Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C, most frequently naming the transmission, electrical and engine categories. 9 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 1 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 3 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 6 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ON A LONG TRIP TO OR FROM CA. PULLED THE CLUTCH AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN BUT IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE. HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST HD DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY SPRING PLATE BEING RIVETED TOGETHER W/ COPPER RIVETS THAT ARE PRONE TO WEAR OUT & CAUSE CLUTCH FAILURE. *TR
09/04/2009 2006 XL1200C HARLEY DAVIDSON DEFECTIVE PART: CLUTCH SPRING INCIDENT = MY 2006 XL 1200C STARTED SHIFTING HARD. I NOTICED AT A STOP WHEN I HAD THE CLUTCH LEVER FULLY PULLED BACK THE BIKE STILL WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAD TO KEEP THE FRONT BRAKE ON TO KEEP THE BIKE FROM MOVING. I TOOK THE BIKE TO REDWOOD HARLEY DAVIDSON AS I AM A LONG WAY FROM HOME. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE OIL LEVEL WAS INCORRECT SO I HAD THEM CHECK IT. THE TECH, TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN CLUTCH SPRING, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. HE SAID I COULDN'T TAKE THE BIKE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE TOLD ME HARLEY MAKES A CLUTCH KIT THAT FIXES THIS DEFECT FOR $280.00 + LABOR AND ANY PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THIS CLUTCH SPRING FAILURE. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE KIT SO I HAD THEM REPLACE THE BROKEN DEFECTIVE PART WITH A NEW DEFECTIVE PART + THE OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE BROKEN DEFECTIVE PART. I ASKED WHY HARLEY DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE LAUGHED AT MY QUESTION AND TOLD ME THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. DAMAGE RESULTING = I'M 1000 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE VERY LIMITED FINANCES. I'M PURSUING EMPLOYMENT IN BROOKINGS OR. ALL IN ALL AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE THAT CLUTCH SPRING COST ME $250.00 AND A WARNING THAT SINCE I DIDN'T PUT THE $280.00 KIT THAT REPLACES THE DEFECTIVE PART, I WILL FOR SURE HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. *TR
I OWN A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200C AND A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS AS WELL AS MYSELF HAVE NOTICED A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR PROBLEM RECURRING WITH THIS BIKE AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE ON IN CITY ROADWAYS WHERE YOU HAVE TO STOP AND GO MORE FREQUENTLY SHOULD THEY BE REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMER FROM POSSIBLE HAZARDS OPERATING THEIR PRODUCT AND RECALLING THESE BIKES OR IS IT UP TO US AS CONSUMERS TO TAKE THE HIT AND DECIDE TO SPEND A FEW HUNDRED TO HAVE IT REPLACED TO ONLY FAIL AGAIN ? I KNOW I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STEP UP AND RECALL THE BIKES AND REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE THE PARTS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF IT I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND MY BIKE STILL RUNS GOOD FOR 15 MINUTES THEN IT RUNS TERRIBLY SO IM LIMITED TO IN TOWN ERRANDS ON MINE AT BEST HARLEY NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL TO LET THEM KNOW WE KNOW SOMETHING IS AMISS AND WE NEED IT RECTIFIED. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON USES THE SAME PART ON MANY OF THEIR MOTORCYCLES WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS PART IS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WHEN THE RIDER APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PART HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON HUNDREDS OF THEIR PRODUCTS (IN SOME CASES MORE THAN ONCE AS THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS ALSO FAILED) DATING BAKE SEVERAL YEARS YET THEY CONTINUE TO USE IT WITHOUT UPGRADING IT. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND WE, THE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE IT, WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION BY YOU AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WHICH WE CAN ONLY HOPE WILL LEAD TO A REDESIGN OF THIS PART SO AS TO ALLEVIATE ITS ONGOING FAILURE. I HAVE NO RECORD OF ACTUAL ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS PARTS FAILURE HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT WE MOTORCYCLISTS FACE ENOUGH HAZARDS ON THE ROAD AND THE FAILURE OF OUR BRAKE LIGHT SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRACK RECORD OF THE PART WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IS FAULTY. *TR
MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE FOR A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR AT WILDFIRE HARLEY DAVIDSON IN VILLA PARK IL.. AFTER A DISPUTE WITH DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED TO THE MOTORCYCLE DURING ITS SERVICE PERIOD I WENT TO PICK UP THE BIKE TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR PROPER REPAIRS AND A SECOND OPINION. UPON LEAVING THE PARKING LOT THE GEAR SHIFT FOOT CONTROL LEVER FELL OFF AND I ALMOST CRASHED THE BIKE. LUCKILY THE SAFETY TRAINING I RECEIVED FROM THE RIDERS COURSE I TOOK FROM THE IL DOT PAID OFF. NO MANAGER WAS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT ANY PATRON OF WILDFIRE HARLEY DAVIDSON NEVER HAS TO HAVE THEIR SAFETY JEOPARDIZED. POOR QUALITY CONTROL AND IMPROPER RELEASE OF A VEHICLE WHICH IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE WHEN, HAVING BEEN TOLD THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE IS INEXCUSABLE AND I AM LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200 CUSTOM 1300 MI, CONSTANT ENGINE COUGH AND OCCASIONAL STALLING. THE COUGHING AND HESITATION ARE QUITE OFTEN MAKING THIS MOTORCYCLE EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE ROADS IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN IN THE HD SHOP FOR OVER 20 DAYS SINCE I BOUGHT IT MAY 2006. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND NOW THE DEALERSHIPS CANNOT FIX IT. I PAID OVER $11,199.00 FOR THE BIKE AND THEY OFFERED ME &6700.00 FOR IT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE WANTS IT-WHAT TO DO? *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: 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). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.
ENGINE; POWER TRAIN
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): 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). Version 24.6.4. Release Date: Week of May 1, 2024. New Features for LiveWire S2DM and S2MH, 2024 Revolution® Max, and 2024 Touring.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1146: 68193-95 BULB WEDGE, FENDER TIP LAMP. Purpose: To inform dealers of an issue with the bulb wire terminals not being to specification. The light bulbs were used in numerous front and rear fender tip light assemblies for domestic and international applications.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.