2012 Harley-Davidson Fltrx 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 Fltrx, 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
- Tires & wheels220.0%
- Other / unspecified220.0%
- Electrical110.0%
- Engine110.0%
- Exterior lighting110.0%
- Brakes110.0%
- Visibility110.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I HAVE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM HAVING DRY ROT CRACKING ON NEW DUNLOP TIRES. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH DRY ROT CRACKING AT 7170 MILES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE NEW TIRE WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WITH ONLY 8132 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS NEW TIRE ONLY LASTED 962 MILES BEFORE SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. ## VIN PASSED ## HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRX 2012 ## *TR
I WAS CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE TIRES WHEN I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE DRY ROT. I THEN STARTED CHECKING ON VARIOUS FORUMS FOR HARLEY RIDERS AND NOTICED THAT OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CHANGED TIRES WITHOUT QUESTION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM ON FACTORY INSTALLED DUNLOP TIRES ON 2010 TO 2012 HARLEY TOURING MODELS. *TR *JS
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
THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I HAVE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM HAVING DRY ROT CRACKING ON NEW DUNLOP TIRES. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH DRY ROT CRACKING AT 7170 MILES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE NEW TIRE WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WITH ONLY 8132 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS NEW TIRE ONLY LASTED 962 MILES BEFORE SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. ## VIN PASSED ## HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRX 2012 ## *TR
I WAS CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE TIRES WHEN I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE DRY ROT. I THEN STARTED CHECKING ON VARIOUS FORUMS FOR HARLEY RIDERS AND NOTICED THAT OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CHANGED TIRES WITHOUT QUESTION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM ON FACTORY INSTALLED DUNLOP TIRES ON 2010 TO 2012 HARLEY TOURING MODELS. *TR *JS
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
WHILE RIDING ON MY 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE MOTORCYCLE IT SUDDENLY DIED. IT DIED BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS NOT BEING CHARGED; THEREFORE MY ELECTRONICS WOULD NOT WORK, INCLUDING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE VOLTAGE REGULATOR THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO HARLEY. THIS DEFECTIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS PART OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON?S PRODUCT PROGRAM (PRODUCT NOTICE: 0912) AND NOT PART OF A SAFETY RECALL. I DON?T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ISN?T A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING THE MOTORCYCLE DIES WHILE YOU ARE RIDING ON IT.
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
THE EXCESSIVE HEAT PUT OFF BY THE HEADER PIPE DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CAUSING BLISTERS ON THE RIGHT DRIVERS THIGH(BACK OF LEG) AND PASSENGER'S RIGHT SHIN. THE HEAT PUT OFF BY THIS SET UP TO EXCESSIVE. WHETHER YOU ARE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR MOVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HEAT IS EXCESSIVE. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS A PROBLEM AND IT IS COMMON ON 2010 TO PRESENT BIKES. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES IF NEED TO VIEW OF THE INFLICTED BURNS. THIS BIKE IS STOCK. HOWEVER I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADER PIPE WITH A NON CAT TYPE TO RELIEVE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 21 JUNE 2012, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD WHEN I STRUCK A POTHOLE IN THE ROADWAY. WHEN I STRUCK THE POTHOLE, THE LEFT BRAKELIGHT/TURN SIGNAL LENS COVER FELL OUT OF IT'S SOCKET AND ONTO THE ROADWAY. ON 20 AUGUST 2012, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THIS TIME THE RIGHT BRAKELIGHT/TURN SIGNAL LENS COVER FELL OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE OR EXPERIENCE ANY OTHER TYPE OF ROUGH DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH BETWEEN METCALF & BAILEY HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON (5/30) ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE 2015 THAT HAS LESS THAN 300 MILES. I WAS IN THE 2ND LANE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH AND MY BIKE STARTED TO RIDE VERY ROUGH, I WAS LOSING SPEED VERY FAST. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE 3RD LANE BEFORE THE BIKE COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE SLOW LANE. THANK GOD ALL THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION & THERE WERE NO BIG RIGS BECAUSE THE BIKE CAME TO A STOP WITHIN SECONDS AND IT WOULD NOT START, THE FRONT BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED, PUSHING THE BIKE OFF THE HIGHWAY WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL THE FRONT BRAKE RELEASED. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINE ON THE 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING BIKES BUT NOT ON THE 2015. THERE ARE NO OPEN OR CLOSED RECALLS & NO PRODUCT PROGRAMS FOR MY BIKE AS OF TODAY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SLEEP WELL & CAN'T GET MY MIND OFF OF THIS INCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REPLACING A CURVED WINDSHIELD, THE CONTACT'S VISION BECAME DISTORTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OBJECTS APPEARED CLOSER THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE AND THE LINES ON THE HIGHWAY APPEARED IN A ZIGZAG SHAPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 08/25/14*LJ
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH BETWEEN METCALF & BAILEY HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON (5/30) ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE 2015 THAT HAS LESS THAN 300 MILES. I WAS IN THE 2ND LANE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH AND MY BIKE STARTED TO RIDE VERY ROUGH, I WAS LOSING SPEED VERY FAST. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE 3RD LANE BEFORE THE BIKE COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE SLOW LANE. THANK GOD ALL THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION & THERE WERE NO BIG RIGS BECAUSE THE BIKE CAME TO A STOP WITHIN SECONDS AND IT WOULD NOT START, THE FRONT BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED, PUSHING THE BIKE OFF THE HIGHWAY WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL THE FRONT BRAKE RELEASED. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINE ON THE 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING BIKES BUT NOT ON THE 2015. THERE ARE NO OPEN OR CLOSED RECALLS & NO PRODUCT PROGRAMS FOR MY BIKE AS OF TODAY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SLEEP WELL & CAN'T GET MY MIND OFF OF THIS INCIDENT.
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 .