🚗 AutoDefect IQ

2012 Harley-Davidson Flstc problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Wheels (9) · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/Center Stand (1) · Service Brakes (1)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

84 /100
✓ Typical or better for this model

Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flstc model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

12
Complaints
0
Recalls
23
Service bulletins
1
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Deaths

Safety recalls (0)

No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).

Service bulletins (23)

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 23 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2018-03-26 · Service Brakes · 25,000 mi

“my rear brakes stopped working while in motion. the rear brake pedal became rock solid & would not depress. the brake fluid was checked & found to have plenty in the reservoir. i had a harley davidson technician analyze it & was told that the abs unit has gone bad, i was also told that there was a recall on this abs unit for harley davidson mot…”

2015-04-15 · Wheels · 1,800 mi

“i was riding normal speed of about 60 mph and went into very dangerous wobble/ weave. i let go of throttle and layed my body weight over the tank and was able to slow to a stop. checked and found all spokes on rear wheel were dead and loose. bike only has 1800 miles on it. i have seen tons of forums online all complaining about this very issue and…”

2014-05-12 · Wheels · 7,700 mi

“bought new 2012 flstc h-d in february 2011. took the bike in for the first 1,000 mile service. when i picked the bike up it was noted on the service ticket that all spokes where loose on the front and rear wheels. now have 7700 miles on the bike and took it in for new rear tire.[ have noticed just in the week before handling a little different] whe…”

2013-07-02 · Wheels · 3,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2012 harley-davidson heritage motorcycle(n/a). the contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the vehicle shook violently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the rear wheel spokes were loose. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was appr…”

2013-05-26 · Wheels · 560 mi

“traveling on an interstate at approx. 65 mph, bike developed an unstable condition that felt similar to riding on an under inflated rear tire. visual inspection found extremely loose spokes on the rear wheel rim resulting in the tire traveling at a different axis than the hub when under load. returned bike to the dealer and was told that it was a k…”

2012-08-10 · Wheels · 1,500 mi

“while riding on the highway the front wheel began to wobble excessively, causing loss of control of the motorcycle. no accident occured, but the motorcycle was dangerously difficult to handle, the whole bike wobbling uncontrollably. steering was also compromised. slowly proceeded to harley davidson dealer and was informed that this had occured with…”

2012-07-28 · Wheels · 3,200 mi

“i entered interstate 12 and began to accelerate. my recently purchased used (2800 miles) heritage classic developed a severe wobble at around 60 mph. the wobble worsened and it became difficult to stay on the motorcycle. i rolled off throttle and allowed the motorcycle to slow on it's own without breaking. the wobble subsided and i was able to …”

2012-05-14 · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/Center Stand · 160 mi · 💥 crash

“the second time i rode my brand new 2012 harley davidson heritage softail, the kickstand was lowered and inexplicably broke off the motorcycle causing it to fall over while i was astride the vehicle. this caused over $3500 in damages and injury to my elbow. harley davidson company has been extremely unresponsive regarding this incident and it has…”

2012-05-04 · Wheels · 900 mi

“at 900 miles there was a noticeable instability in the tracking of the wheels at all speeds with more ?wobble? during decelerations and braking hd dealer instructed me to park the motorcycle and they would retrieve it the rear wheel spokes were loose causing the at-risk condition informally i was informed it was a know issue and hd has a program …”

2012-02-04 · Exterior Lighting · 775 mi

“pulling onto the roadway i heard a hiss then a pop and saw something fly in front of the headlight. further examination revealed that one of the passing lamps had blown out internally…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Harley-Davidson Flstc years