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2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Softail

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Wheels
1

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: 3 of 3 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. 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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

1 reports
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1,200 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10650293

Official recalls

1

14V794000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

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.