NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 Softail. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Harley-Davidson Softail owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail, describing incidents dated October 20, 2012 to April 28, 2014.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10730330 · Filed June 25, 2015
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.
ODI #10650293 · Filed October 27, 2014
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…
ODI #10519380 · Filed June 11, 2013
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…

Read all 3 complaints

Brake Master Cylinder Banjo Bolt Thread Corrosion

NHTSA #14V794000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported December 16, 2014 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Potentially affected: 19,015 vehicles

Repair completion: 51.5% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Harley-Davidson campaign 0163 and 0164 · Owners notified January 22, 2015 · Vehicles built August 22, 2011 – February 24, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail.

Wheels

ODI #10730330

Incident: April 28, 2014 · Filed: June 25, 2015

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; Power Train

ODI #10650293

Incident: October 1, 2013 · Filed: October 27, 2014

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

ODI #10519380

Incident: October 20, 2012 · Filed: June 11, 2013

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.

Other Harley-Davidson Softail model years

Check your 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail VIN

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

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN