45 of the
773 complaints filed about the Honda GL1800
are about the suspension —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
With less than 10k miles I have excessive tire cupping. Upon a deep dive inspection of the motorcycle I found the bolts to the upper control arm coming loose/ backing out. Excessive amount of threads showing on all 4 corners of the control arm. I Contact the dealer, who informed me that this is normal. Doesn't look like it should be especially with grease showing on the bolts. I have examined other same year similar bikes with about the same mileage and they are having the same tire issue and bolt problem.
NHTSA complaint #11746321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shortly after purchasing brand new in July of 2021, this motorcycle developed a violent shake and wobble at 40mph, which could be felt between 35mph and 45mph, but was much worse at 40mph. It also developed at the same time a constant, uncommanded pull to the right. I have tried for three years to get this problem fixed and addressed under warranty. I have not been successful thus far. I have spent thousands of dollars myself because I have not gotten resolution from the manufacturer or dealer, and to this date, April 19, 2024, it is unresolved. You should know that there are many riders that own the 2018+ model of the Honda Gold Wing GL1800 that have the same issues. Not all, but enough that it is a common finding online, with professionals saying that they believe 1 out of every 1000 of these bikes have a bent or twisted frame, to a very well documented (by Traxxion Dynamics) defect in the right tie rod due to inferior components. I feel like I a being ignored until my warranty expires. I can provide extension high quality footage of these issues. I have included my letter to Honda Corporation, as well as a timeline of events since purchase. Please help.
NHTSA complaint #11584058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at various speeds, the motorcycle would pull to the right side. The suspension was replaced, and the failure was remedied. Also, the front tire had experienced uneven wear on both the right and left sides causing the motorcycle to become extremely unstable while riding on wet pavement. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,500.
NHTSA complaint #11438402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS A BRAND-NEW LEFTOVER 800 POUND MOTORCYCLE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REBOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT RIDES WELL ON SMOOTH ROADS AND BECOMES EXTREMELY PUNISHING AND THREATENING ON NORMAL IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. I DISCOVERED THIS WITHIN MY FIRST TWENTY MINUTES OF OWNING THE BIKE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP EVER SINCE. THIS IS HONDA'S PREMIUM TOURING BIKE, ONE THAT THEY CLAIM IS THE SMOOTHEST, MOST SOPHISTICATED LONG-DISTANCE BIKE ON THE PLANET, YET IT CONSTANTLY BOTTOMS OUT AND FEELS QUITE DANGEROUS OVER LARGER POTHOLES OR COMMON ROUGH AREAS ON SO MANY OF OUR CALIFORNIA ROADS. THE MECHANIC HONDA SENT ME TO CLAIMED THAT THIS "STIFFNESS THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OUT" WAS NORMAL FOR THE BASE GOLD WING AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE STOCK SHOCKS WITH VERY EXPENSIVE AFTER-MARKET SHOCKS. THOUSANDS OF WORDS OF HONDA ADVERTISING CLAIM THAT IS THE FINEST, MOST COMFORTABLE TOURING BIKE ON THE ROAD, YET THEIR MECHANIC SAYS I NEED NEW SHOCKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS, AND I WELCOME ANY INSPECTION BY QUALIFIED ENGINEERS OR TECHNICIANS (THOSE WHO DON'T OWE THEIR LIVELIHOOD TO HONDA) TO PROVE WHAT I SAY, AND I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR THOSE INSPECTIONS. HONDA GAVE ME A THREE-YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY AND THEN SIMPLY VOIDED IT BY HAVING ONE OF THEIR UNDERLINGS SAY THE BIKE IS NORMAL. THIS IS CORPORATE OBFUSCATION AT ITS WORST. HONDA HAS DEVELOPED A BRAND NEW FRONT END AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR 2018, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO OPEN PANDORA'S BOX AND ADMIT THAT SOME OF THESE BIKES ARE NOT SAFE TO RIDE. SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR FOR A COMPANY I HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH SINCE 1968. I KNOW AND CAN PROVE THAT MOST OF THESE BIKES, THE TRULY NORMAL ONES, RIDE VERY WELL, JUST AS I KNOW THAT MINE IS ABNORMAL AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #11322126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ON 11/05/16 FROM IMOTORSPORTS IN ELMHURST ILL. FROM DAY ONE IT HAD A VERY BAD WOBBLE IN THE STEERING AND IF I WAS NOT HOLDING STRONGLY ONTO THE BIKE IT WOULD DEFINITELY CRASH. AFTER ASKING FOR