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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

19 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

8,900 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 19 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1157.9%
Electrical and battery issues210.5%
Transmission and shifting15.3%
Engine operation15.3%
Fuel system concerns15.3%

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.

Service Brakes
11
Electrical System
4
Suspension
3
Engine
2
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes11
Electrical System4
Suspension3
Engine2
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Power Train1

Service Brakes: 11; Electrical System: 4; Suspension: 3; Engine: 2; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (15). 2 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.

2012
4
2014
1
2015
1
2016
2
2017
2
2018
4
2019
1
2020
2
2021
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20124
20141
20151
20162
20172
20184
20191
20202
20211
20221

2012: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10461323 · 2012-06-12 (June 12, 2012)

2012 FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED PURCHASED 03/2012. ON MAY 25TH 2012 THE FRONT BRAKE FAILED. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT MOVE TO ENGAGE THE FRONT BRAKES. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY I WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULATOR HAD A STUCK VALVE OR SOME UNKNOWN FAILURE AND HD WAS SHIPPING OUT A PART TO FIX IT. THURSDAY THAT SAME WEEK THEY CALLED AND SAID THE BIKE WAS FIXED. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SPENT 5 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH HD CORPORATE OFFICE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10850170 · 2016-03-17 (March 17, 2016)

PURCHASED 4/30/2013 WITH 4075 MILES. FORCED TO REPLACE BATTERY ($167.00) MAY 2015 DUE TO DEAD CELL PREVENTING MAINTAINING FULL CHARGE, EVEN ON MAINTAINER. EVEN AFTER REPLACING BATTERY, STILL WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A FULL CHARGE. WHILE RIDING AFTER BATTERY-CHARGER ACTION, ABS, BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ONE ONE AFTER ANOTHER. CONTINUING ON TO HD FOR REPAIR, LIGHTS WENT OFF IN REVERSE ORDER AS CAME ON. THEY REPLACE REGULATOR. HEALTH PREVENTED ME FROM RIDING OFTEN BUT SHE IS STORED IN A WEATHER PROOF SHED WITH THE BATTERY MAINTAINER RUNNING …

Owner-reported narrative. 8,725 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850170 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10460714 · 2012-06-05 (June 5, 2012)

WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS APPARENT FROM WATCHING THE VOLT METER THAT THE BIKE WAS RUNNING ON THE BATTERY. AFTER LEAVING AT THE LOCAL DEALER THEY FOUND THE VOLTAGE REGULAR WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD TO ORDER A NEW ONE WHICH WAS ON BACKORDER BECAUSE IT APPEARS HD IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS. ONE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED (A WEEK LATER) THE BIKE IS RUNNING FINE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10846312 · 2016-03-13 (March 13, 2016)

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FALLS OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT. IT HAPPENED TO ME WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I GOT STUCK IN 6TH GEAR AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES ON THE WAY HOME I NEEDED TO NOT COME TO A STOP WITH TWO ON THE BIKE. THERE WAS A FEW TIMES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFER TO DOWN SHIFT ON THE ROAD. THE ISSUE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SHIFT ARM LEVER MATES TO THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846312 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10482478 · 2012-10-28 (October 28, 2012)

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 EX…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482478 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11162130 · 2018-12-17 (December 17, 2018)

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 INCID…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11162130 at NHTSA ↗