2012 Harley-Davidson FLHX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
26,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 16 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 56.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Service Brakes: 8; Power Train: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Wheels: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 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: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 3 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 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 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 10735887 · 2015-07-22 (July 22, 2015)
WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT HIGHWAY 101 SOUTHBOUND IN NOVATO CALIFORNIA. UPON BRAKING AND DOWNSHIFTING I REALIZED THE ENTIRE FOOT SHIFTER WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN SIXTH FEAR AND I HAD TO INITIATE EMERGENCY BRAKING TO AVOID LOSING CONTROL OF THE BIKE ON THE EXIT RAMP. THE BIKE WAS THEN STUCK IN SIXTH GEAR AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FURTHER. UPON OBTAINING REPLACEMENT PARTS AND INSTALLING THE SAME THE LOCAL DEALER HAD ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE NEWER HARLEY MODELS AND THAT HAVE HEARD MANY…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11012874 · 2017-08-04 (August 4, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, A VIBRATION OCCURRED UNDER THE CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF NASSAU COUNTY (LOCATED ON SUNRISE HIGH, BELLMORE, NY 11710) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AFTERMARKET PRODUCTION OF THE CUSTOM RIMS AND ROUTER THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459826 · 2012-05-28 (May 28, 2012)
BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND VOLTMETER DROPPING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761697 · 2015-09-04 (September 4, 2015)
MOTORCYCLE SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN ALSO LOSES THROTTLE CONTROL. THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC AND AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE BUT MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING. TRAFFIC WAS A 4 LANE STREET WITH SPEED POSTED AT 35 MPH. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND ONLY A CURB. I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY SEVERAL PASSING VEHICLES. I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AT THE TIME I LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE. I SHUT OFF IGNITION AND CYCLED POWER A FEW TIMES AND THE LIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,405 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979112 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)
HAVE A HEEL TO TOE SHIFTER... FRIEND FROM A MAJOR HARLEY DEALER LOOKED OVER THE BIKE AND NOTICED THE SHIFTER ARM HAS SLIPPED AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT SLIDES UP AND DOWN THE SPLINED SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION MAKING IT LOOSE AND COULD FALL OFF...HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR THIS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN!?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10979112 at NHTSA ↗