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Harley-Davidson · NHTSA safety record

2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

19

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK have filed 19 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2012 and May 2022. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 11 of them (58%). The typical failure was reported at 8,900 miles, the median across the 17 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

11V506000 · October 19, 2011

The 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.
The 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.
The 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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY · up to 250,757 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 19.

SERVICE BRAKES 11 58%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 21%
SUSPENSION 3 16%
ENGINE 2 11%
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 2 11%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 5%
POWER TRAIN 1 5%
STEERING 1 5%
TIRES 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2012 at 4.

2012 2022
2012 to 2022

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SUSPENSION

1 injured · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WOBBLE WHEN BEING OPERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE WILKINS HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 6-10 MPH TURNING A SHARP CORNER, THE FRONT END WOBBLED SEVERELY AND THE MOTORCYCLE CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE MOTORCYCLE LANDED ON THE CONTACT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PICKED UP BY A FAMILY MEMBER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE ANKLE AND HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL

NHTSA complaint 10994926, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · 2,252 miles

WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY MOTOR CYCLE ON VACATION ACROSS NEBRASKA ON HIGHWAY 76 I NOTICED EXTREME HEAT ON THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT LEG AND LOSS OF POWER. THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT WAS BURNED AND GOT INFECTED, TOTAL BILL FOR DOCTOR AND TIME OFF FROM WORK WAS APPROXIMATELY $1500.00-$2000.00. THE WORK DONE ON THE MOTOR CYCLE BILL WAS $1487.00. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OF OVER HEATING. NEW HEAD PIPES $524.95, KIT,SESTAGE 1 AIC %)MM$139.95, KIT-EFI SUPER TUNER,SCREA $459.95, JOB CODE;0 TEC: JDK $81.00, DYNO TUNE$275.40. I HAVE PAID ALL EXPENSES. I BOUGHT THIS HARLEY IN FULL FAITH THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE IN GOOD FAITH OF HIGH QUALITY SUPERIOR WORK ETHICS FOR THE CUSTOMER. I BELIEVE

NHTSA complaint 10482478, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

Rear brake failed, & no ABS. Push hard on pedal and NO BRAKES!!! Brake pedal very stiff and applies no brakes!! Almost got into wreck. It was close and I am calling it a wreck. Thank god I was going slow! This issue is highly dangerous!! Why doesn't the NHTSB give a [XXX]? (Rear brake has never worked well since new. Had it in the Harley shop when new, and they say nothing is wrong. Nothing wrong??? No brakes on a motorcycle is not a good thing!!!!!! ) Found that 2011 & earlier bikes have a recall on the ABS. My 2012 has the same system. Why is there not a recall? Also found that Harley will not fix the brake issue on the recalled bikes. WHY??? Also, air suspension system fails. This leads

NHTSA complaint 11466705, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

20,000 miles

REAR BRAKE PADDLE HARD TO PRESS IN MOTION,AND ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint 11391035. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

18,000 miles

FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS VERY HARD TO PULL, FRONT BRAKES WON'T ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GETTING READY TO EXIT. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND IT GOT BETTER BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. HE SAID IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON'S FAULTY DESIGN. THIS SEEMS TO STILL BE HAPPENING EVEN WITH BIKES NEWER THAN MINE. HOW MANY MORE LIVES HAVE TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF HARLEY DAVIDSON'S FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT MY MECHANIC USE TO DO ALL THE WARRANTY WORK FOR THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP IN AUGUSTA, GA HE IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND REPUTABLE AND HONEST MECHANIC. *TR

NHTSA complaint 11321235. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

18,000 miles

WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE I COULD NOT DEPRESS THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE, IT WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE.

NHTSA complaint 11307034. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

60 miles

FRONT BRAKE LEAVER FROZE UP AS I WAS PREPARING TO STOP. LUCKY REAR BRAKES WORKED. THE BRAKE LEAVER IS FROZE IT WILL NOT OPERATE.

NHTSA complaint 11202668. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

18,400 miles

WHILE RIDING MY BIKE, I OBSERVED TRAFFIC STOPPING/SLOWING AHEAD. I TRIED TO PULL MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. NO GIVE WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKE SITUATION SO I DOWN SHIFTED MORE RAPIDLY, USED MY REAR BRAKE AND CAME TO A STOP. AT THE NEXT RAMP, I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. WHEN I TRIED MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS PULLING BACK, BUT NEEDED A LOT OF FORCE. IN ANOTHER MINUTE I TRIED AGAIN AND IT FELT NORMAL, AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE. I CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT COUPLE TIMES I RODE IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THEN LAST WEEK IT FELT FINE AND WAS WORKING FINE. THE ALL OF THE SUDDEN I TRIED TO BRAKE W/THE

NHTSA complaint 11162130, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Harley-Davidson FLHTK

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2017 8 2 —
2016 10 1 —
2015 10 2 —
2014 37 5 —
2011 20 2 —
2010 29 3 —

Other 2012 Harley-Davidson models

FLHX 16

Every Harley-Davidson on this site — 32 vehicles, 96 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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Independent developer and analyst