2012 Harley-Davidson Fltru

Routine

Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine2
000
Tires1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor1
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 Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Sep 12, 2014OH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END VIBRATED AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Tires
Filed Aug 12, 201411,830 milesPA

MY DUNLOP FRONT TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO "DRY ROT" ON THE SIDE WALL. IT IS ON A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX WITH ONLY 11800 MILES ON IT. MY DEALER SAID THAT IT IS THE SECOND ONE THAT HE HAS SEEN ON A STREET GLIDE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT COULD BE REPLACED. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 3, 201224,138 milesCO

COMPENSATOR SHOWED SEVERE WEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Aug 13, 2012300 milesMI

COMING TO A SLOW CONTROLLED STOP AT A RED LIGHT. AS THE BIKE DECELERATED THROUGH 40 MILES PER HOUR THE HANDLES BARS SHOOK, SIDE TO SIDE, OUT OF MY HANDS. MY BIKE IS A US MODEL NOW IMPORTED TO CANADA. HARLEY SAYS THEY HAVE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF THIS AND WILL NOT ADDRESS ANY WARRANTY OR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2012112,000 milesKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS OVERHEATED AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE OVERHEATED AS WELL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 22, 2011620 milesAE

AT APPROXIMATELY 45-35MPH, WHEN DECELERATING, THE FRONT END WOBBLES VIOLENTLY, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HANDS FIRMLY ON THE BARS TO CONTROL IT. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BIKE WAS IN 3RD GEAR, LET OFF THROTTLE WHILE CRUISING TO STOP AND USED BOTH HANDS TO ZIP UP JACKET; NEARLY CRASHED AS IT WOBBLED ME TOWARDS CENTER LANE. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE NEARLY EVERY TIME UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS; I.E. RUN BIKE TO ABOUT 50MPH, PLACE HANDS JUST ABOUT 1" ABOVE GRIPS AND LET BIKE NATURALLY SLOW DOWN. AT 40-38MPH WOBBLE WILL OCCUR TO POINT WHERE BARS ARE SHAKING SO BAD YOU HAVE TO GRAB THEM. RESEARCHED ISSUE ON VARIOUS HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS...IT'S A WELL KNOW AND HIGHLY DISCUSSED ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS AND CANNOT POSSIBLY BE GOOD FOR HEAD BEARINGS AND/OR OTHER PARTS IF NOT ADDRESSED. *TR

6 of 6 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20191100Routine
20180200Routine
20173200Routine
20168100Routine
201310000Routine
2012 — this page6100Routine
201122100Routine
20100100Routine
20096010Routine

Compare every Fltru year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.