWO THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE ECM AND MAIN HARNESS ON A BRAND-NEW CHIEFTAIN AND MY ROADMASTER (DOP 12/2/2016), SINCE ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER, 2016; DEALER HAVING SOLD ABOUT 20 MOTORCYCLES SINCE OCTOBER, 2016. THAT IS A FAILURE RATE OF 10% FROM DEALER ALONE OVER A ROUGHLY 1/3 OF A YEAR. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT THE BIKE IS COMPLETELY POWERED OFF WHEN THE MAIN HARNESS DISCONNECTS FROM THE ECM: THE ENGINE DIES, NO TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION, NO EMERGENCY FLASHERS, NO HEADLIGHTS OR TAILLIGHTS. I HAPPENED TO BE IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. HOWEVER, WERE THIS TO HAPPEN AT SPEED ON A FREEWAY, OR ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY ON WHICH THERE IS NO SHOULDER, A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS PART OF GEORGIA, SUCH FAILURE COULD HAVE MORE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. IN MY VIEW, LIVES ARE AT RISK.
NHTSA complaint #10957550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.