2001 Honda GL1800 complaints

INITIAL ENCOUNTER OF PROBLEM WHEN FOR FIRST TIME PLACED IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON 8/16/2001. HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED APPROX 10 TIMES SINCE. HONDA HAS BEEN GIVEN THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. ENGINE HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS EVENTS. REAR WHEEL SEIZING ONCE WHILE MOVING AT ABOUT 22 MPH. BOILOVER OF COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALSO, COOLANT DUMPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL CREATING A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL. KNOWN "TECH FACT" AS PER HONDA FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL, COOLING FANS WILL NEVER EVER COME ON ABOVE 15 MPH REGARDLESS OF TEMP.SEEKING LEGAL RECOURSE UNDER MAGNUSON MOSS WARRANTY ACT.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, IN SLOW TRAFFIC, DOING DAMAGE TO O2 SENSORS, RESULTING IN REDUCED GAS MILEAGE OF 26 - 32 MPG, WHICH IS 10 - 12 MPG BELOW ORIGINAL MILEAGE AND OTHER GL1800'S I RIDE WITH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BOTH KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS UNLESS THE FI LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON. FUEL MILEAGE SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO MOTORCYCLE MFRS. JUST AS IT IS WITH CARS. NOW I GET MILEAGE THAT IS NEAR WHAT MY 3200 LB., V6, 200HP SEDAN DOES AND HONDA THINKS THIS IS OK?

THE TIRE HAS SEVERE WEAR (CUPPING). THIS WEAR IS OCCURRING AFTER ONLY 5000 MILES. AFTER I REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN DECEMBER, HONDA HAS MADE A POLICY OF NOT REPLACING TIRES FOR PREMATURE WEAR. THIS CONDITION CAUSES POOR HANDLING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND IT COASTED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED MOTORCYCLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT FOR AN OVER-SENSITIVE "ENGINE STOP SWITCH."*AK. *SLC

WHILE THIS FAILURE NEVER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP COMPLETELY, HONDA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE OVERHEATING AS A PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME AND MANY OTHER GL1800 OWNERS. IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE BASIC DESIGN WHICH CREATES A TERRIBLE CONDITION WHEN IT OCCURS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY OR DEATH, NOT AFTER. IT MAY NOT SEEM TO BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES EXISTS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY HONDA.*AK

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT SPEEDOMETER WOULD BECOME STUCK AT A CERTAIN SPEED, EVEN IF MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT MOVING OR DOING THAT PARTICULAR SPEED. WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED PARTS FOR SPEEDOMETER WERE ON BACK ORDER. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT MANUFACTURER WAS TRYING TO FIX SPEEDOMETER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER HAD BEEN LIMITED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS FROM HONDA. *SLC

MOTORCYCLE'S BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE FRONT TIRE CUPS SEVERELY BY 3500 TO 4000MILES.MY AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED VERY OFTEN AND IS KEPT BETWEEN 38 & 40 LBS COLD. IF YOU CHECK GL1800 WEB SITES YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FRONT END WOBBLE THIS CAUSES. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS 4000 MILES IS ACCEPTABLE MILEAGE.THE TIRES WILL WEAR LONGER THAN 4000 MILES BUT ARE UNSTABLE. I HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES 3 TIMES AND THEY ALL HAVE SEVERE CUPPING BY 3500 MILES. LOOKING AT OTHER 2001 GOLDWINGS I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE A CUPPED FRONT TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 130/70 R18)

THE FRONT TIRE CUPS SEVERELY BY 3500 TO 4000MILES.MY AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED VERY OFTEN AND IS KEPT BETWEEN 38 & 40 LBS COLD. IF YOU CHECK GL1800 WEB SITES YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FRONT END WOBBLE THIS CAUSES. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS 4000 MILES IS ACCEPTABLE MILEAGE.THE TIRES WILL WEAR LONGER THAN 4000 MILES BUT ARE UNSTABLE. I HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES 3 TIMES AND THEY ALL HAVE SEVERE CUPPING BY 3500 MILES. LOOKING AT OTHER 2001 GOLDWINGS I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE A CUPPED FRONT TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 130/70 R18)

SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT REGISTER SPEED OF VEHICLE, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE SUN IS ON THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WILL STICK AT ANY SPEED OR STAY ON ZERO.*AK

DURING SLOW SPEED OPERATION THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MY PURCHASING DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN PROVIDED.*AK

