AI Damage2012 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 60% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 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.
Throttle stuck on my 2012 v-rod night rod special. The bike had less than 100 miles on it. When the throttle stuck I could not move it either direction. I n trying to slow the bike I lost control and wrecked the bike.
There is a known failure of the abs modules on the 2008-2011 model bikes. I believe my abs module has failed. The front brake will not engage and the brake handle will not move. This happened shortly after start up while moving on my driveway at about 10mph.
I have a 2012 harley davison v-rod night special with abs breaking system installed at the factory. This is not an aftermarket system. The front break leaver is hard as a rock. You can`t squeeze the break handle to apply front breaks.
Rear brake pedal cannot be engaged , solid as a rock,no rear brakes presure. Has abs system. Happened while leaving my house, looks like the abs hydraulic control unit rear brake valve is in the shut position preventing hydraulic oil to the rear brake.abs light working nomal.
The contact stated the fuel gauge was non functional and failed to read the amount of fuel within the tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,200.
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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Vrscdx has 5 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 5, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine and cooling, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx?
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 Vrscdx 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.