2012 Harley-Davidson SOFTAIL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
1,200 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
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Power Train: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 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 | 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). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. 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 10519380 · 2013-06-11 (June 11, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLS SLIM MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TOO LONG FOR THE MOTORCYCLE AND ROUTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONTACT ADDED AN ACCESSORY WINDSHIELD, WHICH PUSHED THE CABLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CABLE WOULD BECOME CAUGHT IN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE LENGTH AND ROUTING OF THE CABLE WAS HOW IT WAS DESIGNED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650293 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PLATES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PLATES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730330 · 2015-06-25 (June 25, 2015)
UPON DECELERATION, A WOBBLE OCCURS IN THE REAR TIRE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES NOW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER ALL THREE TIMES THAT THE REAR SPOKES HAVE BACKED LOOSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730330 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.
14V794000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2014-12-16 (December 16, 2014)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2012 FXST103, FLSTC, FLSTC103, FLSTF, FLSTF103, FXDL, FXDWG, FXDWG103, FXDC, FXDB, FLSTN, FLSTN103, FLSTC103Shrine, FLSTFB, FLSTFB103, FXS, FXS103, FLS, FLS103, FLD, FLD103, FXDF, and FXDF103 Dyna and Softail motorcycles manufactured August 22, 2011, through February 24, 2012. In the affected motorcycles, the threads for the brake line banjo bolt in the front brake master cylinder may corrode.
Consequence: If the threads corrode, a sudden loss of brake fluid could result, causing a loss of the front brakes, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush and inspect the front brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the master cylinder, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 22, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0163 and 0164.
NHTSA campaign record ↗