DESIGN OF COOLING SYSTEM IS THAT FANS PULL AIR THROUGH RADIATORS. FANS DESIGNED TO TURN OF AT SPEEDS OVER 15 MPH. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS ABOVE 15 BUT LESS THAN 25, MOTORCYCLE WILL OVERHEAT. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER I WAS TOLD THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE JUST DON'T DRIVE IN THOSE CONDIDTIONS. I WAS ALSO ASKED IF IT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO SPIT OUT ANTU-FREEZE. I STATED NO, I DIDN'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE ENGINE AND BECAUE OF THEIR DESIGN IF IT DID SPILL OUT ANTI-FREEZE IT COMES OUT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOT TOO SAFE. THE FIX IS TO REVERSE THE DIRRECTION OF THE FANS AND CHANGE THE OPERATION TO WHERE THE FANS COME ON AND STAY ON AT A CERTAIN TEMPATURE UNTIL THE ENGINE FALLS BELOW THAT TEMPATURER. SO FAR THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL CLIMB IF DROVE AT SPEED'S 10 TO 15 MPH IF IN A TRAFFIC JAM COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ENGINE WILL HEATUP WITH POSSIBLE OVER HEATING IF RODE SLOW FOR VERY LONG. *AK

MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS WHEN STUCK IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, REPORTED TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT HONDA SAID THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM.*AK

MANY HONDA GOLDWING GL 1800 OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THEIR MOTORCYLES OVERHEATING WHILE INCHING ALONG IN TRAFFIC AND/OR BEING IN SITUATIONS WHERE LOW SPEEDS ARE NECESSARY, SUCH AS PARADES. IT APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FANS/SYSTEM IS NOT DESIGNED TO RIDE THIS BIKE IN ALL DRIVING SITUATIONS SAFELY WITHOUT THE POSSIBLILITY OF OVERHEATING AND CAUSING INJURY.*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS WHEN DRIVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. *AK

COOLANT TEMPERATURE WENT TO RED MARK SEVERAL TIMES UNDER SLOW MOVING CONDITIONS. BIKE WAS STOPPED TO COOL IT DOWN. SAFETY CONCERN.

COOLANT DUMP HAPPENED AFTER SHORT RIDE ON COOL MORNING. GAUGE DOES NOT GO ABOVE THE HALF MARK NOW EVEN IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. DEALER DID NOT PERFORM SERVICE FOR NEW HARNESS. INDICATED THAT WAS NOT REQUIRED. INDICATED THAT HAS NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE.*AK

COOLING FANS ARE DESIGNED TO CUT OFF AT 15 MPH NO MATTER WHAT THE ENGINE TEMP IS THIS CAN GET REAL SERIOUS WHEN ON A 3 OR 4 LANE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFIC AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE COMPUTER CUT OFF THE FANS THIS WAS BROUGHT TO HONDA ATTENTION WITH NOT RESPONCE I LISTED THE SELLING DEALER BUT HE IS NOT THE ONE DOING THE SERVICE ED. *AK

INITIAL PROBLEM DISCOVERED WHEN FIRST TIME PLACED IN HEAVY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC ON 8/16/01. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES SINCE FIRST EVENT. MANUF WAS INFORMED WITHIN 5 MINS OF FIRST OCCURENCE BY CELL PHONE. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX WITH FAILED RESULTS BIKE KEPT 1 WEEK. AT MY REQUEST AND CONSTANT COMPLAINING, REGIONAL REP THEN ATTEMPTED KEPT BIKE 3 WEEKS. FAULTY THERMOSTAT FOUND AND REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ENGINE WILL RUN INTO AND ABOVE RED ZONE ON GUAGE, HAS ON A FEW OCCASIONS DUMPED COOLANT, HAS SHUT OFF 3 TIMES, ENTIRE DRIVE TRAIN STOPPED MOVING ONCE,POSSIBLE ENGINE SEIZURE.HONDA AND ITS REPS NOW KNOW NOTHING ELSE TO DO.NOTE* TECH DATA THAT IS FACT NOT A DEFECT* COOLING FANS WILL NOT RUN AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 15MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW HOT THE ENGINE MAY GET. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AS OF 10/19/01. PERSUING LEGAL ADVICE AND RECOURSE AS I FEEL MY PRODUCT HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND I AM NOT SATIFIED WITH OUTCOME OF HOW THE MANUFACTURER IS HANDLING THE MATTER.*AK

SPEEDOMETER STICKS/FREEZES, WONT REGISTER SPEED. NOTIFIED DEALER OF FAILURE, STILL NO RESPONSE ON CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.

THERE IS AN AIR LEAK BETWEEN THE TIRE AND RIM ALONG THE TIRE BEAD. THE TIRE LEAKS 3 PSI IN AN 8 HOUR PERIOD. THE LEAK OCCURS IN ALONG A LINE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 WAY AROUND THE WHEEL ON ONE SIDE AND IN TWO PLACES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIM.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ENB9 TIRESIZE: 180/60R16)

MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED AT 40 MPH WHEN DECELERATING. ALSO, PROBLEM WITH TIRES. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

FRONT TIRE IS CUPPING, AND HAS FLAT SPOTS ALL OVER THAT IS CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. TIRE ONLY HAS 6000 MILES ON IT.*AK

THIS MOTORCYCLE RADIAL TIRE HAS DEVELOPED "SQUIRM" ( THE FRONT END WOBBLES LEFT/RIGHT) AS THOUGH THE RADIAL PLIES HAVE SEPARATED. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS ON ANY VEHICLE SINCE THE VERY FIRST RADIALS APPEARED ON CARS. I PREVIOUSLY HAD RADIAL MICHELINS ON ANOTHER MACHINE AND HAD NO SUCH EXPERIENCE. CAN YOU HELP?*AK (DOT NUMBER: ENU2 TIRESIZE: 130/70R18)

WITHIN THE FIRST 3000 MILES ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR STARTED SHOWING UP, NOW AT 5000 MILES THE TIRE IS CUPPED TO WHERE IT CAUSES SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING. I DON'T THINK A TIRE SHOULD BE WORN AND CAUSING WOBBLES AT SO LOW OF A MILEAGE. I AM SEEING THIS ON ALL THE NEW 2001 GOLDWINGS THAT I SEE AND TALK TO THE OWNERS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 130/70R18)

MOTORCYLCLE HAS A SPEED WOBBLE, WHICH IS UNASTABLE AT APPROXIMATELY AT 40 MPH, THE DEALER SAYS THAT FRONT TIRE WAS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE, CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE TIRE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, AND IF IT IS IT SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS REFUSED BY MANUFACTURER.*YH

FRONT TIRE ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS SEVERELY CUPPED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NOTHING BUT DOUBLE TALK. THIS TIRE IS THE ORIGIAL EQUIPMENT ON A NEAR-$20K MOTORCYCLE. TO DATE THERE ARE NO OTHER MANUFACTURERS OF THIS SPECIFIC TIRE SIZE FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE. AT SPEEDS BELOW 30 MPH THE FRONT END SHAKES/WOBBLES CREATING WHAT I FEEL IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BOTH HONDA AND BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NEARLY EVERY OWNER OF THIS NEW MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS TELLING ME TO INFLATE THE TIRES TO A HIGHER PRESSURE THAN MY OWNER'S MANUAL STATES. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. OVER INFLATION WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN EMAIL RESPONSE FROM BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO FORWARD IT. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NONE TIRESIZE: 130/70R18)

CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALL 01V133000/PULSE ROTOR IN EARLY MAY 2001. CONTACTED DEALER , GN GONZALES IN BATON ROUGE, LA, AND WAS TOLD PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. SINCE THEN, CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALER AND HONDA CO., STILL BEING TOLD PARTS ON BACKORDER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FUSE BOX WILL MOVE AROUND DUE TO BOX BEING ATTACHED WITH ONE SCREW. WHEN MOVING MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL UNTIL BOX IS MOVED BACK TO POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

RECALL 01V162000 ON ENGINE STOP SWITCH. CONSUMER MADE APPOINTMENT AT DEALER ON 24 MAY 2001, DROPPED VEHICLE OFF ON 11 JUNE. THEN, CALLED ON 12 JUNE 2001 TO ASK IF VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP. AT THAT TIME, DEALER INFORMED HIM RECALL WOULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT DEALERSHIP.*AK

RECALL 01V133000. CONSUMER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL DONE. DROPPED VEHICLE OFF ON 11 JUNE 2001. CALLED DEALER ON 12 JUNE 2001 TO INQUIRE IF VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, WAS TOLD RECALL WOULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT THIS DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE FACTORY SET IDLE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 700 RPM IS TOO SLOW RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE CLUTCH IS LET OUT INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING OR INCREASING SPEED, THIS CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SEVERELY PULLING SHOULDER MUSCLES WHILE TRYING TO HOLD THE BIKE UP. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH SOMETHING LET GO IN ENGINE, CAUSING REAR WHEEL AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE. *AK ALSO, THE CLUTCH PLATE CLIP AND RING SEAL FAILED CAUSING SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPES. *YH