2012 Harley-Davidson Softail

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Wheels1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder1
000
Power Train1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder14V794000
Filed Dec 16, 201419,015 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2012 FXST103, FLSTC, FLSTC103, FLSTF, FLSTF103, FXDL, FXDWG, FXDWG103, FXDC, FXDB, FLSTN, FLSTN103, FLSTC103Shrine, FLSTFB, FLSTFB103, FXS, FXS103, FLS, FLS103, FLD, FLD103, FXDF, and FXDF103 Dyna and Softail motorcycles manufactured August 22, 2011, through February 24, 2012. In the affected motorcycles, the threads for the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder may corrode.

Risk. If the threads corrode, a sudden loss of brake fluid could result, causing a loss of the front brakes, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush and inspect the front brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the master cylinder, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 22, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0163 and 0164.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Wheels
Filed Jun 25, 20153,000 milesGA

UPON DECELERATION, A WOBBLE OCCURS IN THE REAR TIRE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES NOW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER ALL THREE TIMES THAT THE REAR SPOKES HAVE BACKED LOOSE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Oct 27, 20141,200 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PLATES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PLATES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

Power Train
Filed Jun 11, 20132 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLS SLIM MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TOO LONG FOR THE MOTORCYCLE AND ROUTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONTACT ADDED AN ACCESSORY WINDSHIELD, WHICH PUSHED THE CABLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CABLE WOULD BECOME CAUGHT IN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LENGTH AND ROUTING OF THE CABLE WAS HOW IT WAS DESIGNED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,200.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20131000Routine
2012 — this page3100Routine
20113100Routine
20101000Routine
20081000Routine
20072100Routine
20054300Routine
20044100Routine
20037010Routine
20024000Routine
20012000Routine
20007000Routine
19990100Routine
19983100Routine
19971100Routine
19963100Routine
19953100Routine

Compare every Softail 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: Dec 16, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.