RoadVitals

2012 Harley-Davidson Fxdb

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.
2
Latest Dec 18, 2020
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Fxdb, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and exterior lighting categories. 18 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 & structure133.3%
  • Engine133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%

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

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 & structureExterior lighting
Filed Dec 18, 2020

HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA STREET BOB MODEL YEARS 2011 AND 2012 HAS A CHROME TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT STICKS UP OFF OF REAR FENDER. THE BRACKET ON THE UNDERSIDE SUPPORTING THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS JUST ABOUT THE SAME WIDTH AS THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ITSELF. WHEN IN MOTION AND WITH THE ASSOCIATED VIBRATION, THE REAR FENDER CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND RIGHT ALONG THE SUPPORTING BRACKET. FURTHER MOTION AND VIBRATION ACCENTUATES THE CRACKING. IF GONE UNNOTICED, COULD LEAD TO TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FALLING INTO REAR WHEEL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT WHILE IN MOTION. IN MY OPINION, MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IS THE CULPRIT. INSUFFICIENT BRACKET FOR THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. DRIVING STYLE HAS LITTLE TO NO INPUT. MOTORCYCLE WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND AROUND 13000 MILES WHEN CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED. IMAGES SHOW INITIAL CRACKS ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF TAIL LIGHT. THOSE WERE WELDED AS A TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL A NEW FENDER COULD BE ORDERED. SUBSEQUENT CRACKS FORMED ALONGSIDE INITIAL CRACKS AFTER 200 MORE MILES.

NHTSA ID
11384055
Incident
Jul 1, 2020
Mileage
13,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDB MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS A LOUD, TICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE IN ADDITION TO AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CAPACITOR HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPAIR FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,522 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,750.

NHTSA ID
10575407
Incident
Nov 4, 2013
Mileage
3,522 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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Fxdb by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018000—
2017000—
2016200—
2015200—
2014000—
2013100—
2012Viewing200—
2011000—
2010100—
2009172050.0
2008411—
2007310—

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.