2012 Harley-Davidson FLSTC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
1,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 12 complaints (75.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 9 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Wheels: 9; Steering: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 6; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10440691 · 2011-12-15 (December 15, 2011)
2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTC MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SLIGHT WOBBLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WOBBLE SOON BECAME NOTICEABLE ALL THE TIME AT ANY SPEED. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE REAR WHEEL SPOKE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446692 · 2012-02-04 (February 4, 2012)
PULLING ONTO THE ROADWAY I HEARD A HISS THEN A POP AND SAW SOMETHING FLY IN FRONT OF THE HEADLIGHT. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE PASSING LAMPS HAD BLOWN OUT INTERNALLY
Owner-reported narrative. 775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446693 · 2012-02-04 (February 4, 2012)
THE FIRST INCIDENT STARTED AS A WOBBLE ON DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DECELERATION WOBBLES CONTINUED AND ESCALATED TO A PRONOUNCED WOBBLE IN THE 65-70 MPH RANGE. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE LOOSE SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEEL. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457471 · 2012-05-04 (May 4, 2012)
AT 900 MILES THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE INSTABILITY IN THE TRACKING OF THE WHEELS AT ALL SPEEDS WITH MORE ?WOBBLE? DURING DECELERATIONS AND BRAKING HD DEALER INSTRUCTED ME TO PARK THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEY WOULD RETRIEVE IT THE REAR WHEEL SPOKES WERE LOOSE CAUSING THE AT-RISK CONDITION INFORMALLY I WAS INFORMED IT WAS A KNOW ISSUE AND HD HAS A PROGRAM FOR REMEDIATION THE REAR WHEEL WAS REPLACED; NO OTHER DEFECTS WERE FOUND. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458315 · 2012-05-14 (May 14, 2012)
THE SECOND TIME I RODE MY BRAND NEW 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE SOFTAIL, THE KICKSTAND WAS LOWERED AND INEXPLICABLY BROKE OFF THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING IT TO FALL OVER WHILE I WAS ASTRIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED OVER $3500 IN DAMAGES AND INJURY TO MY ELBOW. HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. THE HD COMPANY INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN A CLAIM INTO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH I RELUCTANTLY DID AS I FELT HD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468117 · 2012-07-28 (July 28, 2012)
I ENTERED INTERSTATE 12 AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MY RECENTLY PURCHASED USED (2800 MILES) HERITAGE CLASSIC DEVELOPED A SEVERE WOBBLE AT AROUND 60 MPH. THE WOBBLE WORSENED AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STAY ON THE MOTORCYCLE. I ROLLED OFF THROTTLE AND ALLOWED THE MOTORCYCLE TO SLOW ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT BREAKING. THE WOBBLE SUBSIDED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWICE EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT THIS WOBBLE EVENT WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP IN SLIDELL, LA. AND WAS TOLD TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470098 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)
WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DANGEROUSLY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, THE WHOLE BIKE WOBBLING UNCONTROLLABLY. STEERING WAS ALSO COMPROMISED. SLOWLY PROCEEDED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS HAD OCCURED WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THAT IT WAS A "SPOKE LOOSENING" PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513595 · 2013-05-26 (May 26, 2013)
TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 65 MPH, BIKE DEVELOPED AN UNSTABLE CONDITION THAT FELT SIMILAR TO RIDING ON AN UNDER INFLATED REAR TIRE. VISUAL INSPECTION FOUND EXTREMELY LOOSE SPOKES ON THE REAR WHEEL RIM RESULTING IN THE TIRE TRAVELING AT A DIFFERENT AXIS THAN THE HUB WHEN UNDER LOAD. RETURNED BIKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 HERITAGE SOFT TAIL BIKES AND THEY HAD A PREVIOUS INSTANCE OF THE SAME CONDITION. CURRENTLY AWAITING RETURN OF THE BIKE AFTER WARRANTY REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513595 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.