2005 Honda GL1800: complaints, problems and recalls

THE HONDA GOLDWING 1800GL, HAS A LOW SPEED WOBBLE IN THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY OWNERS THE SAME THING. THE WOBBLE IS AT SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH. ALL OF THE DEALERS SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE TWO MANY OF US COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. MOST US BELIEVE THAT THE HOME OFFICE IS TELLING ALL OF THEM TO DENY. WITH THIS PROBLEM, YOU MUST HOLD THE BARS TIGHT, OF COURSE SOME ARE WORST THAN OTHERS. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE THING FOR SURE ITS NEEDS SOME LOOKING INTO. I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH FOLKS FROM CA TO NY, ALL…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151748 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE SHIELD, WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE REAR TIRE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED ROAD DEBRIS CRACKED THE COOLANT TANK AND THE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154270 at NHTSA ↗

ALL HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED SINCE 2001 (NEW MODEL - GL1800) HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS THAT RESULT IN A PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING LOW SPEED (40 MPH AND BELOW) FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE UNDER DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM CAN BE, AND IS CURRENTLY BEING, REPAIRED WITH ALTERNATE TAPERED BEARINGS, AT A COST TO OWNERS OF ABOUT $225.00, PARTS AND LABOR. HONDA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. THE WOBBLE PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC, AND IS ROUTINELY DISCUSSED IN THE GOLDWING ROAD …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155390 at NHTSA ↗

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED NEW IN MAY OF 2005. THE PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS WITH REGARD TO UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR (CUPPING) AROUND THE 8000 MILE POINT. IN ADDITION TO THE ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR IS A LOW SPEED WOBBLING (SHIMMY). I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO RECONCILE. IT INVOLVES BEARINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLED OEM. THE CORRECTION CAN BE FIXED FOR APPROXIMATELY $270, LABOR AND PARTS, BUT THE COST MUST BE BORN BY THE OWNER. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. I REPLACED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155684 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE VIBRATES BADLY, SHAKING THE HANDLE BARS WHICH INTERFERES WITH THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE BIKE. THE VIBRATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE VIBRATION WAS COMMON AND REPLACING THE TIRES COULD HELP. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. ANOTHER DEALER STATED THE FRONT HANDLE BARS NEEDED TO BE TORQUED DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161621 at NHTSA ↗

THE 2005 GOLD WING HAS A FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH IS EXPERIENCED ON DECELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, STEERING HEAD BEARINGS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF BIKE. HONDA AMERICA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT TAKEN ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS WOBBLE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 11, 2006 WHEN THE BIKE AND RIDER WERE STRUCK BY AN UNEXPECTED CROSSWIND ON JELLICO MOUNTAIN. UPON RAPID DECELERATION THE BIKE WOBBLED AND NEARLY CR…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161885 at NHTSA ↗

1)- STEERING SHAKES AND EVENTUALLY (PROGRESSIVELY) WOBBLES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH ON A 2005 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO KNOWN PROCEDURES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I HAPPENS EVERY TIME. AS IT GETS WORSE, IT CAN LEAD TO POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. 2)- BRAKES 'CHATTER' OR RATTLE AT TIMES WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO STOP. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171766 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA GL1800. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED INTO THE HOT ZONE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLES AND THEN RETURNS TO ITS NORMAL TEMPERATURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199520 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-12-01 (December 1, 2011)

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2010, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMBINED BRAKING SYSTEM'S SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED BRAKING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE REAR BRAKE DRAGGING MAY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO CATCH FIRE.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.

Reported: 2015-10-23 (October 23, 2015)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2010 and 2012-2015 GL1800, 2001-2005 GL1800A and 2013-2015 GL1800B motorcycles. The rear brakes of the affected motorcycles may drag after the brakes are released.

Consequence: A rear brake that drags may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, extended riding with the rear brake dragging could generate enough heat to result in a fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary brake master cylinder and the rear brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on December 7, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JV6. Note: This recall supercedes recall 14V-472.