Recall 18V055 affects 7,392 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster motorcycles for trunk wiring water intrusion. Repair is free at any franchised Indian dealer.
Indian is recalling 7,392 2015-2017 Roadmaster motorcycles because water can enter the trunk wiring harness and leave the brake light illuminated when the brakes are not applied. That can make it harder for a driver behind the motorcycle to tell when it is slowing, increasing crash risk; Indian dealers will repair the harness free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The trunk wiring harness on 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster motorcycles carries electrical signals to lights mounted at the rear of the motorcycle, including the trunk and fender brake lights and running lights. When the rider applies the brakes, the harness helps send power to the brake lights so traffic behind the motorcycle sees the stop signal. When the motorcycle is shut down, those lights should turn off.
On affected Roadmaster motorcycles, the trunk wiring connections were built without plugs in unused connector terminal ports. Those plugs are meant to block water from entering the connector. Without them, water intrusion at the harness connection can interfere with the circuit and keep the brake light feed energized when the brakes are not being used.
Owners can notice the problem before a dealer inspection. The trunk and fender brake lights or running lights can stay illuminated even after the motorcycle is powered down.
Who's affected?
The scope stays within one touring model, with the same rear trunk-area wiring component listed for each included model year.
| 2015 Indian Roadmaster | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2016 Indian Roadmaster | wiring |
| 2017 Indian Roadmaster | wiring |
| Units affected | 7,392 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 7 field incidents to date. |
A matching 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A brake light that stays on when the brakes are released hides the moment the motorcycle is actually slowing. Drivers behind you get the wrong signal, which increases crash risk. If the trunk or fender lights stay illuminated after shutdown, schedule the repair soon and use extra space in traffic. Repair is free at any franchised Indian dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Indian dealer to schedule the free trunk wiring harness replacement that seals the connectors and fixes the water-entry brake-light problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Indian mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V055 when you call.
- Ride with extra space behind you until the repair is complete, since the brake light can stay lit when you are not braking.
- Call Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Indian technician replaces the trunk wiring harness with an updated harness that has sealing plugs in the connectors. The new harness is intended to keep water out of the trunk wiring connectors so the brake light does not stay on when the brakes are not applied. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. If you paid for this repair before receiving the owner letter, contact Polaris Consumer Service to request reimbursement for the related repair cost.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 16, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 18, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 30, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V055?
Recall 18V055 covers 7,392 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster motorcycles with trunk wiring harness connectors that let water into the harness. The brake light can stay on when the brakes are released, which increases crash risk. Indian dealers replace the harness for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2017 Indian Roadmaster is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 18V055. If it is, contact a franchised Indian dealer to schedule the trunk wiring harness replacement. Reference recall number 18V055 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Indian will replace the affected trunk wiring harness free of charge at a franchised Indian dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the brake light stays illuminated after you release the brakes. A driver behind the motorcycle can miss the moment when you are actually slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
When did Indian start this recall repair?
Indian began the recall repair on January 30, 2018. Dealers replace the trunk wiring harness with an updated harness that has sealing plugs in the connectors. Owners can also contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V055000 |
|---|---|
| Indian customer service | 1-877-204-3697 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V055 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V055000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →