2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
10,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 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 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 42.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (3). 4 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 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10452824 · 2012-03-23 (March 23, 2012)
THIS BIKE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT ISSUES IT IS ALMOST TO THE POINT THIS BIKE CANNOT BE RIDDEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD NEED TO INVEST NEARLY $2,000 MORE DOLLARS INTO THIS BIKE. I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEGE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10452824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470416 · 2012-08-13 (August 13, 2012)
TOOK A 400 MILE TRIP FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA ON 7/27/11. ON THE WAY DOWN TO KEY WEST, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT!! HEAT CAUSED INSIDE CALF OF MY WIFE'S RIGHT LEG TO BECOME EXTREMELY RED AND BURNED. HAD HER LEG CHECKED BY A NURSE IN KEY WEST AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE ANY FURTHER! WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO OUR HOME IN BOWLING GREEN, KY, I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD BE SOLVED BY SPENDING $1800 TO REMOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606284 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
CPSC: I1460341A. 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR DRIVER DIFFERENTIAL UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. *LN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10606284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885793 · 2016-07-19 (July 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND REHABILITATION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT AWAITED REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,600.…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054718 · 2017-12-14 (December 14, 2017)
FAILURE OF THE COMPENSATOR-I ALSO HEAR FROM HD MECHANICS THAT SO MANY OF THESE HAVE FAILED IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WAS LUCKY, MINE FAILED WHEN I HAD A TRAILER TO TOW IT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE COMPENSATOR DID COST ME $4500 TO REPAIR FOR A $299 PART. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF HD IS HAVING THAT MANY FAIL.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436887 · 2021-10-15 (October 15, 2021)
The contact's husband owned a 2012 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 30-35 MPH on a curve, the brake pedal or caliber was depressed but failed to respond. The contact stated the motorcycle rolled over and her husband jumped off and fell into a ditch. The emergency units pronounced the contact's husband died at the scene. The contact stated the autopsy revealed that her husband sustained a broken neck and fractured bones. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11601261 · 2024-07-11 (July 11, 2024)
All #'s/times are approx. At 2:15p, sun to back, and 30-35mph going into a curve, bike went off road. No brake lights, New tire, 406 miles on it, 6.6 miles fr: dealership, 3rd time there for random electrical issues, radio, starting, etc. Less than 1 mile tested in parking lot. Battery replaced. Drove thousands of miles since the 1970s. Trike maintained on schedule by dealer. Searched this on the internet, shocked at all of the similar complaints and deaths by sensors and brakes locking up since 2008 and that Harley-Davidson knew about it and d…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11601261 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 ↗