Indian Chief Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Indian Chief car check
Is the Indian Chief reliable? We analysed 1,250 real MOT tests across 243 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Indian Chief? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Indian Chief is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Indian Chief.
Indian Chief Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Indian Chief. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Indian Chief MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Indian Chief to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Indian Chief Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Indian Chief fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Indian Chief Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Indian Chief models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Indian Chief Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Indian Chief owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Indian Chief MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Indian Chief year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 64 | 95.3% | 778 | 2,421 | 11,176 |
| 2016 | 174 | 97.7% | 3,586 | 7,225 | 10,332 |
| 2015 | 209 | 97.6% | 3,422 | 6,965 | 11,413 |
| 2014 | 251 | 94.4% | 5,622 | 9,667 | 16,099 |
| 2003 | 57 | 84.2% | 4,514 | 9,821 | 14,113 |
| 2000 | 68 | 83.8% | 6,000 | 10,968 | 14,136 |
How Long Does a Indian Chief Last?
Based on 243 Indian Chief vehicles on UK roads.
Indian Chief Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Indian Chief MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Indian Chief
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
97.7% MOT pass rate from 174 tests
83.8% MOT pass rate from 68 tests
The best year to buy a used Indian Chief is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.7% across 174 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Indian Chief Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Chief THIS CAR | 94.1% | 1,250 | 8,137 mi | 26 yrs |
| Indian Scout | 91.7% | 2,413 | 5,508 mi | 11 yrs |
| Indian Scout Sixty | 92.8% | 735 | 4,919 mi | 10 yrs |
| Vauxhall Astra Design Cdti Ecoflex S/s | 91.7% | 1,223 | 84,047 mi | — yrs |
| Land Rover Defender First ED D MHEV Auto | 91.6% | 1,360 | 34,123 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Indian Scout (91.7% pass rate) and the Indian Scout Sixty (92.8% pass rate), the Indian Chief outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Indian Chief you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Indian ChiefShould you buy a used Indian Chief?
The Indian Chief has an overall MOT pass rate of 94.1% across 1,250 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is horn not working with 3 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Indian Chief with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Indian Chief owner drives around 578 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Indian Chief models stay on UK roads for around 26 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.