RoadVitals

2012 Harley-Davidson Fltru

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.
6
Latest Sep 12, 2014
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.
1
Latest Oct 19, 2011
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Fltru, most frequently naming the engine, steering and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Engine228.6%
  • Steering228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
11V506000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Oct 19, 2011
250,757 units potentially affected
The defect: HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
The risk: THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 0145View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END VIBRATED AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10632674
Incident
Apr 5, 2013
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 12, 2014

MY DUNLOP FRONT TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO "DRY ROT" ON THE SIDE WALL. IT IS ON A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX WITH ONLY 11800 MILES ON IT. MY DEALER SAID THAT IT IS THE SECOND ONE THAT HE HAS SEEN ON A STREET GLIDE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT COULD BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10621592
Incident
Aug 8, 2014
Mileage
11,830 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2012

COMPENSATOR SHOWED SEVERE WEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478458
Incident
Sep 24, 2012
Mileage
24,138 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 13, 2012

COMING TO A SLOW CONTROLLED STOP AT A RED LIGHT. AS THE BIKE DECELERATED THROUGH 40 MILES PER HOUR THE HANDLES BARS SHOOK, SIDE TO SIDE, OUT OF MY HANDS. MY BIKE IS A US MODEL NOW IMPORTED TO CANADA. HARLEY SAYS THEY HAVE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF THIS AND WILL NOT ADDRESS ANY WARRANTY OR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470335
Incident
Aug 13, 2012
Mileage
300 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS OVERHEATED AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE OVERHEATED AS WELL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10468846
Incident
Jul 31, 2012
Mileage
112,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 22, 2011

AT APPROXIMATELY 45-35MPH, WHEN DECELERATING, THE FRONT END WOBBLES VIOLENTLY, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HANDS FIRMLY ON THE BARS TO CONTROL IT. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BIKE WAS IN 3RD GEAR, LET OFF THROTTLE WHILE CRUISING TO STOP AND USED BOTH HANDS TO ZIP UP JACKET; NEARLY CRASHED AS IT WOBBLED ME TOWARDS CENTER LANE. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE NEARLY EVERY TIME UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS; I.E. RUN BIKE TO ABOUT 50MPH, PLACE HANDS JUST ABOUT 1" ABOVE GRIPS AND LET BIKE NATURALLY SLOW DOWN. AT 40-38MPH WOBBLE WILL OCCUR TO POINT WHERE BARS ARE SHAKING SO BAD YOU HAVE TO GRAB THEM. RESEARCHED ISSUE ON VARIOUS HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS...IT'S A WELL KNOW AND HIGHLY DISCUSSED ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS AND CANNOT POSSIBLY BE GOOD FOR HEAD BEARINGS AND/OR OTHER PARTS IF NOT ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10432460
Incident
Sep 24, 2011
Mileage
620 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

HD-TT-436

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HARLEY DAVIDSON: EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE SPEED SENSORS (VSS) ARE BEING REPLACED DUE TO CIRCUIT PROBLEMS AND ARE INOPERATIVE, ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, THEY ARE BEING TESTED AND COMING BACK WITH NO TROUBLE. *PE

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Fltru by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019110—
2018020—
2017320—
2016810—
2013100044.0
2012Viewing610—
2011221031.0
2010010—
2009600—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.