Harley-Davidson FLD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,970 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 15 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 40.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Service Brakes: 6; Engine: 3; Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11079447 · 2018-03-14 (March 14, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION IN CLEARWATER. FL. LAKELAND HARLEY-DAVIDSON (4202 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD, LAKELAND, FL 33805) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115656 · 2018-08-03 (August 3, 2018)
THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER ON MY 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE FAILED. I WAS LEAVING A BUSINESS, THE EXIT WAS ON AN INCLINE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. AS I WAS GOING UP THE INCLINE I GRABBED THE FRONT BRAKE TO STOP FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BIKE WITH THE REAR BRAKE AT THE TOP OF INCLINE RAMP. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I FOUND THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ON 2008-2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON WERE FAILING AND ABOUT 175,000 BIKES WERE AFFECTED. HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAID THE BRAKE FLUID SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY TWO YEARS. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11041323 · 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
WHEN FIRST STARTING MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN COLD, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL SPUTTER AND TRY TO STALL. BECAUSE OF THIS, SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE TRIES TO STALL. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO ALMOST CRASH SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A HARLEY DAVISDON DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND I WAS ADVISED TOO LET THE MOTORCYCLE RUN FOR ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES AFTER FIRST STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS DEFECT.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451228 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)
I PURCHASED A NEW HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE SWITCHBACK MOTORCYCLE FROM A DEALERSHIP IN OMAHA, NE. ON NOVEMBER OF 2011. UPON DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE HOME AND PARKING IT INSIDE MY GARAGE I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FOLLOWED BY GASOLINE DRIPPING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. I OCCASIONALLY RODE THE MOTORCYCLE WEATHER PERMITTING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE GAS SMELL AND A DRIPPING OF GASOLINE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. I MADE A TELEPHONE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REQUESTED I BRING THE BIKE IN FOR A CHECK. THE MOTORCYCLE LE…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451228 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 0