2012 Harley-Davidson Flhtk problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (9) · Suspension (3) · Electrical System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhtk 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 (20)
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 20 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-05-31 · Suspension · 💥 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 …”
2021-02-01 · Service Brakes · 20,000 mi“rear brake paddle hard to press in motion,and on highway…”
2020-04-15 · Service Brakes · 18,000 mi“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 des…”
2020-02-04 · Service Brakes · 18,000 mi“when backing out of garage i could not depress the front brake handle, it was completely stuck and would not move.…”
2019-04-20 · Service Brakes · 60 mi“front brake leaver froze up as i was preparing to stop. lucky rear brakes worked. the brake leaver is froze it will not operate.…”
2018-12-17 · Service Brakes · 18,400 mi“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 …”
2018-11-13 · Tires · 21,100 mi“the rear dunlop tire on my 2012 harley electra glide started to lose air. upon a closer inspection the tire was splitting in numerous spots. the tire is not dry rotted . for safety reasons it was returned to the dealer who installed the tire. he stated he had never seen this happen before. a new tire had to be installed . uopn inspection the mechan…”
2018-04-02 · Service Brakes · 28,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 harley-davidson ultra limited (na). while driving 45 mph, the brake pedal was hard and failed to respond. the vehicle was taken to gateway harley-davidson (3600 lemay ferry rd, saint louis, mo 63125) where it was diagnosed that the abs control module needed to be replaced. the contact was informed that the parts were on …”
2018-02-07 · Service Brakes · 18,200 mi“abs rear brake pedal is stuck and will not depress. i have no rear brake at all. i was driving on a city street approx. 40mph. coming to a stop, i tried to apply rear brakes and found the pedal would not depress. i had no rear brake.…”
2017-06-13 · Suspension · 💥 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 t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.