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.
Service Brakes. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
36,238 miles · Dec 29, 2019
Service Brakes
RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM HD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ABS BRAKES BLED AND FLUSHED. AFTER DOING SO, MY BRAKES ARE EXHIBITING THE NOTICE WAS MEANT TO AVOID. FIRST THE FRONT BRAKES WERE HARD AND COULD NOT BE APPLIED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT! NOW THEY ARE SLOW TO RESPOND AND WILL PULL BACK TO THE BARS IF HELD. I HAVE READ THAT THIS I…
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RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM HD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ABS BRAKES BLED AND FLUSHED. AFTER DOING SO, MY BRAKES ARE EXHIBITING THE NOTICE WAS MEANT TO AVOID. FIRST THE FRONT BRAKES WERE HARD AND COULD NOT BE APPLIED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT! NOW THEY ARE SLOW TO RESPOND AND WILL PULL BACK TO THE BARS IF HELD. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HD BRAKES. BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO FAIL SAFE NOT GET US KILLED! PLEASE HAVE HD RECALL AND REPAIR OUR BRAKES!! I HAVE AN EARLY 2012 AND LIKELY HAVE 2011 COMPONENTS. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA ODI #11291939
23,000 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Service Brakes
THREE MONTHS AGO I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE REAR BRAKE PEDDLE WOIUDL NOT DEPRESS OR ENGAGE THE REAR BRAKE. MY CVO IS A 2012 WHICH MEANS THE IT WAS MADE IN 2011. THEIR IS A RECALL FOR THE ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE MODELS FROM 2007- 2011. IT'S NOT A FLUID ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD THE FLUID CHANGED. I HAVE 23,000 MIL…
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THREE MONTHS AGO I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE REAR BRAKE PEDDLE WOIUDL NOT DEPRESS OR ENGAGE THE REAR BRAKE. MY CVO IS A 2012 WHICH MEANS THE IT WAS MADE IN 2011. THEIR IS A RECALL FOR THE ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE MODELS FROM 2007- 2011. IT'S NOT A FLUID ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD THE FLUID CHANGED. I HAVE 23,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. THE CURRENT FOR 2007-2011 IS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RECALL NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE SAME FAILED PARTS. HARLEY WILL NOT OWN UP TO IT SO IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NHTSA TO CALL FOR THE RECALL TO ENCOMPASS THE SAME PARTS USED IN THE RECALL OF THE SAME ISSUE. THE ABS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I SPENT $42,000 ON MY CVO. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING SAFE MOTORCYCLES WITH BRAKE SYSTEMS THAT DON'T FAIL ON THE ROAD. I SEE THERE ARE OTHER 2012 BIKES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.
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 FLHXSE3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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