2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx 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 Flhx, 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
- Brakes850.0%
- Powertrain (other)212.5%
- Tires & wheels212.5%
- Other / unspecified16.3%
- Engine16.3%
- Electrical16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
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
My front brake lever froze and can not be pulled in on my 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dealership is saying brake pistons are froze up and ABS module will need to be replaced. I’ve owned the bike 6 years and have never been told the brake fluid needed to flushed every 2 years. There was a recall on this issue but only for years 2008-2011 and my bike is 2012, but was built on 2011. I never received recall notice.
2012 HARLEY STREET GLIDE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING. CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME ROCK HARD AND UNUSABLE. SAME EXACT MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2008-2010 WAS ALSO USED IN 2011-2013. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CAN NOT STOP IF SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAVE A HEEL TO TOE SHIFTER... FRIEND FROM A MAJOR HARLEY DEALER LOOKED OVER THE BIKE AND NOTICED THE SHIFTER ARM HAS SLIPPED AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT SLIDES UP AND DOWN THE SPLINED SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION MAKING IT LOOSE AND COULD FALL OFF...HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR THIS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN!?
WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT HIGHWAY 101 SOUTHBOUND IN NOVATO CALIFORNIA. UPON BRAKING AND DOWNSHIFTING I REALIZED THE ENTIRE FOOT SHIFTER WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN SIXTH FEAR AND I HAD TO INITIATE EMERGENCY BRAKING TO AVOID LOSING CONTROL OF THE BIKE ON THE EXIT RAMP. THE BIKE WAS THEN STUCK IN SIXTH GEAR AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FURTHER. UPON OBTAINING REPLACEMENT PARTS AND INSTALLING THE SAME THE LOCAL DEALER HAD ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE NEWER HARLEY MODELS AND THAT HAVE HEARD MANY HARROWING STORIES FROM RIDERS LIKE MYSELF THAT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISHAP DUE TO THIS DEFECT, ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND SLOW A 800 POUND BIKE WITH A 210 POUND RIDER AND A 150 PASSENGER AS WELL AS LUGGAGE IS NOT AN EASY TASK WHEN THERE IS NO SHIFTER TO DOWN GEAR AND SLOW THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPORTS HARLEY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ATTRIBUTED TO FAULTY PARTS AND AFFIXMENT BUT TO DATE HAS DONE NOTHING . MY PART REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. THIS SITUATION IS A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY WAITING TO OCCUR IN MY OPINION....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT TIRE ON MY 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX STREET GLIDE HAS CRACKED SIDEWALLS.TIRE IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE WITH 1500 MILES WEAR .REAR TIRE DOES NOT HAVE THIS CRACKING.HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER ([XXX])STATES ITS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT CAUSED TIRE DAMAGE. BIKE IS KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE,ON WOODEN BOARDS AND IS NEVER RIDDEN IN OR SEEN RAIN.SEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS SHOWS THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE,ALTHOUGH I CAN NOT VOUCH FOR THE WAY THEIR BIKES ARE KEPT AND MAINTAINED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX-11200 MILES. SIDEWALL CRACK ON THE FRONT TIRE. ITS THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DUNLOP TIRE D408F. TIRE SIZE IS A 130/70B18 63H. I HAVE HAD TO PUT 4 FRONT TIRES ON IT SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE BIKE NEW LAST YEAR. MY LAST TWO FRONT TIRES ONLY LASTED 1000 MILES AND STARTED CRACKING. NOTIFIED HARLEY DAVIDSON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED EVERY TIRE FOR FREE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, A VIBRATION OCCURRED UNDER THE CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF NASSAU COUNTY (LOCATED ON SUNRISE HIGH, BELLMORE, NY 11710) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AFTERMARKET PRODUCTION OF THE CUSTOM RIMS AND ROUTER THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
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
MOTORCYCLE SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN ALSO LOSES THROTTLE CONTROL. THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC AND AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE BUT MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING. TRAFFIC WAS A 4 LANE STREET WITH SPEED POSTED AT 35 MPH. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND ONLY A CURB. I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEVERAL PASSING VEHICLES. I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AT THE TIME I LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE. I SHUT OFF IGNITION AND CYCLED POWER A FEW TIMES AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND I HAD THROTTLE RESPONSE AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES AND WENT INTO WHAT HARLEY DAVIDSON REPAIR CALLS LIMP MODE. I HAVE HAD THE BIKE IN SERVICE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO PREVAIL ON FIXING PROBLEM. THE OTHER ITEM THE MOTORCYCLE IS DOING IS, THE BIKE THROTTLE SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS PULLING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, JUST AS I WAS GOING TO STOP THE THROTTLE REVVED UP CAUSING ME TO GO INTO THE INTERSECTION ALMOST GETTING HIT AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE BIKE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE BIKE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS ?IT?S A LOOSE WIRE OR CONNECTION? BUT THEY HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS TRYING TO FIND IT. BOTH THE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGES AND LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE SEVERAL TIME BECAUSE OF IT.
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
BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND VOLTMETER DROPPING. *TR
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
THE RIGHT HAND SADDLE BAG FELL OFF DURING A RIDE. HAVE OWNED THIS STYLE BAG FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS AND KNOW THEY WERE SECURE PRIOR TO THIS RIDE. MATT G. FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 40MPH AND NOBODY WAS FOLLOWING ME.
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 .