Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda GL1800, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure54
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Steering8
- Suspension6
- Service brakes5
- Power train5
- Tires3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Engine2
- Wheels2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 18 2003 GL1800 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 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
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 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… |
| 2005016 24 Jan 2005 | Brakes On certain motorcycles, an improperly shaped seal in the brake proportioning control valve could allow brake fluid leakage to occur. With continued use, a leak… |
| 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… |
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE BANK ANGLE SENSORS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP AND THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE EVENT THE MOTORCYCLE FALLS OVER, WERE INSTALLED USING THE WRONG SIZE SCREWS ALLOWING THE SCREWS TO EVENTUALLY DETACH FROM THEIR MOUNTING POINT.
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 2003 Honda GL1800: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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." |
| 10100549 | SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2012-2015 GL1800/A AND 2013-2015 GL1800/B/BD MOTORCYCLES, AND IS IMPLEMENTING A RECALL REMEDY FOR 2001-2010 AND 2012 GL 1800/A MOTORCYCLES ALREADY SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL "JG6". HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE, DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID. |
| 10100546 | "DEALER MESSAGE - THE SERVICE BULLETIN IN SUPPORT OF THE SAFETY RECALL OF 2001-2015 GL1800/A AND GL1800B/BD MOTORCYCLES FOR A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER IS POSTED ON IN. SERVICEBULLETIN SAFETY RECALL: GL1800 #23 INCLUDES THE AFFECTED MODELS, REPAIR PROCEDURE, PARTS INFORMATION, AS WELL AS WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION." |
| 10099957 | NEWSLETTER - THE REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER (SMC) RECALL IS VERY INVOLVED, SO MAKE SURE TO READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE BULLETIN BEFORE HAND SO YOU CAN VISUALIZE THE PROCEDURES BEFORE YOU START. NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE INSTALLING AN UPDATED SMC AND A NEW REAR MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW EACH STEP IN EXACT ORDER SO THAT THE PEDAL BRAKE LINE IS COMPLETELY FLUSHED OF ANY CONTAMINANTS. |
| 10099874 | "DEALER MESSAGE - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER (SMC) KITS FOR THIS RECALL ARE AVAILABLE ON OPEN ORDER. AS INDICATED IN S/B GL1800 #23 AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS RECALL, IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT ONLY PRO HONDA DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID BE USED DURING THE REPAIR PROCEDURE. TO HELP ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF BRAKE FLUID IS AVAILABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF PRO HONDA DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID WILL BE SHIPPED TO DEALERS. THE ALLOCATION IS BASED ON YOUR DEALERSHIPS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED GL1800 SMC RECALL WARRANTY CLAIMS." |
| 10099488 | "DEALER MESSAGE - ON DECEMBER 11, SEVERAL SECTIONS OF S/B GL1800 #23 WERE REVISED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR THE REPAIR OF TRIKE COVERSIONS." |
| 10099350 | "SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2012-2015 GL1800/A AND 2013-2015 GL1800B/BD MOTORCYCLES, AND IS IMPLEMENTING A RECALL REMEDY FOR 2001-2010 AND 2012 GL1800/A MOTORCYCLES ALREADY SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL JG6. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE (I.E., THE BRAKE FLUID IS NOT REPLACED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME DESPITE THE PUBLISHED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF REPLACEMENT EVERY 12,000 MILES OR TWO YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST), DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID. IF SUFFICIENT DEPOSI |
| 10032953 | HONDA: WARRANTY EXTENSION-VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE ODOMETERS ON CERTAIN 2002-2006 HONDA MODELS WERE OVERSTATING MILEAGE. FEDERAL COURT PROVIDED FINAL APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT ON 12/29/07. NO MODELS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030268 | HONDA MOTORCYCLE: FRAME WELD SAFETY RECALL. REQUIRES INSPECTION OR REPAIR OF LOWER CROSS MEMBER FRAME WELDS. THE FRAME WELD APPROVAL AND DOCUMENTATION PROCESS IS BEING CHANGED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *PE |
| 10025523 | LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY REDUCED LABEL FOR ALL HONDA VEHICLES. *PE |
| 10025244 | TRUNK OPENER UNIT, OPENER ROD AND SNAP. *PE |
| 10018124 | CAMSHAFT TIMING - GEAR NOISE AFTER COMPLETING VALVE ADJUSTMENT MAY BE INCORRECT CAMSHAFT TIMING. *NM |
| 10018123 | FRAME WELDING TIP - TO EASE FUEL TANK INSTALLATION INTO THE FRAME, APPLY A LIGHT COATING OF SILICONE SPRAY TO THE SIDES AND BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE TANK. *NM |
| 10016298 | DRIVE SHAFT BOOT TORN/VENTING. *TT |
| 10016297 | PROPORTIONAL CONTROL VALVE (PCV) LEAKAGE RECALL REMINDER. REFER TO BULLETIN GL1800A #16. *TT |
| 10016289 | FRAME WELDING TIPS. *TT |
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