31 of the
773 complaints filed about the Honda GL1800
are about the electrical system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
The contact owns a 2019 Honda GL 1800. The contact stated that while riding at 50 MPH, the engine shut off without warning. Due to the failure, the motorcycle was towed to an independent mechanic and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with a case number. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11717184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2024 Honda Gold Wing GL1800DR Tour fails to detect the keyfob intermittently. The vehicle does not require a standard key to start, unlock or closing/opening the paniers, except for emergency situation and requires at that time a sequence to be followed. For this, it requires that you have the fob in your person while operating the motorcycle. The concerns around the fob/remote is that it looses communication with the vehicle intermittently, inhibiting access, say, to ignition start button or properly closing paniers/top case. The case of the storage containers not properly locking, resulted on highway opening of the paniers, releasing its contents. The vehicle also not starting the ignition sequence, have also affected access to the vehicle, where the rider is left stranded. Fresh lithium batteries, with confirmed voltage levels, has been installed. Motorcycle is shipped with 2 fobs, same issue with both. Warranty claims appointments (3), haven't been able to isolate or reproduce the issue, supporting 360° video evidence showing the issue happening during road use and pre-ride, has been provided to Honda and to the service departments. Honda refuses to replace any parts without the issue being reproduced by the service appointment. Symptoms: missing keyfob dashboard ligh and notification, unable to close/open storage, unable to open gas door, unable to start ignition, unable start any accessories. Actions: replaced fob batteries, main motorcycle battery, turned off both fob, tested 1 at the time at different distances, disconnected all aftermarket accessories, one at the time, more.
NHTSA complaint #11662714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
31300-KVZ-632 1.00 MOTOR, RATIO CONTROL - this is the part that failed. It is not available for inspection as the dealer has replaced the failed part under warranty. The safety risk is, if it breaks under acceleration, you are stuck in that gear so merging onto an interstate you could in fact be run over. Yes, the dealer confirmed and replaced the component. Yes, there were warning lamps including the check engine light. After starting and restarting the bike several times it cleared, and I rode the bike to the hotel (approx. 10 miles) and then it failed again. My assessment is as follows: This motor is mounted to the rear underside of the engine and moisture can infiltrate and cause intermittent or complete failure. Possibly from a bad gasket? I had ridden 260 miles that day in the rain while on a trip. After stopping for an hour then restarting the bike, the failure occurred. It wouldn't go into gear (it's a DCT - automatic) and the warning lamps were flashing (see attachments). I was able to eventually, after several restarts of the engine, to get the bike drivable and get to my hotel where it failed again. Fortunately, it didn't fail while in motion or under acceleration, but it can. In fact, Honda mentions that in the owner's manual, page 181.
NHTSA complaint #11607446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The BOLT holding the Alternator/Starter or ISG unit BROKE. While this caused no injury as the Alternator stayed together, it could have caused the motorcycle to shut down while riding. The Honda Dealer replaced the Alternator under the Honda Extended Warranty. There were no symptoms, lights, or warnings.
NHTSA complaint #11607365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The BOLT holding the Alternator/Starter or ISG unit BROKE. While this caused no injury as the Alternator stayed together, it could have caused the motorcycle to shut down while riding. The Honda Dealer replaced the Alternator under the Honda Extended Warranty. There were no symptoms, lights, or warnings.
NHTSA complaint #11607365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant and stopped briefly to decide where to park. When lightly applying the throttle to pull into a parking space the engine revved up, the bike surged, and my wife and I crashed into a picnic area. This GL1800 DCT motorcycle has no clutch lever or foot shifter because it has a 7-speed automatic transmission. Therefore it wasn't possible to stop the rapid acceleration by pulling in a clutch lever, and activating the kill switch would have required taking my hand off the right hand grip as we ricocheted off picnic tables. Luckily no one was sitting in the picnic area. My wife and I suffered a broken leg and a broken knee from the crash. The motorcycle was declared totaled by the insurance company at a value of $23,500.
NHTSA complaint #11573604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling into a parking spot to turn the bike around and back into the spot. While sitting sideways in a parking spot, I increased the throttle slightly to pull forward. The throttle acted as if it was stuck and the bike lurched forward after I released the throttle. I applied the front brake but the bike continued moving forward pushing the front tire which left a skid mark on the pavement. I continued forward until the bike ran into the driver's door of a parked car. This was the second time the throttle stuck in this manner. The first time I was leaving my driveway when the bike acted in the same manner and caused me to run over some Christmas lights on the edge of my driveway. The first time I did not realize what happened therefore I did not file a complaint. I researched this on a motorcycle forum and found many instances of other GL 1800 owners experiencing the same problem.
