AI Damage2012 Harley-Davidson Softail: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 67% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Wheels 33% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Upon deceleration, a wobble occurs in the rear tire. This problem has occurred 3 times now. The dealership has given the same answer all three times that the rear spokes have backed loose.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Softail has 3 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, wheels. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2012 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.