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2003 Indian Scout
4 recall campaigns and 2 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 2003 Indian Scout; the recalls concern structure, exterior lighting and fuel system, gasoline.
The component named most often is exterior lighting: 666.7 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 34.7 per 1,000 across all 2003 model-year vehicles and against 229.2 per 1,000 for the Indian Scout line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 2.2 complaints per model year across the 13 Indian Scout model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2002 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 9 Oct 2003.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: On certain motorcycles, the weld attaching the fender mount to the front fork may crack and break.
Consequence: This could cause the fender mount to fail resulting in the fender coming into contact with the wheel, resulting in the rider to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will bolt a bracket onto each front fork. This bracket will hold the fender mount in place even if the weld fails. Owner notification is expected to begin during august 2003. Owners should contact indian at 1-888-899-2997.
Filed by INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY (manufacturer campaign IMCSB-058).
Defect, as filed: On certain motorcycles, the bracket used to support the teardrop headlight can crack, causing the bracket to break and the light to slip out of position or fall off.
Consequence: This could cause a loss of visibility to the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new bracket. Owner notification is expected to begin during august 2003. Owners should contact imc at 1-888-899-2997.
Filed by INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY (manufacturer campaign IMCSB-057).
Defect, as filed: On certain motorcycles, due to the positioning of the gas tank vent tube, the vent tube can become clogged with debris, particularly in wet weather. Vent tube clogging can cause interruption of fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the engine to stop. A clogged vent tube may also cause pressure to build up in the gas tank and push a small amount of gas out of the fuel filler cap seal.
Consequence: Fuel leakage in the present of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the current vent tube with a longer tube repositioned to prevent clogging. Owner notification began april 28, 2003. 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 motorcycle at 1-888-899-2997.
Filed by INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY (manufacturer campaign IMCSB-054).
Defect, as filed: On certain motorcycles, the fasteners that bolt the windshield to the mounting clamps can break, causing the windshield to come partially or completely off the bike.
Consequence: If this happens while the motorcycle is in use, the rider could be injured by the windshield.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshields. Owner notification began january 16, 2003. 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 motorcycle at 1-888-899-2997.
Filed by INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY (manufacturer campaign IMCSB-050).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2003 Indian Scout (black) against all 2003 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2003 | Scout line | All 2003 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 666.7 | 229.2 | 34.7 |
| Structure | 333.3 | 125 | 62 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 666.7 | 229.2 | 34.7 |
| Structure | 1 | 333.3 | 125 | 62 |
2 unique complaints, 3 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE03024 | Preliminary evaluation | HEADLIGHT SEPARATES | exterior lighting:headlights | 4 Jun 2003 | 11 Aug 2003 | 03V258000 |
Other Indian Scout model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 7,947 |
| 2000 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 7,947 |
| 2001 | 7 | 9 | 27,945 |
| 2002 | 7 | 6 | 21,493 |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | 19,850 |
| 2015 NHTSA | 1 | 7 | 987 |
| 2016 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 2017 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 4,185 |
| 2018 NHTSA | 1 | 2 | 4,185 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 4,814 |
| 2021 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 7,812 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 7,812 |
| 2025 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 4,926 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Indian Scout model years · Indian: 39 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2003 Indian Scout have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 03V286000, was reported to NHTSA on 4 Aug 2003 and concerns structure. Across all model years the Indian Scout line has 17 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2003 Indian Scout?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2003 Indian Scout complain about most?
Exterior Lighting: 2 of 3 component mentions (666.7 per 1,000). Next is structure with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.