Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Honda GL1800, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling42
- Tires16
- Power train6
- Structure6
- Suspension4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Electrical system3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Service brakes3
- Equipment2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2001 GL1800 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Honda GL1800.
| 2015488 19 Oct 2015 | Brakes On certain motorcycles, the combined brake system's secondary master cylinder may cause the rear brakes to drag. Continued riding with the rear brake engaged/d… |
| 2014326 4 Aug 2014 | Brakes On certain motorcycles, the combined brake system’s secondary master cylinder may cause the rear brakes to drag. Unexpected braking may adversely affect vehicl… |
| 2011420 5 Dec 2011 | Brakes On certain motorcycles, the combined brake system’s secondary master cylinder may cause the rear brakes to drag. Unexpected braking may adversely affect vehicl… |
| 2003230 19 Sept 2003 | Structure On certain motorcycles, frame weld cracks could appear due to high loads created when riding on rough road surfaces or through potholes. In the worst case, the… |
| 2001142 8 Jun 2001 | Electrical Certain GL1800A motorcycles may have an engine stop switch that may cause the engine to shut off unintentionally. Correction: Dealers will modify the switch. |
| 2001143 23 Apr 2001 | Electrical Certain GL1800A motorcycles may have a crankshaft pulse rotor that is subject to failure, causing the engine to stall. Correction: Dealers will install a redesi… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ENGINE STOP SWITCH. THE ENGINE STOP SWITCH IS SENSITIVE TO ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OR STRONG JOLTING, SUCH AS HITTING A POTHOLE OR RIDING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CUT OUT MOMENTARILY OR EVEN SHUT OFF.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PULSE ROTOR. THE CRANKSHAFT PULSE ROTOR, A DEVICE USED FOR IGNITION TIMING, COULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 2001 Honda GL1800: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 638155 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF JAMMING IN THE OPTIONAL CD CHANGER. *TT |
| 638152 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF JAMMING IN THE OPTIONAL CD CHANGER. *TT |
| 636782 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CD CHANGER BRACKET. *TT |
| 636780 | CONCERNS WITH REAR TRUNKS THAT WON'T LATCH. *TT |
| 636778 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLE SHOOTING AN INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM. *TT |
| 636776 | SUBUECT REGARDING TRUNK LID DIMPLES. *TT |
| 632523 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPEEDO REPLACEMENT TIP FOR 2001 GL1800/A GOLD WING MODELS. *TT |
| 629308 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR GL1800/A'S INTERCOM MUTE ISN'T WORKING. *TT |
| 629096 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE WEAK RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND/OR THE NEED TO USE ABNORMALLY HIGH SQUELCH SETTINGS FOR RECEPTION ON THE HONDALINE GL1800/A CB RADIO. *TT |
| 627262 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR TIRES POSSIBLY DAMAGED DURING FACTORY ASSEMBLY PROCESS. *SLC |
| 627258 | SOME VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER FACEPLATE MAY WARP FROM EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT. *SLC |
| 627251 | SUBJECT REGARDING ABS SPEED SENSOR WIRE CLAMP LOCATION. *SLC |
| 626796 | INFORMATION ON REAR TRUNK LATCH.*JB |
| 626458 | INFORMATION REGARDING MAIN BEARING JOURNAL CAPS. *YH |
| 623811 | INFORMATION REGARDING 2001 GL1800 CD CHANGER INSTALL TIP. *ET |
| 623790 | INFORMATION REGARDING MICROFICHE CORRECTION, THE 2001 GL 1800 MICROFICHE OMITS A RUBBER GROMMET USED WITH THE WINDSHIELD GARNISH MOUNTING BOLTS. *ET *ET |
| 619961 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH DISC INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 615741 | THIS LETTER SUMMARIZES THE NEW SUB-HARNESS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2001 GL1800 COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. *TT |
| 615726 | SUBJECT REGARDING 2001 GL1800 COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMPROVEMENT. *TT |
| 10128559 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-040, Safety Recall: Accord, Civic, and Others ? Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-045, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-046, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to I |
| 10128531 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated. |
| 10127662 | Service bulletin - Honda has determined that, in some cases, the secondary master cylinder repair campaign conducted since 2011 (S/B GL1800 #20) was not sufficient to prevent the rear brake from dragging. Under certain conditions there is still a possibility that component malfunction within the combined braking system may cause the rear brake to drag. A dragging rear brake increases the risk of a crash and may generate enough heat to cause the rear brake to catch fire. |
| 10127659 | Dealer message - Honda has determined that, in some cases, the secondary master cylinder repair campaign conducted since 2011 (S/B GL1800 #20) was not sufficient to prevent the rear brake from dragging |
| 10100792 | SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2001-2015 GL1800/A AND GL1800B/BD MOTORCYCLES. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS NOT REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (EVERY 12,000 MILES OR TWO YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST), SOLID DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID, LEADING TO COMPONENT MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG. |
| 10100782 | "HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL ON MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2015 GL1800/A AND GL1800B/BD MOTORCYCLES TO REPLACE A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER. UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS NOT REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID, LEADING TO COMPONENT MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG. A DRAGGING REAR BRAKE INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH AND MAY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO CATCH FIRE." |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Southern Honda Powersports
FRAME CROSSMEMEBER WELD FAILURES
REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE
MOTORCYCLE COOLANT SPRAY ONTO REAR TIRE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation