RoadVitals

2012 Harley-Davidson Flstse3

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Feb 11, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flstse3, most frequently naming the body & structure and other / unspecified categories. 19 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure250.0%
  • Other / unspecified250.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Feb 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL (NA). WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SADDLEBAG SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000 (EQUIPMENT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

NHTSA ID
10825556
Incident
Jan 8, 2016
Mileage
2,700 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 4, 2013

HAD SADDLEBAGS INSTALLED AS PER HARLEY DAVIDSON OEM PARTS THAT CAME WITH BIKE. INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THEY WERE "LOCKED" IN PLACE. LEFT SIDE SADDLEBAG CAME OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-15, SALT LAKE CITY. FOUR LANES OF HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRAFFIC. BAGS HAVE STEEL BRACKETS, PLASTIC CASE, LEATHER LID. THEY ARE MADE TO BE "DETACHABLE", BY TURNING A LOCK BRACKET AND SLIDING OFF. I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT FALLING OFF. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE ME AWARE I HAD A PROBLEM. DANGEROUS GETTING OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO AN EXIT TO EVALUATE ISSUE. MADE CIRCLE BACK TO LOCATION. SADDLEBAG WAS ENTIRELY DESTROYED. I AM SURE THAT MANY VEHICLES HIT DEBRIS. SOME DEBRIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO TIRES. ALL GEAR IN BAG WAS SCATTERED AND DESTROYED. UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE ON LINE. HARLEY DAVIDSON ONLY MADE 800 OF THESE TYPE VEHICLES IN 2012. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ACCEPTED NO LIABILITY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WONDER ID SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515033
Incident
May 23, 2013
Mileage
5,208 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed May 28, 2012

THE SADDLE BAG ON THE RIGHT SIDE FELL OFF WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP AT VERY LOW SPEED. THIS WAS THE FIRST RIDE ON THE BIKE AND HAD JUST PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER. FELL INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459832
Incident
May 28, 2012
Mileage
52 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.0.2): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 26.0.2. Release Date: Week of November 18, 2025. New Features, Changes. 2026 Vehicles, 2025 Softail and LiveWire S2DM/MH/AP EV3. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

M1391A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REVU): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision U. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev U] Added: Description of improvements made to the testing algorithm for GRX software Version P and DCA-8000 software Version E.

PAB1171

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1171 (REV B): SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SCREAMIN EAGLE PRO STREET TUNER. PURPOSE: Revision B. Updated: Summary. The App has returned to the Apple App Store. This bulletin informs dealers that a recent software update to the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner application will require the use of a Personal Computer (PC) to complete a Bluetooth Communication Interface (BCI) firmware update.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.9): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 25.8.9 Release Date: Week of September 2, 2025. Changes: LiveWire 2024 S2MH: Removal of incorrect Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) reflash support; EHCU Module (Part No. 41100123): Addressed issue where module became unrecoverable after failed reflash attempted. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

M1391A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REV T): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision T. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev T] Updated: New Software Update, Previous Software Updates and DCA-8000. Added: 192-210335P. Software update 192-210335P for GRX-3110 and DCA-800 to add new battery part numbers.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.7): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 25.6.4, Release Date: Week of August 19, 2025. Includes New Features and Changes for the Models & Model Years listed. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.