1999 Indian Chief: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 22 complaints
22
Total Complaints
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
SUSPENSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"HANDLE BARS WILL PIVOT UP OR DOWN WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED. ALL HAND CONTROLS ARE OUT OF REACH OF THE RIDER, AND THE RIDER CAN NOT STEER THE MOTORCYCLE. IF THEY SLIP DOWNWARD, AS WAS MY CASE, THE RIDERS LEGS CAN BE PINNED BY EITHER THIER OWN ARMS OR THE HANDLE BARS. THIS IS A DEFECT KNOWN ..."
"OIL LEAKAGES; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER HAD FRONT AND REAR BRAKES SERVICE, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REBUILT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FRONT ROCKER COVER LEKING, HEAD LIGHTS AND DRIVING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, OIL LEAKING AT PUSH RODS.*J..."
"OIL LEAKAGES; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER HAD FRONT AND REAR BRAKES SERVICE, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REBUILT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FRONT ROCKER COVER LEKING, HEAD LIGHTS AND DRIVING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, OIL LEAKING AT PUSH RODS.*J..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28