HONDA GL1800A · model year

2001 HONDA GL1800A

15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001HONDAGL1800A carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 GL1800A is structure:frame and members with 4 filings, followed by suspension:front:shock absorber (3) and electrical system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2001 GL1800A, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

15
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

15 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SUSPENSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
TIRES:BEAD1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1

Recalls (2)

05V02700031/01/2005

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

15V70000023/10/2015

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

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.

Recent Complaints

20100701ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA GL1800A MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT INCREASE BEYOND 40 MPH UNTIL HE TOUCHED THE SCREEN. THE DEALER WAS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PART WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM HONDA. HE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE HE HAD TO USE ONE HAND TO TOUCH THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,180 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,442. UPDATED 08/31/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO TAP ON THE PLASTIC COVER WITH HIS FIST TO GET IT TO MOVE. UPDATED 08/31/10*JB

Mileage: 36,180

20090605POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2001 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800A MOTORCYCLE. IN JUNE OF 2004 WHILE RIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS I DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, IT WENT IN FINE BUT AS I ACCELERATED OUT OF A CURVE THE BIKE LURCHED FORWARD. WHEN I GOT BACK TO RENO I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THEY RODE IT AND COULD NOT GET IT TO ACT UP FOR THEM. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. FINALLY IT DOES IT FOR THE HONDA SERVICE MANAGER. HE CONTACTS HONDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAY TO BRING IT IN AND OPEN IT UP TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT OF THE BIKE AND THE CASE SPLIT TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS AT 94,700 MILES. I HAD RIDDEN THE BIKE OVER 12,000 MILES SINCE THE FIRST LURCHING INCIDENT BECAUSE THE HONDA DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID TO KEEP RIDING IT. THEY FOUND A BENT SHIFTING FORK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTING DRUM, FORK AND OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS. HONDA COVERED IT UNDER A "GOOD WILL

Mileage: 94,700

20080903STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I SUBMITTED AN EARLIER COMPLIANT #10237793. THIS DESCRIBED A FRAME CRACK IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME. TODAY, I FOUND A SECOND FRAME CRACK IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION BUT, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE(RIGHT) OF THE FRAME. THE CRACK ORIGINATES IN A WELD AREA & MIGRATES INTO THE FRAME TUBING. BOTH CRACKS, ON EACH SIDE OF THE FRAME LOOK IDENTICAL. THE FRAME PART THAT IS CRACKED IS KNOWN AS THE SUB-FRAME, WHICH IS THE TRIANGLE PORTION AT THE REAR HALF OF THE FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 61,800

20080812STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON MY 2001 HONDA GL1800A IS CRACKED. ITS LOCATION IS THE LEFT LOWER TUBE THAT IS BELOW THE BATTERY BOX. THIS PARTICULAR CRACK SITUATION HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MANY CQNSUMERS.THIS CRACK WAS NOT DESCRIBED IN THE LAST HONDA MOTORCYCLE FRAME CRACK RECALL.

Mileage: 61,000

20080617STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I DISCOVERED FRAME CRACKS ON MY 2001 HONDA GOLDWING GL 1800, ON 16 APRIL, 2008. THE FRAME CRACKS ARE LOCATED BELOW THE PASSENGER FOOT REST ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE CRACK BEGINS IN A WELD AND DESCENDS INTO THE FRAME. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA ON 16 APRIL TO SEEK GUIDANCE AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE HONDA DEALER IN SAVANNAH, GA. ON 19 APRIL, 2008. THE SERVICE MANAGER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND SENT PHOTOS TO AMERICAN HONDA AND THE DECISION TO REPLACE THE FRAME WAS MADE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 17 JUNE, THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED. I WILL PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE ON 18 JUNE, 2008. HONDA HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY. I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. MY FRAME IS NOT THE FIRST THAT HAS EXPERIENCED CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

20070307TIRES:BEAD

TIRE LOSING AIR BETWEEN TIRE AND RIM. 6 TO 8 PSI IN A DAY. MULTIPLE LEAKS AROUND TIRE AND WHEEL ON BOTH SIDES OF TIRE. CHECKED FOR PROPER SEATING ON RIM. OK. RESET TIRE ON RIM. STILL LEAKS. RIM IS IN GOOD CONDITION. *JB

Mileage: 8,235

20060921VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 21,000

20060412ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 GL1800 GOLDWING ENGINE SURGES FROM 1500 RPM TO 1000 RPM AND CONTINUES TO OSCILLATE UP AND DOWN UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED OR RPM IS RAISED ABOVE 1500. *TS THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER SERVICE BULLETIN 1800A13 WAS COMPLETED. THE SB WAS FOR AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT THE EARLIER GL1800'S HAD. *NM UPDATED 04/21/06.

20060211ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2001 HONDA GL1800 HAS A SURGING PROBLEM WHEN ENGINE RPM IS 1400-1500 IN ANY GEAR OR JUST STANDING STILL. AT A STAND STILL IF THE THROTTLE IS HELD AT 1400-1500 RPM THE ENGINE WILL OSCILLATE BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 RPM UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED. WHILE DRIVING AT THIS RPM IN ANY GEAR THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSE OF ENGINE RPM AND THEN A SURGE BACK CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN RIDING 2 UP. IT ALL STARTED AFTER THE ECM WAS UPDATED (10/01/03) FOR AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM (RECALL). HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET JUST AS THEY DID WITH THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 47,500

20051116SUSPENSION

REAR SUSPENSION NOT SETTING IN FULL RANGE. WAS REPLACED ONCE BY HONDA WARRANTY 2-2-05 AND AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS ARE NOW CONSIDERED NORMAL. HAVE LOST OVER 25% OF SUSPENSION ADJ RANGE. HONDA NOW REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Mileage: 86,000

20050819CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMITED BRAKING DUE TO THE OIL CONTAMINATED BRAKES. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TWO EXACTLY THE SAME LEFT FRONT SHOCK SEAL FAILURES. #1 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LAID DOWN ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING. #2 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD THE BRAKES COVER WITH OIL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, & I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE & HAD TO USE "DOWN SHIFTING" TO AID IN THE STOPPING. HONDA IS ONLY REPLACING THE LIP SEAL, NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS, & GIVING THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MYSELF WITH REDUCED BRAKING. ALSO, HONDA IS NOT LOOKING INTO THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF THESE FAILURES.

Mileage: 43,800

20050812CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

2001 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AGGRESSIVELY. SPEEDS WERE 20-30 MPH. UN-KNOWING THAT THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILED, AFTER THE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, & OIL WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE FORK SHOCK. THE OIL COVERED THE FRONT TIRE & BRAKE. PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE FRONT TIRE LOST TRACTION, DUE TO THE OIL ON THE TIRE, & THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LANDED ON IT'S SIDE. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ONLY THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD SEAL & THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTORCYCLES FRONT SUSPENSION ANTI-DIVE SYSTEM IS FAILING IN THE SHOCK "LOCKUP" POSITION & THE SHOCK SEAL IS BEING OVER PRESSURED DURING THE SHOCK MOVEMENT ACTION. ARGUED WITH THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR & THE HONDA MOTORCYCLE DIVISION 866-784-1870 FROM 10 AM TILL 2 PM, & THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE & THIS IS A ISOLATED INCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

20050812SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TEXAS I DROVE ON A ROUGH AREA OF THE PAVEMENT. I THEN NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THE OIL WAS BEING "PUMPED OUT" THROUGH THE SHOCK OIL SEAL THAT FAILED. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED INTO THE RADIATOR, WINDSCREEN, INSTRUMENT PANEL,ENGINE, FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE & AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP I NOTICED THE OIL COVERED BRAKES DID NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP IN A SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. I USED THE GEAR DOWN SHIFTING TO AID IN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY AT PASADENA HONDA SERVICE FOR INSPECTION & TO CONVERSE W/ THE AMERICA DIVISION HONDA TECH ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE. BEFORE I LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE HONDA SERVICE, I REMOVED THE DUST COVER THAT IS COVERING THE FAILED OIL SEAL & FOUND A PORTION OF THE LIP ON THE OIL SEAL FOLDED OUTWARD. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED SEAL. WHEN EXERCISING THE SHOCK, OIL WOULD PUMP OUT OF THIS AREA. **THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE ON THE

Mileage: 42,995

20050608STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CONSUMER TOOK 2001 HONDA GL1800 TO THE DEALER FOR THE FRAME INSPECTION AND THE KILL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED.*MR THE VEHICLE RAN FINE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *NM

20050608ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER TOOK 2001 HONDA GL1800 TO THE DEALER FOR THE FRAME INSPECTION AND THE KILL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED.*MR THE VEHICLE RAN FINE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *NM

Compare 2001HONDAGL1800A to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 HONDA GL1800A have?
The 2001 HONDA GL1800A has 15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 HONDA GL1800A?
Yes, the 2001 HONDA GL1800A has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 HONDA GL1800A?
The most-complained component for the 2001 HONDA GL1800A is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2001 HONDA GL1800A safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.