2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Softail years
- Not enough data 6th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail. That ranks 6th out of 17 Softail model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 601 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 67% | 601 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 33% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 33% | 3,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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…
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…
Other Harley-Davidson Softail years
← 2011 Softail · 2013 Softail →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 |
| 2011 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 Softail | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 Softail | 4 | 2 |
| 2004 Softail | 4 | 1 |
| 2003 Softail | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 Softail | 4 | 0 |
| 2001 Softail | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 Softail | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 Softail | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 Softail | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 Softail | 3 | 1 |
See all Harley-Davidson Softail problems by year, every Harley-Davidson model, or the Harley-Davidson VIN decoder.
Similar Harley-Davidson models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owners most often report power train, service brakes, hydraulic, wheels problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Softail model years, the 2012 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.