Indian Recalling Certain FTR 1200 Motorcycles

[advrider]

Indian Motorcycle is recalling certain 2019 to 2022 FTR 1200 models under Indian recall number I22-04 and NHTSA recall number 22V-636. According to the manufacturer, the affected motorcycles were built with a suspect coolant junction which may leak hot coolant onto the rider and rear tire.

Indian’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to NHTSA

Indian’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 6,315 motorcycles, or about 1 percent of FTR 1200 motorcycles, may be affected and were produced between JAN 12, 2018 and AUG 12, 2022.

In its report, Indian says:

” Indian Motorcycle has determined that the affected vehicles may experience a failure at the coolant junction resulting in coolant loss during operation. If this occurs, coolant may come in contact with the rider, posing an injury hazard and/or coolant may come in contact with the rear tire, posing a crash hazard.”

Then, describing the safety risk, Indian says:

“Potential for hot coolant to contact the rider, posing an injury hazard and/or coolant may come in contact with the rear tire, posing a crash hazard.”

The motorcycles affected by this recall vary across the FTR 1200* model lineup and are as follows:

MAKE	MODEL	MODEL YEAR(S)
Indian	FTR 1200	2019 – 2020
Indian	FTR 1200	2022
Indian	FTR 1200 S	2019 – 2020
Indian	FTR 1200 Rally	2020

* Note: According to its report to NHTSA, no Indian FTR 1200s were manufactured in 2021

Chronology of the recall

Indian says that In February 2022, they identified a leak at the coolant junction on an FTR motorcycle in development testing that resulted in hot coolant contacting the test rider. The test rider was not injured.

After that, Indian initiated an investigation, which included outreach to the part supplier RL Hudson of Broken Arrow, OK. As a result, the coolant junction was subjected to additional testing at both Indian Motorcycles and the cooling junction’s supplier.

In addition, during its investigation, Indian identified 64 consumer reports of leaks at the coolant junction, including four reports of coolant contacting the rider. However, Indian has not identified any reports involving a crash, injuries, or deaths related to the reported issue. However, on August 16, 2022, Indian Motorcycle’s Executive Review Committee decided that the failure at the coolant junction resulting in coolant loss during operation resulted in a safety-related defect.

Recall identification

Potentially affected bikes were produced between January 12, 2018 – AUG 12, 2022. As such, the affected machines fall within the following VIN range:

Beginning VIN: 56KRTA220K3138832 — Ending VIN: 56KRZS25XN4017528 (not sequential)

Notification schedule

In its report to NHTSA, Indian said it would send notification letters no later than 60 days after NHTSA approved its recall report. They are proposing the following recall schedules:

Planned Dealer Notification Date: September 02, 2022
Planned Owner Notification Date: September 30, 2022

On August 19, Indian stopped shipments of the affected FTR models to dealers. However, neither it, nor its supplier has yet to manufacture replacement coolant junctions. Until then, Indian will not ship any more of the affected models to dealers.

No stop ride order

Indian says that hot coolant may come into contact with a rider with a potential for injury. Further, they indicate that hot coolant (which can be more slippery than plain water) may also come into contact with the rear tire, “posing a crash hazard.”

Indian has identified at least 65 known instances of leaking coolant. They have also said there is a potential for slippery coolant on the rear tire. So some may wonder why they have not issued a stop ride notice with its recall report. We have a call into Indian Customer Service asking whether riders should stop riding affected FTR 1200s. We are awaiting a response and will update this article if we receive any additional information.

Replacement part

Apparently, the design of a new and non-defective replacement cooling junction is still in process. In its report, Indian states:

“The remedy coolant junction part will have been manufactured subject to a material change to increase performance at operating temperatures and reduce manufacturing variation.”

and;

“The remedy coolant junction part will have been manufactured subject to a material change to increase performance at operating temperatures and reduce manufacturing variation.”

Unfortunately, Indian did not provide a date when the newly designed part will be available.

How to obtain repairs:

Owners will have to wait until the replacement cooling junction becomes available. Once it is, Indian will instruct its dealers to replace the coolant junction at no cost to the motorcycle’s owner.

Contacts

Owners may contact Indian customer service at 1-877-204-3697 and cite Indian recall number I-22-04 if they have any questions about this recall. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) and cite NHTSA Campaign Number 22V636000, or they may go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Vezi sursa