Vehicle recall 02V180000 · July 8, 2002
Indian Chief, Scout and 1 more model
On certain motorcycles, the rear axles are made of a material with a lower than desirable yield strength.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- On certain motorcycles, the rear axles are made of a material with a lower than desirable yield strength.
- Consequence
- Under repeated heavy loads, the rear axle could deform causing excessive wear in the rear wheel bearings potentially leading to overheating and seizing of the bearings, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the rear axles on these motorcycles. Owner notification began August 16, 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.
- Notes
- Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 02V180000
- Reported to NHTSA
- July 8, 2002
- Filed by
- INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY
- Owner notification
- August 16, 2002
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 590
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Suspension › Rear
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Indian Chief (2002): 2002
- Indian Scout (2002): 2002
- Indian Spirit (2002): 2002
Has your Indian been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Indian dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.