A REPAIR TO THIS WOBBLE IMOTORSPORTS MANAGER JASON SAID THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW SET OF TIRES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE BIKE ONLY HAD 15,158 MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT FOR SURE THIS WOULD BE THE ANSWER. JASON TOLD ME THAT AFTER THE BIKE GOT USED TO THE NEW TIRES THAT THE WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY. THE WOBBLE WOULD OCCUR ANYTIME IT WAS IN MOTION FROM 15-45 MPH. THE WOBBLE NEVER GOT ANY BETTER AND BEING A BIT NAIVE TO PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A DEALER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I RETURNED ON 12/15/16 THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NOW I HAVE A $13,000 MOTORCYCLE THAT I AM AFRAID TO RIDE. I RODE IT A FEW MILES IN APRIL AND MAY AND JUNE OF 2017 AND BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLE, THE PLASTIC SHROUD THAT IS SURROUNDING THE TIMING CHAIN CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AT A STAND STILL NOW AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I ALSO DONT KNOW IF THE SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR GOLDWING HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO. I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SAVED EVERY PENNY I COULD FOR 6 YEARS TO PURCHASE THIS MOTORCYCLE AND NOW I CANT AND AM AFRAID TO RIDE IT.
NHTSA complaint #11010116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA GL1800. WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED PER A RECALL TO REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FELT AS THOUGH HE WAS RIDING OVER MULTIPLE TRAIN TRACKS AND FELT UNSAFE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #10873922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING EQUIPPED WITH A 2015 RALLY WAGON PRL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AXLE FOR THE TRAILER FRACTURED AND THE TIRES DETACHED. THE TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MATERIAL USED WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRAILER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
NHTSA complaint #10750105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE RODE ROUGHLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
NHTSA complaint #10640285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRE FELT ABNORMAL WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.
NHTSA complaint #10625977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2010 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE WITH 5,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE GREASED.
NHTSA complaint #10550497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2008 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 AND DEVELOPED A REAL BAD FRONTEND WOBLE AT 6000 MILES BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 30-45 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO EVEN BRING IT BACK TO THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WON'T HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM EITHER. I NOW HAVE 14000 MILES ON IT, 2 SET OF TIRES WORN OUT THE THIRD SET GOING ON AND THE WOBBLE IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I HAVE ONCE AGAIN TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY HONDA RECOMMENDS PUTTING TAPPERED BEARINGS IN THE STEERING, BUT WHEN I CHECKED 2 OTHER DEALERS THEY SAY HONDA DOESN'T RECOMMEND THEM BECAUSE NEITHER OF THE DEALERS HAVE HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM HONDA. I HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE DIFFERENT GOLDWING FORUMS AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 2003. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2003. THE HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 IS THE SAME FROM 2002 TO PRESENT. HONDA SHOULD BE MADE FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. HERE IS AN ARTICLE I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT TOO, JUST ONE OF MANY. I NOTICED THE FOLLOWING AS I WAS REMOVING THE OEM TRIPLE TREE: 1) THE STEERING STEM NUT ON THE UPPER BRIDGE COULDN'T HAVE HAD MORE THAN 20 FT/LBS OF TORQUE. CAME OFF VERY EASILY. SHOULD HAVE BEEN 76 FT/LBS OF TORQUE ON THE NUT. 2) THE LOCK NUT BELOW THE TOP BRIDGE WAS LOCKED IN PLACE BUT WAS AT LEAST A FULL REVOLUTION FROM EVEN TOUCHING THE STEERING BEARING ADJUSTMENT NUT. 3) THE STEERING BEARING ADJUSTMENT NUT WAS JUST A BIT BEYOND FINGER TIGHT. SHOULD HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO 20 FT/LBS. 4) THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LUBRICANT ON THE STEERING BEARING ADJUSTMENT NUT THREADS AS CALLED FOR IN THE SHOP MANUAL. I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE POOR ASSEMBLY BY THE FACTORY OTHERWISE.
