The defect
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PINCH BOLTS THAT CLAMP THE FRONT FORKS TO THE AXLE MAY BE 1/4" BOLTS OR 5/16" BOLTS MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. IN BOTH CASES, THESE BOLTS MAY NOT BE OF SUFFICIENT STRENGTH OVER TIME TO CLAMP THE FRONT FORK TO THE AXLE TIGHTLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT AXLE ROTATION.
The risk
IF THE AXLE IS ALLOWED TO ROTATE, THE AXLE COULD COME OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT FORK, COLLAPSING THE FRONT END, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT FORKS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PINCH BOLTS ARE 1/4" OR 5/16" BOLTS MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. IF THE FORKS ARE CLAMPED WITH 1/4" BOLTS, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FORKS WITH FORKS DESIGNED WITH 5/16" BOLTS. IF THE FORKS ARE CLAMPED WITH 5/16" STAINLESS STEEL PINCH BOLTS, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE BOLTS WITH 5/16" BOLTS MADE OF ZINC PLATED STEEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INDIAN AT 1-408-846-7228.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Indian Scout | 2001 |
| Indian Scout Centennial | 2001 |
| Indian Spirit | 2001 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Scout | 2001 | 9 | 7 |
| Indian Scout Centennial | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Indian Spirit | 2001 | 4 | 4 |
Other suspension recalls in 2002
21 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the suspension; INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY filed 19 campaigns in all.
| 02V341000 20 Dec 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V332000 12 Dec 2002 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES |
| 02V320000 2 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V317000 25 Nov 2002 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 02V299000 12 Nov 2002 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V219000 12 Aug 2002 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 02V209000 1 Aug 2002 | ELECTRIC TRANSIT, INC. |
| 02V202000 26 Jul 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002