2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse recalls and problems

The 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse has 1 safety recall and 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Indian dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse recalls

Recall 16V-877: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Dec 6, 2016 · 23,761 vehicles affected · Indian Motorcycle Company

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System2
Power Train1
Service Brakes1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Unknown or Other1
Exterior Lighting1

Most reported parts

  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 17,265 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported 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.
Exterior Lighting · at 38,000 miles · reported May 23, 2022
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.
Service Brakes · at 17,265 miles · reported Jul 15, 2018
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.
Electrical System · at 7,900 miles · reported May 16, 2018
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…

Other Indian Chief Dark Horse years

Compare all Indian Chief Dark Horse years · All Indian models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse: 16V-877 (fuel system, gasoline). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (2 reports), followed by power train (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 17,265 miles.

Are Indian recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Indian dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.