2004 Honda GL1800

Routine

Owners filed 10 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › cooling system › radiator assembly. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly2
000
Structure › Body1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000
Equipment › Motorcycle › Helmets1
101
Electrical System1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder15V700000
Filed Oct 23, 2015145,219 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Equipment11E054000
Filed Dec 12, 20117,446 vehiclesKuryakyn Holdings, Llc

Defect. KURYAKYN IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MOUNTS, PART NUMBER 607005, SOLD AND INSTALLED FOR USE ON 2001-2012 HONDA GL 1800 (GOLDWING) MOTORCYCLES. THIS MOUNT WAS SOLD ON KURYAKYN 'TRANSFORMER' PASSENGER FLOORBOARD SETS, PART NUMBER 7005 FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, TO PRESENT. THE FLOORBOARD MOUNT MAY CRACK AND BREAK FREE FROM THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT SECURE THE MOUNT TO THE MOTORCYCLE.

Risk. THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR A CRASH.

Remedy. KURYAKYN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE REPLACEMENT MOUNT KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KURYAKYN AT 1-866-296-4728.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder11V567000
Filed Dec 1, 2011126,000 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Structure › Frame and Members05V027000
Filed Jan 31, 200534,919 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic05V010000
Filed Jan 24, 200536,046 vehiclesHonda (american Honda Motor Co.)

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Jan 16, 202046,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITED FRACTURES ALONG THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOWER FRAME, LOCATED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOT REST. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Power Train
Filed May 2, 20177,000 milesMS

TRANSMISSION "LOCKED UP" AND THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER MOVE. FORWARD OR REVERSE, NOTHING. THE REAR WHEEL WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD JUST COME OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN IT STARTED MAKING A CHATTERING NOISE, THEN WHEN I GOT ON ROAD THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND ABOUT THE TIME I SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND SKIDDED TO A STOP. AFTER NUMEROUS TRIES THE MOTOR WOULD RUN AND CLUTCH WOULD WORK BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR..I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO BRING IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. I CANNOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF WHY THE TRANS/DRIVELINE IS LOCKED AND WHY THE VEH. WILL NO LONGER MOVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS GOING VERY SLOW ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO MOVE. IT IS JUST TOTALLY LOCKED UP. THIS IS A 2004 VEH. I PURCHASED NEW AND IT ONLY HAS 7K MILES ON IT. ALL MAINT. HAS BEEN PERFORMED AS SPECIFIED BY FACTORY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWED A FEW OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO ALL YEARS FROM 2002-2011 BUT HONDA APPARENTLY DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. IT ONLY HAPPENS TO A SELECT FEW AND I BELIEVE MINE HAS THE LOWEST MILES ON IT OF ALL OF THEM. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED HONDA MOTOR CO. BUT WILL AS SOON AS I GET A CHANCE. I AM 73 YRS. OLD AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST MOTORCYCLE I WOULD PURCHASE AS I INTEND TO STILL RIDE FOR ANOTHER 10-15 YRS. AT LEAST AND THEY USUALLY LAST WELL OVER 100,000 MI.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 4, 201414,000 milesLA

AS YOU ARE DRIVING WHEN ENGINE GETS WARM KILLS ON YOU .FOUND OUT ITS THE COMPUTER HONDA IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THEM AND KNOW THEY ARE TRYING TO UPDATE HAS NOT MADE RECALL. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 17, 2014NJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PADS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

Equipment › Motorcycle › HelmetsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 201274,000 milesVA

