2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes337.5%
- Body & structure112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Powertrain (other)112.5%
- Steering112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
All #'s/times are approx. At 2:15p, sun to back, and 30-35mph going into a curve, bike went off road. No brake lights, New tire, 406 miles on it, 6.6 miles fr: dealership, 3rd time there for random electrical issues, radio, starting, etc. Less than 1 mile tested in parking lot. Battery replaced. Drove thousands of miles since the 1970s. Trike maintained on schedule by dealer. Searched this on the internet, shocked at all of the similar complaints and deaths by sensors and brakes locking up since 2008 and that Harley-Davidson knew about it and did nothing. Witnesses said there was nothing that would have caused crash; not speeding, nothing ran in front, paved road, brake lights didn't work. Autopsy showed enlarged heart, saw PCP and heart specialist within the month before. Great health. Police file at Hartford, NY
The contact's husband owned a 2012 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 30-35 MPH on a curve, the brake pedal or caliber was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated the motorcycle rolled over and her husband jumped off and fell into a ditch. The emergency units pronounced the contact's husband died at the scene. The contact stated the autopsy revealed that her husband sustained a broken neck and fractured bones. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact did not know whether the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOOK A 400 MILE TRIP FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA ON 7/27/11. ON THE WAY DOWN TO KEY WEST, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT!! HEAT CAUSED INSIDE CALF OF MY WIFE'S RIGHT LEG TO BECOME EXTREMELY RED AND BURNED. HAD HER LEG CHECKED BY A NURSE IN KEY WEST AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE ANY FURTHER! WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO OUR HOME IN BOWLING GREEN, KY, I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD BE SOLVED BY SPENDING $1800 TO REMOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, CHANGE PIPES AND RETUNE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS WOULD COOL THE BIKE DOWN. I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET. FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING HANDLED BY SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST HARLEY DAVIDSON. APPARENTLY, HD IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD SPOT. THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF STRICTER EMISSION CONTROLS. THIS SHOULDN'T BE MY PROBLEM - IT IS A HARLEY DAVIDSON PROBLEM!! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
All #'s/times are approx. At 2:15p, sun to back, and 30-35mph going into a curve, bike went off road. No brake lights, New tire, 406 miles on it, 6.6 miles fr: dealership, 3rd time there for random electrical issues, radio, starting, etc. Less than 1 mile tested in parking lot. Battery replaced. Drove thousands of miles since the 1970s. Trike maintained on schedule by dealer. Searched this on the internet, shocked at all of the similar complaints and deaths by sensors and brakes locking up since 2008 and that Harley-Davidson knew about it and did nothing. Witnesses said there was nothing that would have caused crash; not speeding, nothing ran in front, paved road, brake lights didn't work. Autopsy showed enlarged heart, saw PCP and heart specialist within the month before. Great health. Police file at Hartford, NY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS BIKE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT ISSUES IT IS ALMOST TO THE POINT THIS BIKE CANNOT BE RIDDEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD NEED TO INVEST NEARLY $2,000 MORE DOLLARS INTO THIS BIKE. I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEGE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CPSC: I1460341A. 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR DRIVER DIFFERENTIAL UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. *LN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
All #'s/times are approx. At 2:15p, sun to back, and 30-35mph going into a curve, bike went off road. No brake lights, New tire, 406 miles on it, 6.6 miles fr: dealership, 3rd time there for random electrical issues, radio, starting, etc. Less than 1 mile tested in parking lot. Battery replaced. Drove thousands of miles since the 1970s. Trike maintained on schedule by dealer. Searched this on the internet, shocked at all of the similar complaints and deaths by sensors and brakes locking up since 2008 and that Harley-Davidson knew about it and did nothing. Witnesses said there was nothing that would have caused crash; not speeding, nothing ran in front, paved road, brake lights didn't work. Autopsy showed enlarged heart, saw PCP and heart specialist within the month before. Great health. Police file at Hartford, NY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .