Every now and then we see a recall notice that kind of raises the eyebrow, and makes you wonder if things aren’t just a little too silly sometimes. This is one of those recalls.
This is because 3,147 units of the 2019 Indian Chieftain motorcycle are being recalled because their tail lights are too bright, and exceed the maximum allowed lumens set by the federal government.
As such, this means that the 2019 Indian Chieftain fails to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment” and must be recalled.
It is hard to say what’s more ridiculous on this one though – the government so closely regulating how bright brake lights need to be, or the fact that Indian didn’t program the bike’s correct to be under the required lighting limits.
Either way, the fix is a pretty simple software update, which is interesting in its own right.
According to the recall documents, the issue stems from the engine control unit (ECU), which was set to illuminate the rear tail lights too brightly. This could potentially cause a difficulty in seeing when the brake lights were engaging, and thus posed a safety risk.
To remedy the situation, Indian will notify affected owners, and Indian dealers will update the engine control module software to correct the rear tail light’s intensity, free of charge. This recall is expected to begin this month.
Concerned owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697. Indian’s number for this recall is I-19-04. As always, the NHTSA is also available at 1-888-327-4236 and safercar.gov.
Source: NHTSA
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