RoadVitals

2012 Victory Cross Country

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.
19
Latest Aug 4, 2023
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.
2
Latest Oct 12, 2017
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 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Victory Cross Country, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 5 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 & structure622.2%
  • Other / unspecified518.5%
  • Powertrain (other)414.8%
  • Engine414.8%
  • Exterior lighting311.1%
  • Interior & seats27.4%
  • Electrical27.4%
  • Brakes13.7%

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

2 campaigns 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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Oct 12, 2017
26,182 units potentially affected
The defect: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2010-2017 Victory Cross Country, Cross Country Tour, Cross Roads, Magnum, and Hard Ball motorcycles. If the engine misfires, continued riding may result in heat from the catalytic converter melting the rear brake line and nearby wiring.
The risk: A melted rear brake line can reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will re-route the brake line away from the exhaust catalyst, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-877-737-7172. Polaris' number for this recall is V-17-02.
Polaris Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number V-17-02View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT

Sep 18, 2012
6,618 units potentially affected
The defect: Polaris is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Victory motorcycles manufactured from January 3, 2012, through August 15, 2012. A torqueing procedure may have been missed on some throttle cable retention nuts. On certain motorcycles, the throttle cable retention nuts for either the pull or push throttle cable may have not been torqued correctly.
The risk: If the torqueing is missed and the retention nuts are loose, the retention nuts closest to the throttle body can become dislodged and interfere with the throttle function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Victory will notify owners and dealers will correctly torque the fasteners free of charge. The safety recall began on October 4, 2012. Owners may contact Victory consumer service department by calling 1-888-704-5290.
POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC.Manufacturer number V-12-01View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2023

MY VICTORY JUST SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE MOVING, CAUSING THE BIKE IN ONE INSTANCE FOR ME TO DROP THE BIKE.

NHTSA ID
11536480
Incident
Aug 4, 2023
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY. WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED RIGHT, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RETAINING CLIP WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID
10904296
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Mileage
37,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2016

WHEN PULLING IN THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE CABLE SNAPPED RIGHT AT THE CLUTCH ARM GOING INTO THE TRANSMISSION THIS HAPPEN AS I WAS COMING OUT OF A ROTARY STARTING TO SHIFT UP ON A SECONDARY RD. WHEN I STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF YOU HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP AND IT SNAPPED THEN OR IF IT SNAPPED AS YOU WERE STARTING TO TAKE OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE BIKE STALLED YOU COULD EASILY GET REARENDED. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE MAKING ROADSIDE REPAIR KITS FOR THESE BIKE.

NHTSA ID
10875350
Incident
Jun 16, 2016
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID
10780206
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
17,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 22, 2015

2012 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOCK & RIDE BACK REST RECALL DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *SMD

NHTSA ID
10735223
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 21, 2015

THE RIGHT-SIDE SADDLEBAG LATCH IS MISALIGNED TO THE LATCH BRACKET. THIS MISALIGNMENT CAUSES THE BRACKET TO RUB THE LATCH TO WHERE THE LATCH EVENTUALLY BREAKS. SHOULD THE LATCH BREAK, THE SADDLEBAG LID WILL BE LOOSE AND CAN CAUSE INSTABILITY WHILE RIDING AND POTENTIALLY DANGER TO VEHICLES BEHIND SHOULD ANYTHING BE SUCKED OUT OF THE SADDLEBAG. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE AFFECTING ALL "CROSS" BIKES FROM POLARIS/VICTORY. AT THIS POINT ALL INSPECTED CROSS BIKES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF THIS WEAR AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS CREATING A DATABASE OF ALL LOCAL OWNERS. YOU CAN FIND MANY REFERENCES ON MANY VICTORY FORUMS, SUCH AS THIS ONE: HTTP://WWW.VICTORYFORUMS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=104498 AS OF THIS POINT POLARIS/VICTORY HAS NOT CREATED A RECALL FOR THIS. I DO HAVE AN OPEN CASE WITH THEM THOUGH, CASE # [XXX]. I'M HOPING THE DOT RECOGNIZES THIS POTENTIAL DANGER TO VICTORY CROSS RIDERS/PASSENGERS AND TO VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND, AND SUPPORTS US IN ADVISING POLARIS/VICTORY TO SUBMIT A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10712062
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
2,750 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 20, 2014

VICTORY MOTORCYCLES HAVE A DEFECTIVE LATCH ON THEIR RIGHT ?SADDLEBAGS? THAT RENDERS THE RIGHT STORAGE COMPARTMENT USELESS. THE FAULTY LOCKING MECHANISM HAS APPEARED SINCE 2010 ON SEVERAL VICTORY MODELS. MY RIGHT BAG WILL POP OPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE LID POPS OPEN AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS WHEN LEANED OVER IN GUSTY CONDITIONS. APPARENTLY THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND CAUSING MY RIGHT SADDLEBAG LID TO FLY OPEN ON THE ROAD, POSING A HAZARD TO ME, THE RIDER, AND OTHER DRIVERS. WHEN IT ?THE SADDLEBAG? POPS OPEN THERE IS A SENSATION OF REAR STEER. *DT

NHTSA ID
10667459
Incident
May 11, 2012
Mileage
1,500 mi
Interior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 9, 2014

RIGHT SADDLE BAG LATCH IS WEARING , NO ADJUSTMENT . WHEN LATCH WEARS THRU BAG WILL FLY OPEN SCATTERING CONTENTS AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS I HAVE HEARD THIS IS AN ACROSS THE BOARD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663162
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

VSA-15-01 R01

EQUIPMENT; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Victory Motorcycle has learned that a potential issue may exist in some 2010-2015 Victory Cross Country / Cross Roads / Magnum / Hard-Ball saddlebag lock assemblies. This Service Advisory has been released to communicate a process which enables dealers to assist customers and repair qualified motorcycles without requiring pre-authorization from Victory Motorcycle.

V-17-02

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; SERVICE BRAKES

Victory engineering has determined that some Cross Country, Cross Country Tour, Cross Roads, Magnum and Hard Ball models may experience damage to the rear brake line. Motorcycles experiencing prolonged misfire conditions may produce increased catalytic converter temperatures causing the retention clip securing the rear brake line to melt. In extreme cases, the retention clip may melt onto the catalytic converter, and increasing the risk of brake line damage.

SAF-16-01

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications.

VSA-15-01 R02

EQUIPMENT; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Victory Motorcycle has learned that a potential issue may exist in some 2010-2016 Victory Cross Country / Cross Roads / Magnum / Hard-Ball saddlebag lock assemblies. This Service Advisory has been released to communicate a process which enables dealers to assist customers and repair qualified motorcycles without requiring pre-authorization from Victory Motorcycle.

TSB-V-14-01

EQUIPMENT

VICTORY MC: A DEFECT IN CHASSIS MOUNTING POINT, MAY CRACK WHEN USED WITH ACCESSORY LUGGAGE RACK OF PASSENGER BACKREST AND WOULD LOSE SUPPORT FOR PASSENGER TO REMAIN ON MOTORCYCLE. *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

Victory Cross Country by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017110
2016010
2015020
2014113039.0
2013213053.9
2012Viewing192037.5
2011112036.6
2010310

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.