Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
43,000 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE RPM'S IMMEDIATELY DROPPED AND I WAS FORCED TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AT MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO SAFELY PULL THE MOTORCYCLE TO A STOP. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE A TOP SPEED OF 15 MPH. THE MO…
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WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE RPM'S IMMEDIATELY DROPPED AND I WAS FORCED TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AT MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO SAFELY PULL THE MOTORCYCLE TO A STOP. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE A TOP SPEED OF 15 MPH. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED BY TRAILER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 3 WEEKS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION FOR THE THROTTLE BY WIRE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578870
13,700 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS LEAVING WORK ON SATURDAY ABOUT 4:15 WITH MY MOTORCYCLE. I WAS APPROACHING THE AREA WHERE I TURN TO GO IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO EXIT OUT TO THE ROAD. AS I WAS BRAKING, ABOUT TO TURN, THE BIKE ACCELERATED CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOSE TRACTION AND THE BIKE WENT DOWN. WHEN THE BIKE WENT DOWN, I WAS SLAMMED TO THE GROUND A…
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I WAS LEAVING WORK ON SATURDAY ABOUT 4:15 WITH MY MOTORCYCLE. I WAS APPROACHING THE AREA WHERE I TURN TO GO IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO EXIT OUT TO THE ROAD. AS I WAS BRAKING, ABOUT TO TURN, THE BIKE ACCELERATED CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOSE TRACTION AND THE BIKE WENT DOWN. WHEN THE BIKE WENT DOWN, I WAS SLAMMED TO THE GROUND AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE BIKE. THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUED TO SPIN LEAVING A BLACK MARK ON THE PAVEMENT APPROXIMATELY 6-8 FEET LONG. THE BIKE KEPT GOING ANOTHER 30-40 FEET ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNTIL IT FLIPPED OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE AND CONTINUED TO SLIDE ANOTHER 20-30 FEET COMING TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND SHUT THE BIKE OFF. A MECHANIC FROM WORK WAS ABLE TO PICK THE BIKE UP FOR ME AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY FAULT CODES, THERE WERE NONE. THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. I ALSO CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WHAT I DESCRIBED CAN'T HAPPEN. I HAVE 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RIDING MOTORCYCLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM ON THIS BIKE AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS A WITNESS TO THE INCIDENT. *TR
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtc Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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