The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·19V638000·Announced 2019-08-29

Indian Recalls 2019 Chieftain Motorcycles for Excessive Tail Light Brightness

Indian Motorcycle is recalling 2019 Chieftain models because tail lights may be too bright, potentially confusing other drivers and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where the defect increases the risk of a crash, but no specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Indian Motorcycle Company is recalling certain 2019 Chieftain motorcycles. The recall addresses a defect where the tail lights may be too bright, exceeding the maximum light output allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108.

Due to the increased brightness, other drivers may have difficulty distinguishing the brake light from the tail light. This can lead to other drivers being unaware that the motorcycle is braking, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Indian will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control module software to correct the rear tail light's intensity free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2019. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
INDIAN CHIEFTAIN
Brand
INDIAN
Manufacturer
Indian Motorcycle Company
Category
Vehicle — Motorcycle
Hazard
Affected units
3,594

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • CHIEFTAIN

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · INDIAN

Same manufacturer · Indian Motorcycle Company

See all →

Same hazard · crash risk

See all →

Similar recalls