IllustrationThe front brakes on my Fat Bob do not work due to the ABS module failing. The brake lever is near impossible to squeeze and does not provide any stopping power.
2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxdf
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fxdf years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 1 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 →
- 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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE PIPE WAS ONLY MOUNTED TO THE HEADERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE PIPES NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE PIPE WAS ONLY MOUNTED TO THE HEADERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE PIPES NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BOLTS NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V794000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V413000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,011.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.