- The problem
- Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014 Chief, 2015 Chief Classic, 2014-2018 Chieftain, 2015-2020 Chief Vintage, 2016-2018 Chieftain Darkhorse, 2016-2020 Springfield, 2017-2018 Chieftain Limited, and 2018-2019 Chieftain Classic motorcycles. The electrical connection for the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) may fail, causing a loss of the front lights, including the headlight.
- The risk
- The loss of lighting can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the electrical connection and VCM, as necessary. Dealers will update the VCM software, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2022. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-02. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 19V-339.
Vehicle safety record
2017 Indian Springfield Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2017 Indian Springfield with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (1) and the engine & cooling (1). It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in August 2022 for the software. For comparison, the 2016 has 3 and the 2018 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Springfield year, for its age
#381 most complained-about 2017 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2017 Indian Springfield problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2017 Indian Springfield recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Chief, Chieftain, Roadmaster, and Springfield motorcycles. The gear position switch contacts may oxidize, causing the gear position display to inaccurately show that the motorcycle is in neutral when it is actually in gear.
- The risk
- If the transmission is not in neutral when the motorcycle is started, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the switch free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-03.
- The problem
- Indian Motorcycles Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Cheiftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, and Springfield Dark Horse motorcycles. These motorcycles may be equipped with a European-market, not US-market, halogen headlight assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- The risk
- The light output from the incorrect headlight can affect the motorcycle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Indian will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-17-03.
- The 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.
- The risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- The 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.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2017 Indian Springfield
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Traveling on Interstate at freeway speeds (65 mph) when instrument cluster lights all lit up, started flashing, motorcycle lost power and all electronics shut off. Fortunately was able to get to side of the interstate. Started bike back up but it kept failing in the same manner. Towed to dealer and they were unable to diagnose so they opened a ticket with Polaris Corporate Engineering. Ultimately, they determined that the issue was the 10 amp circuit breaker that was defective. I found that this was a previously...
Read the full complaint
known Safety Issue with Indian, supposedly only impacting built between 2/12/2019 and 7/31/2019. (Indian Safety Bulletin Communication #I-19-05-A). The replaced circuit breaker with updated (red dot non-defective) breaker fixed the problem. In reviewing various Indian motorcycle forums I don't believe this is an isolated problem. Indian has refused to consider this as part of the recall, nor will the cover the cost of the repair. I believe this is a serious safety issue and impacts ALL Indian Motorcycles with the older part number Eaton Circuit breaker. Finally, my motorcycle while 2017 has less than 20K miles on it.
Indian Springfield: every year compared
All Springfield years2017 Indian Springfield vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Indian Springfield | 1 | 4 | C | |
| 2017 Indian Roadmaster | 9 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain | 2 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 2017 Indian Chief | 2 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2017 Indian Chieftan | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2017 Indian Chief Vintage | 1 | 2 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2017 Indian Springfield
Does the 2017 Indian Springfield have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Indian Springfield: software (August 2022); electrical system (October 2019); headlights (October 2017); fuel system, gasoline (December 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Indian Springfield?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (1), engine & cooling (1).
How many complaints has the 2017 Indian Springfield had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 15, 2024 and the latest on October 15, 2024. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2017 Indian Springfield a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 47 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Indian Springfield year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Indian Springfield years have the most complaints?
2016 (3), 2017 (1), 2019 (1). See every Indian Springfield year compared.
What should I do if my 2017 Indian Springfield has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data