NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 16 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 Flhx. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx owner complaints

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx, describing incidents dated May 22, 2012 to October 1, 2022.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 8 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Tires 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 16 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 16 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11489040 · Filed October 12, 2022
My front brake lever froze and can not be pulled in on my 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dealership is saying brake pistons are froze up and ABS module will need to be replaced. I’ve owned the bike 6 years and have never been told the brake fluid needed to flushed every 2 years. There was a recall…
ODI #11390099 · Filed January 26, 2021
2012 HARLEY STREET GLIDE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING. CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME ROCK HARD AND UNUSABLE. SAME EXACT MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2008-2010 WAS ALSO USED IN 2011-2013. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CAN NOT STOP IF SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
ODI #11338998 · Filed July 13, 2020
FRONT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ABS FAILED & INSTEAD OF REVERTING TO NON ABS IT LOCKED OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN NO BRAKES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ON 2008 & UP HARLEY'S WITH ABS. I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION & RECALL ARE IN ORDER PLEASE. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED, THIS…

Read all 16 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 Flhx. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

16 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx.

Service Brakes

ODI #11489040

Incident: October 1, 2022 · Filed: October 12, 2022

My front brake lever froze and can not be pulled in on my 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dealership is saying brake pistons are froze up and ABS module will need to be replaced. I’ve owned the bike 6 years and have never been told the brake fluid needed to flushed every 2 years. There was a recall on this issue but only for years 2008-2011 and my bike is 2012, but was built on 2011. I never received recall notice.

Service Brakes

ODI #11390099

Incident: January 26, 2021 · Filed: January 26, 2021

2012 HARLEY STREET GLIDE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING. CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME ROCK HARD AND UNUSABLE. SAME EXACT MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2008-2010 WAS ALSO USED IN 2011-2013. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CAN NOT STOP IF SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

Service Brakes

ODI #11338998

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 9, 2020 · Filed: July 13, 2020

FRONT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ABS FAILED & INSTEAD OF REVERTING TO NON ABS IT LOCKED OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN NO BRAKES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ON 2008 & UP HARLEY'S WITH ABS. I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION & RECALL ARE IN ORDER PLEASE. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED, THIS CAN LEAD TO FATALITIES!!

Service Brakes

ODI #11229574

Incident: July 4, 2019 · Filed: July 5, 2019

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS. THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT OR WARNING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED JUST SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS JUST MOVING THE MOTORCYCLE AROUND THE YARD WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ROLL TO A STOP. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED BUILDING. ANY HELP OR ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND I HOPE THIS CAN HELP OR POSSIBLY SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHER RIDERS.

Service Brakes

ODI #11219337

Incident: May 28, 2019 · Filed: June 11, 2019

THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE GOING TO WORK BUT WHEN I LEFT WORK THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS STIFF AS A BOARD AND HAD NO FRONT BRAKES. THE BIKE WAS NOT IN MOTION WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM.

Service Brakes

ODI #11155622

1 injury

Incident: October 13, 2018 · Filed: December 3, 2018

I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A 45 MPH 6 LANE COUNTY ROAD AND A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I DOWNSHIFTED ONE GEAR AND GRABBED THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND STEPPED ON REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THEY WERE BOTH AS HARD AS A ROCK AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I JUMPED THE CURB AND ROLLED INTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT AND THE BIKE FELL ON ME. I HAD NO BRAKES AND RODE HOME WITH A CAR BEHIND ME WITH FLASHERS ON, LESS THAN ONE MILE HOME.

Service Brakes

ODI #11132203

Incident: September 14, 2018 · Filed: September 28, 2018

FRONT BAKE IS HARD TO APPLY UPON START UP. IT HAS ALSO BEEN HARD A FEW TIMES AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN RIDDEN FOR A LITTLE.

Service Brakes

ODI #11074540

Incident: February 19, 2018 · Filed: February 23, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (FLHX). WHILE PARKING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (STEEL CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 1375 WASHINGTON RD, WASHINGTON, PA 15301) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. *TT CARFAX NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY VIN RECORD UPDATED 9/26/18*JB

Wheels

ODI #11012874

Incident: July 15, 2017 · Filed: August 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, A VIBRATION OCCURRED UNDER THE CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF NASSAU COUNTY (LOCATED ON SUNRISE HIGH, BELLMORE, NY 11710) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AFTERMARKET PRODUCTION OF THE CUSTOM RIMS AND ROUTER THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Power Train

ODI #10979112

Incident: February 15, 2017 · Filed: April 18, 2017

HAVE A HEEL TO TOE SHIFTER... FRIEND FROM A MAJOR HARLEY DEALER LOOKED OVER THE BIKE AND NOTICED THE SHIFTER ARM HAS SLIPPED AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT SLIDES UP AND DOWN THE SPLINED SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION MAKING IT LOOSE AND COULD FALL OFF...HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR THIS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN!?

Other Harley-Davidson Flhx model years

Check your 2012 Harley-Davidson Flhx VIN

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

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