2001 Honda GL1800 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
41,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 84 complaints (39.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 33 |
| Tires | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 33; Tires: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 4; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 66 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2001: 30; 2002: 33; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10030580 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
OVERHEAT/SPEWING OF COOLANT ON REAR BRAKES AND REAR TIRE OF MY GL 1800/A HONDA MOTORCYCLE. SITUATION WAS ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY, NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ONTO, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MOTORCYCLE WAS SPEWING COOLANT ON THE THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEEL, CAUSING A VERY HOT STEAM TO RISE ON OUR LEGS AND LOWER TORSO, ALSO CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL & BRAKES TO BECOME EXTREMELY SLIPPERY, AS WELL AS UNCONTROLLABLE UNDER EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. HONDA HAS NOT FULLFILLED IT'S PROMIS TO REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES AS OF YET!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104604 · 2004-12-27 (December 27, 2004)
FRONT BRAKE ANTILOCKED UP. WHEN HITTING A SEVERE BUMP IN THE ROAD, NOT A POTHOLE, THE LEFT FORK SEAL BLEW OUTWARD, RELEASING A MASSIVE AMOUT OF SUSPENSION OIL COVERING THE LEFT FRONT OF THE BIKE INCLUDING SATURATING THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I REPLACED THE FAILED SEAL WITH A NEW ONE AND EXAMINED THE ANTI DIVE VALVE FOR OPERATION. IT OPERATED NORMALY AT THAT TIME, BUT ON FURTHER EXAMANATION AT A LATER DATE WAS FOUND TO AGAIN BE LOCKED UP, AND AT THAT TIME I REPLACES THE DEFFECTIVE PLUNGER MECHANISM ON THE TOP OF THE ANTI DIVE UNIT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166755 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT AN FI LIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE MOTORCYCLE PRIOR TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR; HOWEVER THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE A LIGHT ILLUMINATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838942 · 2016-02-29 (February 29, 2016)
ENGINE STOP SWITCH IS OVERLY SENSITIVE. IF MOTORCYCLE HITS A BUMP THE ENGINE MAY SHUT OFF. IF SWITCH IS TOUCHED IT WILL STOP ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239119 · 2008-08-21 (August 21, 2008)
I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE FRAME ISSUES SINCE I HAVE AN EARLY '01 STANDARD. DURING THE ONE RECALL THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WELDS WERE TOO SMALL AND HAD THEM REPAIRED PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN LATER THEY FOUND A CRACK ON THE LEFT CROSSMEMBER ABOVE THE BATTERY WHERE WE'VE SEEN OTHERS CRACKED. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH HONDA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME AND HONDA SAID NO. THE DEALER DID REPAIR THE FRAME BY WELDING AND SPRAYED SILVER PAINT OVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THREE YEARS LATER AND OUT OF BOTH THE ORIGINAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244765 · 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)
I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE FRAME ISSUES SINCE I HAVE AN EARLY '01 STANDARD. DURING THE ONE RECALL THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE WELDS WERE TOO SMALL AND HAD THEM REPAIRED PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN LATER THEY FOUND A CRACK ON THE LEFT CROSSMEMBER ABOVE THE BATTERY WHERE WE'VE SEEN OTHERS CRACKED. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH HONDA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME AND HONDA SAID NO. THE DEALER DID REPAIR THE FRAME BY WELDING AND SPRAYED SILVER PAINT OVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THREE YEARS LATER AND OUT OF BOTH THE ORIGINAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 650,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767367 · 2002-09-18 (September 18, 2002)
MOTORCYCLE HAS GONE INTO THE "RED ZONE" ON THE GAUGE NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME THAT I EXPEREINCED IT LAST SUMMER. IT DEFINITELY IS GETTING HOT, AS THE HEAT IS NOTICEABLE AND THE MOTORCYC WILL ALSO "MISS SHIFTS" WHILE RUNNING HOT. ORIGINALLY IT ONLY OCCURED WHEN I WOULD GET TRAPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO EITHER STOP OR GO FAST ENOUGH TO COOL DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS PROGRESSED AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS CLIMBING THE HILL TO CAVE OF THE WINDS IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND ON A GRADE AT 40 - 50 MPH SUSTA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767367 at NHTSA ↗