Recall 26V397 covers 392 2026 Indian Chief Vintage motorcycles with incorrect rear rim width on the VIN label. Indian mails replacement information labels free.
Indian is recalling 392 2026 Chief Vintage motorcycles because the VIN label lists the wrong rear rim width. Incorrect rim-width information can lead to improperly mounted tires and loss of motorcycle control, increasing crash risk; Indian dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The VIN label on the 2026 Indian Chief Vintage is the permanent information sticker that identifies the motorcycle and lists required wheel and rim information. Dealers, inspectors, and service technicians use that label to confirm the approved rear rim size for the motorcycle. For this model, the rear wheel uses a 16x3.5 inch rim, and the label is supposed to match that specification.
On affected motorcycles, Indian populated the Motorcycle Data Sheet with the wrong rear rim width, and the error was not corrected during compliance and engineering review. That bad data carried through to the VIN label. The motorcycle is not being recalled because the rim itself is described as defective; the problem is that the label gives the wrong rear rim width and does not meet FMVSS 120.
There is no warning sign before failure. This is a label compliance issue, so you will not feel a vibration, hear a noise, or see a dashboard warning tied to the incorrect label.
Who's affected?
| 2026 Indian Chief Vintage | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 392 |
Not every 2026 Indian Chief Vintage motorcycle is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect wheel rim size information can lead to improperly mounted tires. An improperly mounted tire can cause loss of motorcycle control and increase the risk of a crash. Before tire work, use the corrected Indian label and confirm the proper rim size. Repair is free at any franchised Indian dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026 Indian Chief Vintage is included in this recall.
- Contact Indian customer service at 877-204-3697 to confirm the free information-label mailing.
- Apply the corrected label when it arrives; it fixes the rear rim width information used for tire mounting.
- Reference recall number 26V397 when you call Indian or speak with a franchised Indian dealer.
- Avoid rear tire mounting or replacement until the corrected label is installed, unless an Indian dealer confirms the correct rim width first.
What happens at the repair
Indian is handling this as a mailed label correction, not a parts replacement at the dealer. Indian will mail owners a corrected information label with installation instructions, free of charge. Owner letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. If you already paid to replace or service your motorcycle for this VIN label condition before the recall notice, keep your repair paperwork and contact Indian customer service at 877-204-3697 to discuss reimbursement eligibility.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 19, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 24, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| July 24, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V397?
Recall 26V397 covers 392 2026 Indian Chief Vintage motorcycles with a VIN label that lists the wrong rear rim width. The incorrect label fails FMVSS 120 and can lead to improperly mounted tires, loss of motorcycle control, and crash risk.
What should I do if my 2026 Indian Chief Vintage is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 26V397. If it is, follow Indian's mailed instructions for the free information label. Indian expects to mail owner letters on July 7, 2026. You can also call Indian customer service at 877-204-3697.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Indian to provide the recall remedy at no cost. For recall 26V397, Indian will mail the corrected information label and instructions free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an improperly mounted rear tire. The VIN label lists the wrong rear rim width, and that incorrect wheel rim size information can lead to tire mounting errors, loss of motorcycle control, and a higher crash risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V397000 |
|---|---|
| Indian customer service | 877-204-3697 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V397 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V397000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on July 4, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →