2013 Honda GL1800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
1,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 55.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10512486 · 2013-05-17 (May 17, 2013)
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A HESITATION OR STALLING ISSUE WERE AT LOW SPEEDS IT WILL HESITATE TO THE POINT WERE YOU HAVE NO RESPONSES SO YOU ROLL ON THE THROTTLE TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT TO REACT THEN THE BIKE WILL CATCH BACK UP AND THEN SURGES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIME ON ME AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT DID IT TO ME AS I RODE THE BIKE OUT OF THEIR PARKING LOT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550202 · 2013-10-30 (October 30, 2013)
2013 HONDA GL1800G. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BAD GAS MILEAGE AND BRAKE PAD ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE ONLY GETS 28 MPG. ALSO, THE BAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/04/14 THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED TWICE, IN ONE YEAR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE BRAKE PADS AND WHEELS, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. UPDATED 07/31/14
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10550202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10629924 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)
ONLY WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL WARMING UP, AT ABOUT 1800 RPM I HAVE A VERY NOTICABLE HESITATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10633401 · 2014-09-15 (September 15, 2014)
MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITS A COLD START STUMBLE. AT AROUND 1700-2200 RPM (IN ANY GEAR) THE ENGINE STUMBLES / NEAR-STALLS. THIS LOSS OF POWER IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE WHERE RELIABLE POWER / SPEED IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN RIDING STABILITY ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED MANEUVERING. LOSS OF POWER TWO-UP WITH A PASSENGER, LEANED OVER AT 25 DEGREES, AT ~0-5 MPH, IN SECOND GEAR...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...HAVE ALMOST CRASHED MORE THAN ONCE. IN MANY GL1800 AND OTHER MOTORCYCLE USER FORUMS THIS IS A KNOWN AND MUCH DISCUSSED DYNAMIC WHICH HONDA HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10633401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670092 · 2015-01-05 (January 5, 2015)
RIDING WHILE THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A STALL REQUIRING THE RIDER TO PULL THE CLUTCH. IF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE BIKE WILL CRASH. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS STILL TODAY. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT MANY OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681256 · 2015-01-11 (January 11, 2015)
THE ENGINE STUTTERS AND STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM, CAUSING A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT EMERGENCY ACTION TO DISABLE DRIVE TRAIN, SUCH AS QUICKLY DISENGAGING CLUTCH IN ORDER TO ALLOW A SMOOTH COAST UNTIL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE SAFELY RESTORED. THIS CONDITION PERSISTS UNTIL THE ENGINE IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR FOR ABOUT 15-30 MINUTES DEPENDING ON RIDING CONDITIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10781852 · 2015-10-13 (October 13, 2015)
AFTER STARTING ENGINE, 1ST GEAR ENGAGEMENT, RELEASE CLUTCH AND FEED THROTTLE. MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION BETWEEN 1-10 MPH FORCING YOU TO ENGAGE CLUTCH LEVER AND THEN TWIST THROTTLE TO TRY AND GET ENGINE TO REV BACK UP. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HAPPEN AND YOU WILL NOT FALL OVER DUE TO LACK OF POWER FROM STALL. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN ENGINE TEMP IS IN THE LOWER RANGE BUT CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN ENGINE IS WARM BUT YOU HAVE STOPPED FOR 10-20 MINUTES AND THEN YOU TRY TO START OFF AGAIN. THIS IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH A 900 LB. M…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893351 · 2016-08-05 (August 5, 2016)
MY BIKE WAS BROUGHT INTO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2015 FOR REAR BRAKE RECALL SERVICE. MY BIKE WAS OPERATING FINE PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK BEING DONE. IN JULY 1, 2016 AFTER NOT RIDDEN MY BIKE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MY REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY - I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH; SINCE MY I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO USE MY BRAKES LEVER THAT WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE A CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED ME! SO I BRING MY BIK…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893351 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V700000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V045000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2010 and 2012-2016 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycles. These motorcycles have air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag module that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KJ1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