HJC SYMAX II MODULAR HELMET COMPLAINT BOTH MY FRIEND AND I, [XXX] (WITNESS), BOTH RIDING 30 YEARS, WERE TRAVELING.ON THE BLUE RIDGE PKWY ENTERING THE PARKWAY AT WAYNESBORO, VA TO AVOID THE SKYLINE DRIVE. AROUND 7:15 WE DECIDED TO HEAD TO ROANOKE WHERE WE WOULD HAVE CELL AND INTERNET. HEADED SOUTH ON BRP. I HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT DEER. APPROX 5 MINUTES LATER, DEER RAN ACROSS THE ROAD FORCING BOTH OF US TO BRAKE HEAVILY. APPROX 5 MINUTES LATER, SEVERAL MORE DEER RAN ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. 2 COMPLETED THE CROSSING A 3RD REVERSED DIRECTION. 5 MINUTES LATER AS WE APPROACHED (SOUTHBOUND) AN OVERLOOK, 3 MORE DEER DASHED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE LEFT. AS BEST I CAN REMEMBER THEY WERE ADOLESCENCE. ONE PASSED IN FRONT OF MY GOLDWING, POSSIBLY CLIPPING HIS FRONT WHEEL AND DESTABILIZING HIM. A SECOND PASSED BEHIND, AND THE THIRD SLAMMED INTO THE SIDE OF THE BIKE. I WAS EJECTED FROM THE BIKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I BARREL-ROLLED TO THE RIGHT ONTO THE GRASS SHOULDER. THE JAW PROTECTOR FROM HIS CONVERTIBLE FULL FACE HELMET HAD BROKEN OFF HIS HELMET (HJC SYMAX II (AN APPARENT HELMET FAILURE). THOUGH THE BRACKET WAS STILL FULLY INTACT, THE RIGHT SIDE PLASTIC ATTACHMENT POINT TO THE 3/4 FACE HELMET BROKE OFF LEAVING ME WITH JUST A 3/4 FACE HELMET FOR 9 OF 10 ROLLS ON THE PAVEMENT. IF IS CLEAR THAT THE SYMAX II FAILURE RESULTED IN ME ROLLING FROM THE 2ND TO THE 10TH ROLL AS IF I WAS WEARING A 3/4 FACE HELMET. I WAS TOTALLY UNPROTECTED EXCEPT FOR A HOOD. THIS HELMET IS UNSAFE AND SHO

Power Train
Filed Oct 25, 201149,500 milesTX

THE GL1800 MOTORCYCLE HAS A REVERSE ON IT. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO ENGAGE, WHEN IN NEUTRAL & NEVER WHILE RUNNING. I FOUND A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT ALLOWED IT TO START ENGAGING, AND POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD I NOT ACTED QUICKLY. THE STEPS FOR THIS ARE: -BIKE IS IN 1ST GEAR -BIKE IS STARTED -THE REVERSE SWITCH IS ACCIDENTALLY HIT WHILE PRESSING THE START BUTTON (RIDING GLOVES MAKE THIS SOMEWHAT SIMPLE IN THE DARK - IT IS LOCATED RIGHT BY YOUR STARTER AND YOUR CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS) -YOU TAKE OFF IN 1ST GEAR (IN MY SCENARIO I WAS STRAIGHT, THEN WAS TAKING OFF AND MAKING A SOMEWHAT RIGHT SHARP TURN) -BEFORE THE BIKE IS STRAIGHTENED COMPLETELY (BUT MOSTLY), YOU TRY TO SHIFT TO 2ND GEAR -NEUTRAL WHICH IS RIGHT IN BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND SEEMED TO GRAB HOLD AND NOT LET ME GO INTO 2ND -REVERSE ENGAGED WHILE AT SPEEDS OF 10-20 MPH -REVERSE STARTED WHINING/ENGAGING, LUCKILY I GOT IT OFF QUICKLY (~1 SEC) WHEN REALIZING I WAS NOW IN NEUTRAL AS IT DIDN'T SEEM TO LET ME GET TO 2ND, AND SEE THE 'R' LIGHT ILLUMINATED -YOU COULD SMELL THE MATERIAL WHERE IT HAD "GROUND" I TRIED REPORTING THIS TODAY TO HONDA, AND THEY SEEMED TO BLOW IT OFF. I SPECIFCALLY ASKED IF IT WAS JUST A FLYWHEEL TYPE ITEM OR IF IT WAS TRUE GEARS THAT WOULD ENGAGE. THEY NOTED IT WAS GEARS. THIS CONCERNS ME EVEN MORE AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS BIKE ACCIDENT (LUCKILY IN MY CASE IT DIDN'T GET THAT FAR AND NOBODY WAS BEHIND ME). *TT

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Oct 11, 200953,000 milesFL

2004 GOLDWING OCTOBER 2003 BUILD DATE. AT ROUGHLY 12,000 MILES SPRING 2005, THIRD GEAR ENGAGEMENT, UP OR DOWN, WOULD OCCASIONALLY RESULT IN A SINGLE LOUD CLUNK AS THROTTLE POWER WAS APPLIED. BY THE TIME THE BIKE WAS AT 55,000 MILES SUMMER 2009, THIS CONDITION OF CLUNKING (SKIPPING A GEAR DOG) WAS 100% LIKELY. I HAVE IN THAT TIME BEEN MINDFUL OF THIRD GEAR AND GENERALLY SKIP IT OR ONLY APPLY MODERATE THROTTLE WHEN I KNOW I AM IN THIRD GEAR; BUT BY 55,000 MILES EVEN SLIGHT ACCELERATION FORCE WOULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPING A DOG AND CLUNKING. IN THAT INTERVENING TIME, I RECALL THREE INCIDENTS WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS IN SECOND OR FOURTH, APPLYING POWER THROUGH A TURN AND THE CLUNK WOULD RESULT IN A SHORT SKID OR THE LOSS OF TEMPORARY POWER AND WOULD REQUIRE ME TO QUICKLY FIND A NEW TURN TILT EQUILIBRIUM. I DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL, BUT I DID HAVE TO TAKE EMERGENCY CORRECTIVE ACTION. IN FALL 2009 HONDA AGREED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION UNDER FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY, STILL AT THE REPAIR FACILITY. HONDA'S WARRANTY POLICY IS TO KEEP ALL REPLACED PARTS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 21, 2006AL

REAR BRAKES INEFFECTIVE ON ALL MODELS OF HONDA GOLDWING 1800 MOTORCYCLES. MANY, MANY WING OWNERS COMPLAIN OF HAVING TO PUMP THE REAR BRAKES TO GET THEM TO WORK. IF YOU'RE IN A PANIC SITUATION, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. I'VE HAD MINE TO THE DEALER TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION. THEY CONTACTED HONDA OF AMERICA AND WERE GIVEN NO HELP. MINE HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NEW AND IT IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD. MANY WING OWNERS STATE THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA THE INTERNET. THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS INVALID BUT YOUR WEB PAGE WON'T ALLOW CONTINUATION WITHOUT IT. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jul 25, 200511,990 milesWV

WHILE RIDING MY HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE, THE FRONT TIRE RAN OVER A FLAT PIECE OF METAL APPROX. 1" X 8". THE METAL STRIP FLIPPED UP AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO SPILL ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE TANK IS DIRECTLY INFRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. LUCKILY, THE PUNCTURE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TANK, AND THE FLUID SPILLED ONTO THE ROADWAY APPROX. 2" TO THE RIGHT OF THE TIRE. HAD THE PUNCTURE BEEN 2" - 3" FURTHER LEFT, THE RESULT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, OR DEATH. HONDA NEEDS TO PROTECT THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WITH SOME TYPE OF SKIDPAN OR OTHER TYPE OF COVER. I PLAN ON INSTALLING AN AFTERMARKET "BELLY PAN" IN HOPES OF PREVENTING ANY SIMILAR INSTANCES IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT, HOWEVER, HIS OIL FILTER WAS RUPTURED, AND HE HAD OIL SPILL ONTO THE ROADWAY. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGERIOUS SITUATION.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed May 18, 20054,389 milesWI

THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK ON THE HONDA GL1800 IS UNDER THE BIKE AND IS LOWER THEN THE FRAME. THE FRONT TIRE CAN KICK UP ROAD DEBREE AND IT WILL KNOCK A HOLE IN THE TANK. THIS HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND TO MY BIKE. WHEN THE TANK HAS A HOLE IN IT, THE ANTIFREEZE RUNS OUT ON TO THE GROUND AND UNDER THE REAR TIRE ON A TWO WHEEL BIKE. I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT HONDA IS DOING ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT HONDA WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. I CAN PUT A NEW TANK ON THE BIKE, BUT THE NEXT TIME THE FRONT TIRE KICKS UP ANY THING I'LL HAVE ANOTHER HOLE IN THE TANK. I ONLY HAVE 4389 MILES ON THE BIKE. HONDA NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE TANK TO GET IT HIGHER THEN THE FRAME OR PUT A GUARD ON IT TO PROTECT IT.

10 of 10 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20243100Routine
20232100Routine
20221200Routine
20217300Routine
20201300Routine
20198200Routine
201834200Routine
20165100Routine
20158200Routine
20147200Routine
20139200Routine
201231500Routine
20110100Routine
201024500Routine
20092600Routine
200847502Fatalities reported
200720500Routine
200622600Routine
200518300Routine
2004 — this page10500Routine
2003101703Fatalities reported
2002182700Routine
200184600Routine

Compare every GL1800 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 23, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.