NHTSA complaint #11449495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
when just starting out using foot brake and handbrake , handbrake came in towards grip real far and throttle cut out but not off for a few seconds. Then abs and traction control lights came on along with mode selector lights until bike was shut down and restarted. Upon restarting all would be ok for a few miles or even the whole day or would just do it all over again. It did this from june until now where it is presently at the honda dealer while honda tries to figure it out. So far they have not.
NHTSA complaint #11425731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SEATED ON MY 2018 DCT GOLDWING, HAVING JUST ROLLED BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, (I DID NOT USE THE REVERSE FUNCTION) IT WAS RUNNING, WHEN I PUSHED "D" FOR DRIVE IT SHOT OUT FORWARD ON IT'S OWN, AS IF THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN. WITHIN 1 SECOND OR LESS I REAR ENDED ANOTHER 2018 GOLDWING ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME. WE BOTH CRASHED. NO SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURY TO US. BUT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH TO BYSTANDERS IN THE PARKING LOT IF WE HAD HIT THEM. I WAS NOT TWISTING THE THROTTLE, AS THE PARKING LOT WAS CROWDED. THE ENGINE DID NOT SLOW TILL IT HIT THE GROUND WHEN THE AUTO KILL ENGAGED. I FEAR THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN EITHER THE THROTTLE BY WIRE, OR COMPUTER CONTROLS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF OTHER 2018 DCTS THAT LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT TWISTING THE THROTTLE.
NHTSA complaint #11338896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM WRITING YOU REGARDING MY NEW 2018 HONDA GOLDWING TOUR. THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. IT ONLY WORKS AS A LANE CHANGING PROGRAM, WHICH MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE. IN THEIR CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND THEY SIMPLY TURN OFF FAR TOO SOON. I OFTEN FIND THAT I HAVE TO TURN THEM BACK ON BEFORE I COMPLETE MY TURN. THAT IS OF COURSE VERY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF AS YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN, DOWN SHIFTING, WATCHING TRAFFIC AND PLANNING YOUR TURN. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I NO LONGER USE THIS FEATURE AS IT IS SAFETY HAZARD. PEOPLE AROUND YOU THINK YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR MIND AND THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TURN FOR EXAMPLE. THIS CONCERN IS BEING ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE GOLDWING COMMUNITY. ANY OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS OR FACEBOOK GROUPS HAVE MANY RIDERS SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING ABOUT THIS SYSTEM. IT IS EVEN MENTIONED IN MANY REVIEWS OF THE BIKE, FOR EXAMPLE: HONDA SAYS IT WAS BUILT THAT WAY AND ITS NORMAL TO TURN OFF EARLY... THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE PLUS THEY OFFER AN OPTION IN THE SOFTWARE TO CONVERT IT TO MANUAL WHICH MEANS THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM. WHO ELSE OFFERS AN OPTION TO TURN OFF THE AUTO CANCELLATION. WHAT OTHER TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CLICKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION YOU WANT TO TURN AT? IT STAYS ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 SECONDS THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF, WHICH ONLY GOOD FOR A QUICK LANE CHANGE. THIS IS OCCURRING ON EVERY BIKE FROM AT LEAST 2018 ON ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME BIKE. THE GOLDWING FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX IT OR STOP ADVERTISING THAT IT HAS AUTO TURN CANCELLATION. WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY A LANE CHANGE ONLY SWITCH. BIKE IS 2018 NEW GOLDWING WITH ONLY 3500 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #11326631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENGINES STOPS SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND START TO TAKE OFF. MANY TIMES THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD CLUNK AND THE ENGINE STOPS. IT APPEARS LIKE THE BIKE TRY'S TO ENGAGE BOTH TRANSMISSIONS AT THE SAME TIME. SEVERAL TIMES I COULD NOT GET THE BIKE RESTARTED. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERS BUT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND OTHER 2018 HONDA GOLDWING DCT OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM AND HONDA TELLS ALL OF US THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFELY ISSUE BECAUSE I GO TO MOVE AND THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME STARTS TO MOVE AND HAS TO JAM ON THERE BRAKES AND THEN THEY HONK AT ME BECAUSE I AM STALLED AT THE INTERSECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11205522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITH BIKE IN GEAR, SIDE STAND DOWN, KILL SWITCH IN KILL POSITION, AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, WHILE REPLACING THE BATTERY THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BIKE ENGINE ENGAGED AND ROLLED FORWARD CAUSING IT TO FALL ON TOP OF ME, AND DAMAGING THE SADDLE BAG WHICH WAS LEFT OPEN BECAUSE THE COVER TO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT NOW IS ATTACHED INSIDE THE SADDLE BAG. HONDA IS BLAMING LIGHTS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER FOR BURNING OUT THE RELAY TO THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. THUS, BYPASSING THE NORMAL MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE BIKE FROM ENGAGING . THIS CONSTITUTES A SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW IF THE BIKE CAN START AND ENGAGE A GEAR WITH ALL OF THE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS IN PLACE. DURING THIS PROCEDURE THE BIKE WAS STATIONARY ON A LEVEL GARAGE FLOOR
NHTSA complaint #11152576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY F1 LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. SINCE MY GOLDWING IS A CONVERSION TO A TRIKE, THE KICKSTAND WAS FIXED AND IS INOPERABLE. ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY, TRIKE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND SMELLED OF A VERY LEAN FUEL MIXTURE AND STALLING AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO MY LICENSED HONDA MECHANIC AND HE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS THE COMPUTER. HE STATED IF I WOULD HAVE DRIVEN IT IN THAT CONDITION THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE MELTED AND REALLY CAUSED PROBLEMS. ANOTHER UNSAFE CONDITION. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCATION OF THE O2 SENSOR BEING PLACED TOO FAR BACK IN THE EXHAUST IN 2001-2005 MODELS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY HONDA IN 2006 AND FOLLOWING. THE COMPUTER AND INSTALLATION COST $997.23 AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF A RECALL. HONDA APPARENTLY KNEW IT BUT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11092226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10662128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2012 GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OFF WHEN FIRST STARTED. UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT TO WARM UP COMPLETELY BEFORE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF, IT WILL TRY TO STALL OR SPUTTER AND NOT HAVE ANY POWER AT LEAST MOMENTARILY. THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A TIP OVER ACCIDENT WITH THIS 950LB BIKE. WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC FLOW, IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW IN JUNE 2012. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MANY OTHER GOLDWING OWNERS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED MANY OF THEM TO DROP THEIR BIKE WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO HONDA DEALERS WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO HONDA TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN DEATHS IF NOT RESOLVED. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO A HUGE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON GOLDWING ONLINE FORUMS.
NHTSA complaint #10643482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS OF RIDING, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MULTI FUNCTIONING DISPLAY (MFD) THE DISPLAY GOES BLANK AT START UP AND AT TRAVELING SPEEDS. LOSING ALL DATA OF MILEAGE, GPS DIRECTIONS, RADIO FUNCTION. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES, TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY HELD ONTO MY BIKE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, NOTHING WAS DONE, AND THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. I WAS TOLD, 'WE LOOKED AT YOUR BIKE AND WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.' I CONTINUED MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH MY MULTI FUNCTIONING DISPLAY. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WITH NO RESULTS. THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS SINCE NEW AND I LEARNED THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHAT WAS MOST HORRIFIC, IN JUNE OF 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY BIKE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2013. ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED MY BIKE IN AUGUST 2010, THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY OF 2013; A FULL THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ORIGINAL DATE OF MY PURCHASE. NOW I MUST PAY $2,500 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10599032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MOTORCYCLE HAS A HESITATION WHEN APPLYING THROTTLE. THIS HAPPENS FROM A COLD START AS WELL AS DURING ENGINE WARM-UP AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I HAVE NOTICED THE HESITATION AT FROM TEMPERATURES STARTING AT 40 F AND UP. AT FIRST I WAS THINKING IT MAY BE RELATED TO SUMMER BLEND GASOLINE'S OR LOWER OCTANE FUELS, TESTING DIFFERENT GRADES OF FUEL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS ENGINE HESITATION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN A LOW SPEED TURN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON MOST 2012 AND 2013 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES. I CONSIDER THIS HESITATION TO BE A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN VARIOUS GOLDWING ONLINE SITES.
NHTSA complaint #10531538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY 2001 GOLDWING 1800 USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN PLAINFIELD, CT. THE GOLDWING WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THE STEREO SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED THE 5 DISC CD CHANGER UNDER THE REAR TRUNK. FROM DAY 1 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CD CHANGER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BECOMING JAMMED UP WITH ALL 5 DISCS IN ONE SLOT, ETC. I HAD TAKEN OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALL THEY EVER TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A PRINT OUT OF ALL OF THE WORK DONE FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHICH ALSO SHOWED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CD CHANGER BUT THEY REPLACED IT TWICE FOR HIM YET NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM EXCEPT " WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM." SINCE THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS FOLDED AND A NEW OWNER IS RUNNING THE PLACE AND OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT BACKING ANYTHING THAT THE OLD DEALERSHIP DID OR SAID ( CAN NOT BLAME THEM THERE THOUGH!) I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THE CD CHANGER WHICH IS MADE BY PIONEER, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET THIS FIXED, REPAIRED, REPLACED, ANYTHING??
NHTSA complaint #10395158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.