An indicator mechanism for a surgical instrument includes an aperture fixed to a base. An indicator body is rotatably supported by the base. The indicator body includes features for engaging a motor that rotates the indicator body. A visual indicator, visible through the aperture, is coupled to the indicator body. A detent mechanism holds the indicator body in one of two positions. A first of the two positions provides a visual indication that the surgical instrument is in service and a second of the two positions provides a visual indication that the surgical instrument is expired. A controller may track use events for a surgical instrument to determine expiration. Use events may include operations and conditions in addition to those that occur in the surgical instrument. When the use events tracked by the controller indicate expiration, the controller may rotate a motor to set the visual indication to expired.