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2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK recalls and problems

The 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK has 1 safety recall and 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Harley-Davidson dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
19
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK recalls

Recall 11V-506: Exterior Lighting

Reported Oct 19, 2011 · 250,757 vehicles affected · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Service Brakes11
Electrical System4
Suspension3
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility2
Engine2
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Steering1
Power Train1
Tires1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 8,900 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · reported May 31, 2022
Rear brake failed, & no ABS. Push hard on pedal and NO BRAKES!!! Brake pedal very stiff and applies no brakes!! Almost got into wreck. It was close and I am calling it a wreck. Thank god I was going slow! This issue is highly dangerous!! Why doesn't the NHTSB give a [XXX]? (Rear brake has never worked well since new. Had it in the Harley shop when new, and they say nothing is wrong. Nothing wrong??? No brakes on a motorcycle is not a good thing!!!!!! ) Found that 2011 & earlier bikes have a recall on the ABS. My 2012 has the same system. Why is there not a recall? Also found that Harley will…
Service Brakes · at 18,000 miles · reported Apr 15, 2020
Front brake lever is very hard to pull, front brakes won't engage. This happened as I was riding on the highway and getting ready to exit. I tried to pump the brakes and it got better but only for a few minutes. I called my mechanic and he told me it was the ABS control module. He said it's been happening for years with harley davidson's faulty design. This seems to still be happening even with bikes newer than mine. How many more lives have to be lost because of harley davidson's faulty equipment. I would like to add that my mechanic use to do all the warranty work for the harley dealership…
Service Brakes · at 60 miles · reported Apr 20, 2019
Front brake leaver froze up as I was preparing to stop. Lucky rear brakes worked. The brake leaver is froze it will not operate.
Service Brakes · at 18,400 miles · reported Dec 17, 2018
While riding my bike, I observed traffic stopping/slowing ahead. I tried to pull my front brake lever and it would not move at all. No give whatsoever. Luckily I was not in an emergency brake situation so I down shifted more rapidly, used my rear brake and came to a stop. At the next ramp, I got off the freeway and pulled into a gas station. When I tried my front brake lever again. This time it was pulling back, but needed a lot of force. In another minute I tried again and it felt normal, and engaged the brake. I continued home without incident. The next couple times I rode it didn't feel…
Tires · at 21,100 miles · reported Nov 13, 2018
The rear dunlop tire on my 2012 harley electra glide started to lose air. Upon a closer inspection the tire was splitting in numerous spots. The tire is not dry rotted . For safety reasons it was returned to the dealer who installed the tire. He stated he had never seen this happen before. A new tire had to be installed . Uopn inspection the mechanic and dealer stated nothing was wrong with the motorcycle to cause the issue. Dunlop stated it was due to either heavy load(This is a motorcylce not a truck) or running it at low pressure. This is not possible since every time the bike is ridden a…

Other Harley-Davidson FLHTK years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK: 11V-506 (exterior lighting). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Harley-Davidson FLHTK?

Owners report service brakes problems most often (11 reports), followed by electrical system (4). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 8,900 miles.

Are Harley-Davidson recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Harley-Davidson dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.