The defect
Indian Motorcycle Company (Indian) is recalling certain 2019 Chieftain motorcycles. The tail lights may be too bright, exceeding the maximum light output allowed. 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
Due to increased brightness, other drivers may have difficulties discerning the brake light from the tail light, and thus may be unaware that the motorcycle is braking, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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 September 18, 2019. Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian's number for this recall is I-19-04.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Indian Chieftain | 2019 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
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 Chieftain | 2019 | 3 | 3 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2019
74 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the exterior lighting; Indian Motorcycle Company filed 30 campaigns in all.
| 19V895000 16 Dec 2019 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 19V878000 11 Dec 2019 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. |
| 19V850000 27 Nov 2019 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 19V839000 21 Nov 2019 | Ford Motor Company |
| 19V816000 15 Nov 2019 | Newmar Corporation |
| 19V808000 12 Nov 2019 | Ford Motor Company |
| 19V799000 7 Nov 2019 | Thor Motor Coach |
| 19V795000 6 Nov 2019 | Blue Bird Body Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019