2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU103: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
13,627 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 46.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 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 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Service Brakes: 5; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 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 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10455576 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
REAR BRAKE PEDAL HARD AND ROTORS GET HOT SEEMS LIKE THE CALIPER IS NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY I WENT TO THE HARLEY DEALER IN ERIE PA. TWICE THE FIRST TIME THE TECH TOOK DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT AN MILE AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM MY ROTORS HAS ALREADY TURNED BLUE FROM THE HEAT AND I TOOK IT BACK TODAY BECAUSE IT GETTING WORSE THE TECH SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT HE SAID IF I WOULD HAD BOUGHT THE BIKE THERE HE WOULD HAVE PUT A CALIPER AND ROTOR ON IT BUT I DID NOT BUY IT THERE SO THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO I HOPE ALL HARLEY DEALER AINT LIKE THAT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460710 · 2012-06-05 (June 5, 2012)
WHILE BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE SLOWED VERY QUICKLY AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS VERY STIFF (VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT). WHEN LIGHT CHANGED IT TOOK AN EXCESS OF POWER TO GET MOVING. AFTER TURNING INTO A SIDE STREET I NOTICED THAT IT REQUIRED MORE THAN USUAL POWER TO CONTINUE MOVING. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE MOTORCYCLE MANUALLY AND ONLY AFTER APPLYING EXCESSIVE POWER AND RIDING THE CLUTCH WAS I ABLE TO GET THE MOTORCYCLE OFF THE STREET INTO A DRIVE. AT THIS TIME THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMPLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460774 · 2012-06-06 (June 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECREASING SPEED TO ATTEMPT A LEFT TURN, THE THROTTLE CONTROL FAILED AND CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO GO INTO OVERSPEED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,494.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,494 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482827 · 2012-11-01 (November 1, 2012)
DURING OPERATION, UPON INITIAL DELIVERY, I NOTED HEAT COMING UP THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER NOTED HEAT UNCOMFORTABLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WITH MY COMPLAINT, I WAS TOLD THE LOCATION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSES HEAT TO RISE CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. I WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON. AND THE ONLY OPTION TO CORRECT IS TO INSTALL AFTERMARKET EXHAUST. THIS ELIMINATES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE AFTERMARKET EXHAUST CAUSES A NEED TO HAVE AN AFTERMARKET COMPUTER WHICH CAN COMPENSATE FOR THE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502738 · 2013-03-14 (March 14, 2013)
I WAS TRAVELING IN THE COMMUTER LANE ON I-10 WEST IN PHOENIX ARIZONA. MY 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON ENGINES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BIKE WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 1500 RPM'S. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CODE. I WAS TOLD THE MOTORCYCLE WAS GOOD TO RIDE AND STARTED MY RIDE HOME AND THE BIKE FAILED YET AGAIN. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE BIKE ENGINE DIES WHILE IN MOTION…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,082 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10538619 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)
WHILE TAKING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR A RIDE, ABOUT 30 MILES INTO THE RIDE, I NOTICED ABNORMAL SOUNDS COMING FROM MY FRONT WHEEL AREA. IT SOUNDED AS IF I HIT A ROCK, OR THAT MY TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. I SLOWED DOWN AND AS I PULLING INTO A GAS STATION, I COULD HEAR MORE NOISES AND FEEL VIBRATIONS. IT SOUNDED LIKE WORN BRAKE PADS. I PARKED THE BIKE AND GOT OFF TO INSPECT THE FRONT END. I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING SEAL HAD BEEN PUSHED OUTWARD, AND THE BEARING WERE EXPOSED, GREASE WAS ALL OVER THE WHEEL AS WELL. THE END RESULT, AFTER TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,901 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10779329 · 2015-10-02 (October 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HORN OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HORN WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO OPERATE IN A WORKING MANOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865577 · 2016-05-18 (May 18, 2016)
ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) FAILURE. FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND REAR PEDAL LOCKED OUT. NO BRAKING ABAILITY. COMPONENT FAILURE MODE LEAVES VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKING ABILITY CAUSING ACCIDENT W/O FATALITY. HARLEY DAVIDSON MO CO NOTIFIED WITH NO RESPONSE. CONTACTED [phone removed].
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865577 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V506000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