2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes3
302
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Body1
001
Power Train1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch11V506000
Filed Oct 19, 2011250,757 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Risk. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesCrash1 killed
Filed Jul 11, 2024NY

All #'s/times are approx. At 2:15p, sun to back, and 30-35mph going into a curve, bike went off road. No brake lights, New tire, 406 miles on it, 6.6 miles fr: dealership, 3rd time there for random electrical issues, radio, starting, etc. Less than 1 mile tested in parking lot. Battery replaced. Drove thousands of miles since the 1970s. Trike maintained on schedule by dealer. Searched this on the internet, shocked at all of the similar complaints and deaths by sensors and brakes locking up since 2008 and that Harley-Davidson knew about it and did nothing. Witnesses said there was nothing that would have caused crash; not speeding, nothing ran in front, paved road, brake lights didn't work. Autopsy showed enlarged heart, saw PCP and heart specialist within the month before. Great health. Police file at Hartford, NY

Service BrakesCrash1 injured1 killed
Filed Oct 15, 2021NY

The contact's husband owned a 2012 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 30-35 MPH on a curve, the brake pedal or caliber was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated the motorcycle rolled over and her husband jumped off and fell into a ditch. The emergency units pronounced the contact's husband died at the scene. The contact stated the autopsy revealed that her husband sustained a broken neck and fractured bones. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact did not know whether the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 14, 201710,000 milesTN

FAILURE OF THE COMPENSATOR-I ALSO HEAR FROM HD MECHANICS THAT SO MANY OF THESE HAVE FAILED IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WAS LUCKY, MINE FAILED WHEN I HAD A TRAILER TO TOW IT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE COMPENSATOR DID COST ME $4500 TO REPAIR FOR A $299 PART. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF HD IS HAVING THAT MANY FAIL.

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 19, 201610,600 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND REHABILITATION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT AWAITED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,600. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *CN

Power Train
Filed Jun 24, 2014NV

CPSC: I1460341A. 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR DRIVER DIFFERENTIAL UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. *LN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB

Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Aug 13, 20121,000 milesKY

TOOK A 400 MILE TRIP FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA ON 7/27/11. ON THE WAY DOWN TO KEY WEST, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT!! HEAT CAUSED INSIDE CALF OF MY WIFE'S RIGHT LEG TO BECOME EXTREMELY RED AND BURNED. HAD HER LEG CHECKED BY A NURSE IN KEY WEST AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE ANY FURTHER! WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO OUR HOME IN BOWLING GREEN, KY, I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD BE SOLVED BY SPENDING $1800 TO REMOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, CHANGE PIPES AND RETUNE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS WOULD COOL THE BIKE DOWN. I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET. FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING HANDLED BY SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST HARLEY DAVIDSON. APPARENTLY, HD IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD SPOT. THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF STRICTER EMISSION CONTROLS. THIS SHOULDN'T BE MY PROBLEM - IT IS A HARLEY DAVIDSON PROBLEM!! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 23, 2012SC

THIS BIKE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT ISSUES IT IS ALMOST TO THE POINT THIS BIKE CANNOT BE RIDDEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD NEED TO INVEST NEARLY $2,000 MORE DOLLARS INTO THIS BIKE. I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20251000Routine
20241000Routine
20231000Routine
20222100Routine
20210100Routine
20204201Fatalities reported
20198202Fatalities reported
20187100Routine
201713101Fatalities reported
20162000Routine
20156110Routine
20145200Routine
20137000Routine
2012 — this page7102Fatalities reported
20119101Fatalities reported
20109200Routine
20095210Routine

Compare every Flhtcutg year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 19, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.