2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtc problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhtc model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2011-10-19 · campaign 11V506000 · 250,757 vehicles
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (11)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-18 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.0.2): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). new software update version 26.0.2.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-28 · M1391A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1391a (revu): midtronics grx-3110 and dca-8000 software. purporse: revision u. the purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the grx-3110 and dca-8000 is now available. dynamic diagnostic charger system (part number: dca-8000). [rev u] ad
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-25 · PAB1171 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
genuine motor parts and accessories bulletin pab1171 (rev b): software update for screamin eagle pro street tuner. purpose: revision b. updated: summary. the app has returned to the apple app store. this bulletin informs dealers that a recent software update to the screamin' eagle pro street tune
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-06 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 25.8.9): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). new software update version 25.8.9
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-26 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 25.8.7): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). new software update version 25.6.4,
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-26 · M1391A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1391a (rev t): midtronics grx-3110 and dca-8000 software. purporse: revision t. the purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the grx-3110 and dca-8000 is now available. dynamic diagnostic charger system (part number: dca-8000). [rev t] u
Showing the 6 most recent of 11 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2014-04-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 43,000 mi“while in traffic on a busy road the motorcycle lost all throttle response and went into "limp mode". during this time the engine rpm's immediately dropped and i was forced to cross two lanes of traffic at moving at highway speeds to safely pull the motorcycle to a stop. i was only able to achieve a top speed of 15 mph. the motorcycle was then tr…”
2013-08-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 13,700 mi · 💥 crash“i was leaving work on saturday about 4:15 with my motorcycle. i was approaching the area where i turn to go in front of the building to exit out to the road. as i was braking, about to turn, the bike accelerated causing the rear wheel to lose traction and the bike went down. when the bike went down, i was slammed to the ground and was separated fro…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.