Honda GL1800A problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
30,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 55 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 23.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 13 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 3 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 13; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Suspension: 3; Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber: 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 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 5; 2005: 10; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10132597 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
2001 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AGGRESSIVELY. SPEEDS WERE 20-30 MPH. UN-KNOWING THAT THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILED, AFTER THE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, & OIL WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE FORK SHOCK. THE OIL COVERED THE FRONT TIRE & BRAKE. PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE FRONT TIRE LOST TRACTION, DUE TO THE OIL ON THE TIRE, & THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LANDED ON IT'S SIDE. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ONLY THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD SEAL & T…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132632 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TEXAS I DROVE ON A ROUGH AREA OF THE PAVEMENT. I THEN NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THE OIL WAS BEING "PUMPED OUT" THROUGH THE SHOCK OIL SEAL THAT FAILED. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED INTO THE RADIATOR, WINDSCREEN, INSTRUMENT PANEL,ENGINE, FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE & AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP I NOTICED THE OIL COVERED BRAKES DID NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP IN A SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. I USED THE GEAR DOWN SHIFTING TO AID IN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133516 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMITED BRAKING DUE TO THE OIL CONTAMINATED BRAKES. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TWO EXACTLY THE SAME LEFT FRONT SHOCK SEAL FAILURES. #1 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LAID DOWN ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING. #2 FAILURE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072167 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED MOTORCYCLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10523017 · 2013-07-03 (July 3, 2013)
MOTORCYCLE HAS A HESITATION AT THROTTLE TIP IN, FROM A COLD START, DURING AN ENGINE WARM-UP, AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OF 50*F TO 90*F. THIS ENGINE HESITATION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL. AN ENGINE STALL ON A MOTORCYCLE, PARTICULARLY IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS ENGAGED IN A LOW SPEED TURN; AS A MOTORCYCLE IS LIKELY TO BE ENGAGED IN AFTER A COLD START, WILL RESULT IN A CRASH. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON MOST 2012 AND 2013 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES. MY MOTORCYCLE DOES THIS. I CONSIDER IT A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237793 · 2008-08-12 (August 12, 2008)
I DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON MY 2001 HONDA GL1800A IS CRACKED. ITS LOCATION IS THE LEFT LOWER TUBE THAT IS BELOW THE BATTERY BOX. THIS PARTICULAR CRACK SITUATION HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MANY CQNSUMERS.THIS CRACK WAS NOT DESCRIBED IN THE LAST HONDA MOTORCYCLE FRAME CRACK RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11040290 · 2017-10-26 (October 26, 2017)
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA GOLDWING WITH A CALIFORNIA SIDE CAR KIT. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE SECOND OWNER ABOUT 1.5 YRS AGO. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS RIDING A BACK ROAD WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. I HADN'T TOUCHED THE START SWITCH? I TRIED THE KILL SWITCH BOTH POSITIONS AS THIS MODEL HAS AN UP AND DOWN FEATURE. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, NO AVAIL. FINALLY IT STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. AFTER RETURNING HOME IT WOULD NOT RESTART, I DID A CHECK AND FOUND THE START RELAY WAS FRIED. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME SYMPTOMS AND RESPONSE TO WHAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11040290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080740 · 2018-03-21 (March 21, 2018)
VIBRATION CRACKS MOUNTS ON REAR PORTION OF FRONT FENDER. (THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND HAS HAPPENED TO MY SON ALSO) IF LEFT UNNOTICED BOTH SIDES WILL FAIL AND THE FRONT FENDER COULD WEDGE INTO THE FRONT FORK/FAIRING AREA AND JAM STEERING, SEVERE A BRAKE LINE,OR CAUSE A BLOW OUT OF FRONT OR REAR TIRE.( VIBRATION CAUSED BY MOTION OF THE VEHICLE)
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080740 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
2001: 2; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2008: 0; 2013: 0; 2015: 0