2002 Honda GL1800A: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
47,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 8 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 50.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
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 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10062781 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
CRACK IN 2002 ABS HONDA GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE FRAME ON LEFT LOWER FRAME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062781 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 10090667 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
I HAVE A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING THAT CONTINUES TO GET HOT AND BOIL OVER IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I ALSO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF 5 MORE GOLDWING DOING THE SAME THING. ALL OF THESE BIKES HAVE HAD THE ECM CHANGED OUT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123893 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
VEHICLE IS A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. WHEN APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE, IT CAUSES THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE TO VIOLENTLY SHUDDER. THE SHUDDER WORSENS AS THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE RISES. DUE TO THE TECHNIQUE OF TURNING ON A MOTORCYCLE BY LEANING, THIS CAUSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HONDA HAS TRIED APPROXIMATELY 4 FIXES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, NONE HAVE WORKED. THEIR STANCE NOW IS THAT THE BRAKE SHUDDER IS INHERENT TO THIS PARTICULAR MOTORCYCLE AND THEIR "FIX" IS TO SIMPLY INSERT THAT STATEMENT INTO THE OWNER'S MANUALS GOING FORWARD. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248011 · 2008-11-08 (November 8, 2008)
2002 ,1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE . I WAS CHECKING THE BIKE OVER AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE FRAME . THE CRACKS IS RIGHT BEHIND BOTH PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. RIGHT NOW THE BIKE IS AT A HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP . WAITING TO SEE WHAT HONDA IS GOING TO DO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 64,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277668 · 2009-07-21 (July 21, 2009)
I RIDE A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800A. IN MID JUNE THE STARTER SWITCH STUCK AND THE STARTER FAILED. WHILE CHECKING THE STARTER THE HONDA DEALER FOUND MY FRAME WAS BROKEN IN TWO ON ONE SIDE AND CRACKED ON THE OTHER JUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER FOOT REST. IF THE SECOND SIDE HAD BROKEN THE TRUNK, BACKREST, SADDLE BAGS WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF MOST LIKELY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I SHIPPED MY MOTORCYCLE TO LAWRENCEVILLE HONDA IN LAWRENCEVILLE, GA WHERE I BOUGHT THE BIKE, FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT WHICH THEY RECOMMENDED. WHEN THEY CONTACTED CORPORATE H…
Owner-reported narrative. 157,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010305 · 2017-07-24 (July 24, 2017)
FOLLOWING BRAKE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED IN LATE 2016 BY HONDA DEALER, MOTORCYCLE HAS EXPERIENCED SAME FAILURE OF REAR CALIPER/BRAKES HYDRAULICALLY SEIZING TO A COMPLETE STOP OF BIKE. THE HONDA RECALL(S) (2 RECALLS) IS STILL NOT ADEQUATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR BRAKES WITH GOLDWINGS.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206622 · 2019-05-09 (May 9, 2019)
THIS CONCERNS AN ONGOING SAFETY RECALL FOR REAR BRAKE LOCKUP ON GL1800 GOLDWING. I OWN A 2002 MODEL. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, MY REAR BRAKE HAS LOCKED UP, ONE TIME CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL AND DROP THE BIKE, BEING SLIGHTLY INJURED, WITH A SCRAPE TO THE RIGHT ARM. HONDA HAS THUS FAR NOT REIMBURSED ME FOR REPAIRS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UNENDING SAFETY RECALL. DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY, SINCE HONDA HAS ALLEGEDLY DONE THE RECALL, CLAIMING FLUID CONTAMINATION, EVEN THOUGH THEIR OWN DEALER HAS FLUSHED AND BLED THE SYSTEM TWICE IN THE LAST…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206622 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V350000 · Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
Reported: 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, CERTAIN FRAME WELDS DO NOT MEET MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH LOADS CREATED WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES OR THROUGH POTHOLES CAN CAUSE THE AFFECTED WELDS TO CRACK.
Consequence: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REINFORCE THE WELDS ON ALL FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V010000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMBINED-BRAKE SYSTEMS HAVE A PROPORTIONING CONTROL VALVE (PCV) THAT MECHANICALLY PROPORTIONS BRAKE FORCE WHEN THE REAR BRAKE IS APPLIED. A SEAL IN SOME PCVS IS IMPROPERLY SHAPED, AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FORCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE FORLEAKAGE. IF LEAKAGE IS CONFIRMED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PCV FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V027000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, CERTAIN FRAME WELDS DO NOT MEET MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH LOADS CREATED WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES OR THROUGH POTHOLES CAN CAUSE THE AFFECTED WELDS TO CRACK.
Consequence: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE WELDS ON 2001-2002 MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. ON 2003-2004 MOTORCYCLES, THE UNITS WILL BE REPAIRED, NO INSPECTION WILL BE NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