The defect
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE GAS TANK VENT TUBE, THE VENT TUBE CAN BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY IN WET WEATHER. VENT TUBE CLOGGING CAN CAUSE INTERRUPTION OF FUEL FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP. A CLOGGED VENT TUBE MAY ALSO CAUSE PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE GAS TANK AND PUSH A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER CAP SEAL.
The risk
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENT OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT VENT TUBE WITH A LONGER TUBE REPOSITIONED TO PREVENT CLOGGING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2003. 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 MOTORCYCLE AT 1-888-899-2997.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Indian Chief | 2002, 2003 |
| Indian Chief Vintage | 2002, 2003 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 Chief | 2002 | 4 | 4 |
| Indian Chief | 2003 | 2 | 2 |
| Indian Chief Vintage | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Indian Chief Vintage | 2003 | 0 | 3 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 2003
41 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY filed 19 campaigns in all.
| 03V531000 16 Dec 2003 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 03V529000 12 Dec 2003 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V510000 8 Dec 2003 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V482000 19 Nov 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V454000 10 Nov 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V471000 10 Nov 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V442000 4 Nov 2003 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V443000 4 Nov 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003