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2012 Harley-Davidson SoftailProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail, most often about the power train. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 14V-794 the manufacturer reports only 51% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 51%Owner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage1kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 25, 2015. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail has problems

3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train20
Service brakes, hydraulic10
Wheels10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2012 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

51%repaired · 2016 Q3

Foundation components: master cylinder

Recall 14V-794 · Dec 16, 2014 · 19,015 vehicles · 9,789 repaired

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Harley-Davidson.

Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other Softail year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Softail median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'07'08'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Softail owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10650293 · Oct 27, 2014 · 1,200 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLS SLIM MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TOO LONG FOR THE MOTORCYCLE AND ROUTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONTACT ADDED AN ACCESSORY WINDSHIELD, WHICH PUSHED THE CABLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CABLE…
Complaint 10519380 · Jun 11, 2013 · 2 miles

Own a 2012 Softail?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.