Recall 17V682 affects 2,096 2017-2018 Indian Chief, Chieftain, and Springfield motorcycles with incorrect headlights. Repair is free at any franchised Indian dealer.
Indian is recalling 2,096 2017-2018 Chief, Chieftain, and Springfield motorcycles, including the Chieftain Dark Horse, because they were fitted with a European-market halogen headlight instead of the required US-market assembly. The incorrect headlight can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, and Indian dealers will replace it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The halogen headlight on 2017-2018 Indian motorcycles is the front lighting assembly that projects the road beam and carries the required compliance markings. On US motorcycles, that assembly must meet the US lighting standard and be marked SAE so an inspector or dealer can identify it as the correct part.
On some Chief, Chieftain, and Springfield line motorcycles, the headlight supplier shipped mislabeled parts. During final assembly, Indian installed an E4 European-market headlight instead of the US-market headlight. The issue is not a burned-out bulb or a wiring fault. It is the wrong headlight assembly, with different beam measurement requirements and different markings than the US part.
An owner can look at the headlight marking: the correct US headlight is marked SAE, while the European headlight is marked E4. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
The affected Chieftain, Chief, and Springfield variants span the 2017 and 2018 model years, all tied to the headlight component.
| 2017 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | Headlights |
|---|---|
| 2017 Indian Chieftain | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chief Vintage | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Springfield | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chief Dark Horse | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chief Classic | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chief Vintage | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Springfield | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Springfield Dark Horse | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chief | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chief Classic | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chief Dark Horse | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain Classic | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chief | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Springfield Dark Horse | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain Limited | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain Elite | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain Classic | Headlights |
| 2017 Indian Chieftain Elite | Headlights |
| 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited | Headlights |
| Units affected | 2,096 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
The incorrect headlight affects how visible the motorcycle is to other road users and increases the risk of a crash. Until inspected, avoid riding in low light or poor weather and schedule the dealer repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Indian dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Indian Chief, Chief Classic, Chief Dark Horse, Chief Vintage, Chieftain, Chieftain Classic, Chieftain Dark Horse, Chieftain Elite, Chieftain Limited, Springfield, or Springfield Dark Horse is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Indian dealer to schedule the free headlight inspection and replacement that fixes the incorrect headlight assembly.
- Bring the recall notice if Indian sent one. If not, reference recall number 17V682 when you call.
- Avoid riding after dark until the headlight inspection or replacement is complete.
- Call Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697 with questions about the recall or dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Indian technician inspects the motorcycle's headlight assembly to confirm whether it has the European market halogen unit instead of the US market assembly. If the wrong assembly is installed, the dealer replaces it free of charge under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. Indian's reimbursement plan covers documented repair costs tied to this issue, so if you already paid for a related headlight repair, contact Indian customer service or bring your repair paperwork to the service desk for reimbursement instructions.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 27, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 2, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| November 3, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 6, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V682?
Recall 17V682 covers 2,096 2017-2018 Indian Chief, Chieftain, and Springfield motorcycles with the wrong halogen headlight assembly installed for the US market. The incorrect headlight can reduce motorcycle visibility and increase crash risk. Indian dealers will inspect and replace the headlight assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Indian Chief, Chieftain, or Springfield is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 17V682. If it is, contact a franchised Indian dealer to schedule the headlight inspection and replacement. Reference recall number 17V682 or Indian recall I-17-03 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Indian will inspect the motorcycle and replace any incorrect headlight assembly free of charge at a franchised Indian dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V682?
The safety risk is reduced motorcycle visibility from the incorrect headlight assembly. The recall says the light output from the wrong headlight can affect visibility and increase crash risk. The repair path is to have an Indian dealer inspect the headlight and replace the incorrect assembly for free.
What if I bought my Indian motorcycle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2017-2018 Indian motorcycle is included, then contact a franchised Indian dealer and reference recall 17V682 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V682000 |
|---|---|
| Indian customer service | 1-877-204-3697 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V682 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V682000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →