AI Damage2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 17% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
On a long trip to or from ca. Pulled the clutch as I was approaching a stop sign but it didn't disengage. Had to put it in neutral. I took it to the nearest hd dealership where I was told this is a common problem because of the faulty spring plate being riveted together w/ copper rivets that are prone to wear out &…
09/04/2009 2006 xl1200c harley davidson defective part: clutch spring incident = my 2006 xl 1200c started shifting hard. I noticed at a stop when I had the clutch lever fully pulled back the bike still wanted to move forward. I had to keep the front brake on to keep the bike from moving.
I know I would like for them to step up and recall the bikes and replace at their expense the parts that are causing the problems before anyone gets hurt because of it I have spent hundreds of dollars and my bike still runs good for 15 minutes then it runs terribly so im limited to in town errands on mine at best…
Harley-davidson uses the same part on many of their motorcycles which has proven to be defective. This part is the rear brake light switch which is supposed to activate the rear brake light when the rider applies pressure to the rear brake pedal.
My harley davidson motorcycle was in for service for a clutch replacement and repair at wildfire harley davidson in villa park il.. After a dispute with damage that occurred to the motorcycle during its service period I went to pick up the bike to take it to another dealer for proper repairs and a second opinion.
2006 harley davidson 1200 custom 1300 mi, constant engine cough and occasional stalling. The coughing and hesitation are quite often making this motorcycle extremely unreliable and dangerous to drive on the roads in traffic. It has been in the hd shop for over 20 days since I bought it may 2006.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XL1200C has 2 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: hesitation when accelerating (17%), stalls while driving (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C?
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 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C 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 2006 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.