RoadVitals

2012 Harley-Davidson Fxdc

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 May 26, 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.
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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 Fxdc, most frequently naming the brakes, 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

  • Brakes120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%

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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 26, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THIS MOTORCYCLE, AFTER ABOUT GOING THREE TO FOUR MILES, I RELEASED THE THROTTLE AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD ACCELERATE, AND NOT SLOW DOWN. I FORCED THE BIKE TO STOP BY DOWN SHIFTING IT AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. I STARTED THE BIKE UP A FEW MINUTES LATER , AND HAD TO SHUT IT OFF ON THE WAY BACK HOME MORE THAN ONCE TO KEEP IT FROM ACCELERATING AGAIN, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE BETWEEN 2400 AND 3100 RPM'S. IT DID THE SAME THING FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE BIKE. THE DAY I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS HARD TO START AND WOULD NOT KEEP RUNNING. I CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSONS CUSTOMER SERVICE, 800-258-2464 AND TALKED TO JOHN WHO TOLD ME HOW TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO CHECK FOR FAULT (TROUBLE CODES ) AND I RETRIEVED A CODE # PO507 WHICH IS A HIGH ENGINE IDLE, IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE BIKE WILL NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594123
Incident
May 21, 2014
Mileage
1,400 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 31, 2013

CATASTROPHIC REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 2,500 MILES. RATTLING SOUNDS. GRINDING NOISE. ABS LIGHT CAME ON. REAR WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. PULLED OVER AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THE ABS SENSOR WAS FRIED FROM THE HEAT. NO EXPLANATION AS TO POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS GIVEN. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A CRASH WOULD HAVE RESULTED FROM WHEEL SEIZURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505132
Incident
Mar 30, 2013
Mileage
2,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON SUPER GLIDE CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE LEAKING WATER. THERE WAS WATER ENTERING THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WHEN THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE WASHED OR WHEN IT RAINED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE A SHORT IN THE BULBS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS WERE ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY BUT HE COULD SEAL THE LIGHT COVERS WITH SILICONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 454.

NHTSA ID
10449581
Incident
Nov 19, 2011
Mileage
454 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 Fxdc by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015000—
2014000—
2013000—
2012Viewing300—
2011000—
2010100—
2009720—
2008611—
2007210—
2006010—
2005010—

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.