NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg, describing incidents dated January 25, 2012 to August 12, 2021.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 7 complaints, owners report 3 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11601261 · Filed July 11, 2024
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…
ODI #11436887 · Filed October 15, 2021
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…
ODI #11054718 · Filed December 14, 2017
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…

Read all 7 complaints

REAR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #11V506000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported October 19, 2011 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 250,757 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0145 · Owners notified October 31, 2011 · Vehicles built June 6, 2008 – September 16, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 0145.CUSTOMERS OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg.

Steering; Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11601261

Crash 1 death

Incident: August 12, 2021 · Filed: July 11, 2024

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 Brakes

ODI #11436887

Crash 1 injury1 death

Incident: August 12, 2021 · Filed: October 15, 2021

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

ODI #11054718

Incident: September 5, 2017 · Filed: December 14, 2017

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 Brakes

ODI #10885793

Crash 1 injury

Incident: June 7, 2016 · Filed: July 19, 2016

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

ODI #10606284

Incident: May 22, 2014 · Filed: June 24, 2014

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

Structure

ODI #10470416

1 injury

Incident: July 27, 2012 · Filed: August 13, 2012

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

ODI #10452824

Incident: January 25, 2012 · Filed: March 23, 2012

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

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg model years

Check your 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN