Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda GL1800, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control7
- Electrical system6
- Power train5
- Steering5
- Engine5
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Service brakes2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Exterior lighting2
- Unknown or other2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 21 2018 GL1800 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 21 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
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 Honda GL1800.
| 2024660 31 Oct 2024 | Powertrain Issue: On certain motorcycles, the primary drive gear bolt may break. If this happens, the engine could stall suddenly and cause the rear wheel to lock up whi… |
| 2024096 14 Feb 2024 | Fuel System Issue: On certain motorcycles, the fuel pump could fail. If this happens, the engine could stall while riding and you may not be able to restart it. Safet… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021 GL1800 Goldwing motorcycles. The primary drive gear bolt on the crankshaft may break, which can result in an engine stall and lock up the rear wheel.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2024 GL1800 (Goldwing), CBR600RR, and 2018-2019 CBR1000RR motorcycles. The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.
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 2018 Honda GL1800: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10213581 | "Newsletter - If the LCD screen is blank/inoperative and asterisks appear in place of the riding modes, perform the following test. Inspect the number five (15 amp) audio fuse next to the battery in the main fuse box. If failed, replace the fuse and disconnect the main multi pin connector from the Navi/audio unit. Power up the unit, and the fuse should not blow. You can also test with a known good Navi/audio unit. TechLine may be able to loan a known good Navi/audio unit if one is not available. If the fuse does not fail, the original Navi/audio unit is internally shorted and will ne |
| 10187553 | The Wrench - When performing the Service Bulletin GL1800 #1- Loose Handlebar Repair on 2018 GL 1800, or removing the Steering Bridge to adjust the upper steering stem nut on any 2018 and newer GL1800, the left rear tie rod bolt needs to be held by a 14 mm open wrench to prevent the bolt from turning when loosening the 17 mm upper nut. If the bolt is not supported, the rubber bushing will be damaged, which will then need to be replaced. Bushing damage will not be covered by warranty. |
| 10184026 | The Wrench - If DTCs appear on a new 2018 and newer GL1800, these are likely ABS related and are generated when the factory runs the freshly built unit on a dyno to verify proper engine and transmission operation. These stored codes are easily cleared using MCS, and will not return unless there is a problem related to the front (1-1) or rear (1-3) wheel speed sensors, or there is a CAN communication error (8-7) related to the ABS system. |
| 10184024 | "Dealer Message - The December 2020 edition of The Wrench publication is now available on iN. If DTCs appear on a new 2018 and newer GL1800, these are likely ABS related and are generated when the factory runs the freshly built unit on a dyno to verify proper engine and transmission operation. These stored codes are easily cleared using MCS, and will not return unless there is a problem related to the front (1-1) or rear (1-3) wheel speed sensors, or there is a CAN communication error (8-7) related to the ABS system." |
| 10161662 | The Wrench - If a customer complains of loose handlebars on a 2018 GL1800, the problem may be due to improper torquing of the steering stem nut at the factory. First, verify the complaint with the proper inspection outlined in the Service Bulletin GL1800 #1, then if the handlebars are loose continue to follow the instructions to perform the repair. Service Bulletin GL1800 #1 (Feb. 21, 2019) can be viewed by following the path below then searching for GL1800 #1. |
| 10161256 | The Wrench - If a customer complains of loose handlebars on a 2018 GL1800, the problem may be due to improper torquing of the steering stem nut at the factory. First, verify the complaint with the proper inspection outlined in the Service Bulletin GL1800 #1, then if the handlebars are loose continue to follow the instructions to perform the repair. Service Bulletin GL1800 #1 (Feb. 21, 2019) can be viewed by following the path below then searching for GL1800 #1. |
| 10159189 | "The Wrench - If a customer complains of loose handlebars on a 2018 GL1800, the problem may be due to improper torquing of the steering stem nut at the factory. First, verify the complaint with the proper inspection outlined in the Service Bulletin GL1800 #1, then if the handlebars are loose continue to follow the instructions to perform the repair. Service Bulletin GL1800 #1 (Feb. 21, 2019) can be viewed by following the path below then searching for GL1800 #1." |
| 10153891 | Service Bulletin - If a customer complains of loose handlebars (up and down movement) on a 2018 GL1800, the problem may be due to improper installation of the steering stem nut at the factory. If the steering stem nut becomes loose, the handlebars can move up and down (Please note: front to rear handle- bar movement is normal). A video providing instructions how to inspect the handlebars for loose- ness, inspect the steering stem (if needed), and replace the steering stem (if needed) can be found under the Reference Material section in this service bulletin. Written instructions can be found u |
| 10153890 | Dealer Message - A Service Bulletin to address a customer complaint of loose handlebars on a 2018 GL1800 has been posted on iN. |
| 10149658 | Dealer message - On October 25, American Honda informed dealers that the Navigation software Update 1 (published Oct. 4th) for the 2018 Gold Wing interfered with the performance of the Genuine Accessory CB radio, greatly diminishing its volume output. |
| 10149644 | 2018 Gold Wing Navigation/Software Update - Keeping your Gold Wing?s navigation system updated with the latest maps and directions helps you get the most out of one of your bike?s most useful features. We?ll walk you through all the steps here. |
| 10115757 | Service news article - To prevent damage during shipping, leather-wrapped steering wheels come with a protective plastic covering. The easiest way to remove it during PDI is to grab the covering with both hands near the top of the steering wheel and pull it toward you, like you see here. The covering comes right off. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)