Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2016 Indian Scout with NHTSA between 2016 and 2021.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 41
Against the median year of the Indian Scout. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2016 Indian Scout
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
330.0%
Median failure at 1,700 miles
Brakes
220.0%
Median failure at 5,547 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Median failure at 3,015 miles
Stability & Traction Control
110.0%
Median failure at 1,526 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Median failure at 1,100 miles
Steering
110.0%
Median failure at 300 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
Median failure at 1,100 miles
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.
Jun 2016peak 3Apr 2021
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 3,015 milesOLD Hickory, TN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2016 INDIAN SCOUT, 3036 MILES EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING AND RUNNING TERRIBLE. AFTER HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DECIDED TO TURN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE SLID AND THE BACK TIRE SQUEALED AND BIKE DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET SO IT APPEARS THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I'D LEFT PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER VEHICLE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER SUDDENLY STOPPING IT DIED AND SPUTTERED AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TRIES WITH TRAFFIC BACKING UP BEHIND ME TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START PERIODICALLY LAST YEAR BUT ITS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE, VERY CURVY, AND HILLY ROAD. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THIS ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11414430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,015 milesOLD Hickory, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2016 INDIAN SCOUT, 3036 MILES EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING AND RUNNING TERRIBLE. AFTER HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DECIDED TO TURN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE SLID AND THE BACK TIRE SQUEALED AND BIKE DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET SO IT APPEARS THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I'D LEFT PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER VEHICLE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER SUDDENLY STOPPING IT DIED AND SPUTTERED AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TRIES WITH TRAFFIC BACKING UP BEHIND ME TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START PERIODICALLY LAST YEAR BUT ITS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE, VERY CURVY, AND HILLY ROAD. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THIS ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11414430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,015 milesOLD Hickory, TN
SERVICE BRAKES
2016 INDIAN SCOUT, 3036 MILES EXPERIENCING TROUBLE STARTING AND RUNNING TERRIBLE. AFTER HAVING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE DECIDED TO TURN SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE SLID AND THE BACK TIRE SQUEALED AND BIKE DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET SO IT APPEARS THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. LUCKILY, I'D LEFT PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER VEHICLE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER SUDDENLY STOPPING IT DIED AND SPUTTERED AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 TRIES WITH TRAFFIC BACKING UP BEHIND ME TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NOT WANTING TO START PERIODICALLY LAST YEAR BUT ITS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON A TWO LANE, VERY CURVY, AND HILLY ROAD. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THIS ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11414430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,526 milesHouston, TX
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY 2016 INDIAN SCOUT SIXTY HAS ONLY 1,526 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT, AND TOOK DELIVERY ON NOV. 1ST, 2016. WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ONE DAY RECENTLY, IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. IT FREQUENTLY SOUNDED LIKE IT MISFIRED, PLUS WHEN I ROLLED OUT ON THE THROTTLE AT TAKEOFF, AND AT CRUISING SPEEDS, IT WOULD BE DELAYED IN RESPONSE, INSTEAD OF INSTANTLY, WHICH IT ALWAYS DID BEFORE. I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE MORE THROTTLE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STANDSTILL JUST TO AVOID STALLING THE ENGINE.FINALLY WHEN I GOT HOME, THE FRONT END OF THE BAFFLES OF THE EXHAUST WAS TURNED BLUE, MEANING THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING LEAN, CREATING EXCESS HIGH HEAT. THE BAFFLES WERE CHROME COLORED BEFORE THIS. WHILE RIDING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, AND THEIR WAS A CHECK ENGINE CODE # 3056. I LOOKED UP THE CODE, AND IT INDICATED AN OXYGEN SENSOR WENT BAD. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A WELL MAINTAINED MOTORCYCLE, WITH ONLY 1,526 TOTAL MILES ON IT. THAT IS ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY SIX MILES TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION. THE AGE OF THE MOTORCYCLE IS IRRELEVANT. AS OF NOW, POLARIS INDICATES NO RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, AND THAT IS WHY I'M REPORTING IT. POLARIS NEEDS TO COVER 100% THE COST OF THIS REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #11338213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,080 milesMenisee, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 INDIAN SCOUT 900. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY DEPRESSING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO INDIAN MOTORCYCLE REDLANDS (215 E REDLANDS BLVD, REDLANDS, CA 92373) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS GOING TO BE REPAIRED WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 641932. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,080.
NHTSA complaint #11222951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,700 milesSaint Clair Shores, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS) AND THE MAIN CHASSIS HARNESS WAS NOT PROPERLY FASTENED BY THE FACTORY, AND FAILED AFTER RUBBING ON THE REAR TIRE FROM BEING UNPROPERLY FASTENED. THE BIKE LOST SAFETY SIGNALS AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11010633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 300 milesAugusta, GA
STEERING
I BOUGHT A NEW LEFTOVER 2016 SCOUT ABS ON APRIL 8, 2017 FROM THE MARIETTA, GA DEALERSHIP. ON APRIL 19, 2017, I HAD TO SEMI-PANIC STOP AND BRAKE REALLY HARD WHEN AN SUV PULLED OUT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT ABOUT 30 MPH IN AN URBAN SETTING. ONCE I BEGAN ACCELERATING AGAIN, I NOTICED THE LEFT HANDGRIP HAD BROKEN LOOSE, SLID TOWARD THE END OF THE HANDLEBAR, AND WAS ONLY HOLDING ON BY A COUPLE OF INCHES. IT COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WITH A LOSS OF EQUALIZING HAND PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BAR. ON THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME, IT TURNED VERY FREELY. IT WAS VERY LOOSE TAKING ALMOST NO FORCE TO REMOVE/REPLACE IT. HAD I LET GO OF THE LEFT GRIP FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, THE WIND AND VIBRATION WOULD'VE SLID IT COMPLETELY OFF. IT IS NOT A STRETCH FIT HANDGRIP. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT A 2" TO 3" INCH SQUIGGLE OF ADHESIVE RESIDUE ONLY ON THE UPPER PART OF THE BAR. I HAD BEEN RIDING IN THE RAIN THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS STILL A LITTLE WET INSIDE THE HANDGRIP. THAT MAY BE AN EXTENUATING FACTOR, BUT STILL NOT A GOOD EXCUSE FOR IT TO COME OFF ONLY 11 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. IT MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MODEL YEARS AND THE SCOUT SIXTY MODEL, TOO.
NHTSA complaint #10979870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,100 milesBrighton, CO
POWER TRAIN
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER. I HAVE SAT AT A LIGHT, BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE ME TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10872796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,100 milesBrighton, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER. I HAVE SAT AT A LIGHT, BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE ME TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10872796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,100 milesBrighton, CO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER. I HAVE SAT AT A LIGHT, BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL, AND THE THROTTLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE ME TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10872796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.