NHTSA complaint #10441159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA GOLD WING MOTORCYCLES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE BARS WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE TIRES WERE CUPPING, BUT NOT OUT OF BALANCE. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THERE WAS NO GREASE ON THE FRONT AXLE. UPDATED 09/26/11
NHTSA complaint #10414710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA GL 1800 GOLD WING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT FORK WAS LEAKING OIL AND IT DRIPPED ONTO THE CALIPER AND FRONT WHEEL. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR FOR THE FORK TO BLEED OIL ONTO THE CALIPER AND WHEEL. THE CONTACT OBTAINED QUOTES FOR THE REPAIR COST, BUT THE MOTOR CYCLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4616. UPDATED 10/221/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/25/10
NHTSA complaint #10348434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE NEW IN 2007 WITHIN 12,000KM'S THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SCALLOPING OR CUPPING TYPE WEAR ON THE EDGES OF THE REAR AND FRONT TIRES,REPLACED TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND WITHIN 5000 KM'S I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF WEAR,HAVE HAD DEALER INSPECT MOTORCYCLE AND THEY SAY THE TIRE WEAR IS NORMAL FOR A GOLDWING AND THEY EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT "GOLDWING WOBBLE",CALLED HONDA CANADA THEY SAY IT IS A TIRE PROBLEM,CALLED TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10244753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT END WOBBLE AT SLOWS SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I RIDE. THE DEALER SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MANY RIDERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, BUT HONDA WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM. AT MY COST (ABOUT $300.00 USD), AFTER MARKET TAPERED FORK BEARINGS WERE INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE HONDA OEM FORK BEARINGS THAT ARE NOT TAPERED.
NHTSA complaint #10237466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN MAY 2008 I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA GOLDWING. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT FORK SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE TIRES WERE WEARING ABNORMALLY. SPECIFICALLY, THE TIRES BOTH FRONT AND REAR WERE CUPPING OR SCALLOPING AND STARTED MAKING EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE OR "HOWLING". DURING THE NEXT 4000 MILES THE TIRE ABNORMALITIES BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "SHIMMY" OR "WOBBLE" AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND THROTTLE POSITION IN ADDITION TO FEELING UNSAFE ON ANY SURFACE OTHER THAN DRY SMOOTH PAVEMENT. THE "UNSAFE FEELING" CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS DRIVING ON ICE AND OCCURS ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE SUCH AS RAIN GROOVES, TAR STRIPS, BUMPY HIGHWAYS AND WHENEVER MOISTURE IS PRESENT ON THE ROAD. UPON COMPLETION OF A 7000 MILE TRIP ON THE VEHICLE, I RETURNED IT TO THE PURCHASING DEALER WITH THE ABOVE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT FORK SEAL WAS "BLOWN OUT" AND HONDA CONSIDERS FORK SEALS A "NORMAL WEAR ITEM" EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AT 3,000 MILES, LESS THAN 45 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. HONDA SAYS THE TIRE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS "NORMAL" I CONTACTED DUNLOP TIRE AND DESCRIBED THE ABOVE COMPLAINT. DUNLOP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHAT I DESCRIBED IS "NOT NORMAL" AND PROVIDED ME AN EMAIL WITH CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MY DEALER IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT OR ADJUSTMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED TIRE WARRANTY, BUT AS OF NOW THE ISSUES REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP D250F, 130/70R18M/C 63H ON THE FRONT AND D250 180/60R 16M/C 74H ON THE REAR.
NHTSA complaint #10235608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.