The 2001 Honda Gl1800 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 320,907 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC15V7000002015-10-23145,219 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
A rear brake that drags may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, extended riding with the rear brake dragging could generate enough heat to result in a fire.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary brake master cylinder and the rear brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on December 7, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JV6. Note: This…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC11V5670002011-12-01126,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED BRAKING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE REAR BRAKE DRAGGING MAY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO CATCH FIRE.
Remedy
HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
STRUCTURE05V0270002005-01-3134,919 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE WELDS ON 2001-2002 MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. ON 2003-2004 MOTORCYCLES, THE UNITS WILL BE REPAIRED, NO INSPECTION WILL BE NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING01V1620002001-05-096,662 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CONTACT PLATE, E-CLIP, AND 2 CONTACT PLATE SPRINGS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-310-532-9811.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING01V1330002001-04-238,107 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PULSE ROTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
33
TIRES
13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN
4
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
4
SERVICE BRAKES
3
1injuries
SUSPENSION
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
Total complaints103
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“On 06/26/2021, approx 4pm. Traffic heavy. Speed 20 mph or less. This caused consistent brake use. Rear brakes locked up. I was very close to the right edge of the road and bike stopped. I quickly activated emergency flashers and avoided any incident. This bike has abs. There was a service recall…”
“Champion side car trike kit frame failure on a gl1800 with only 28.k miles and no accidents.”
“On 3/27/17 during routine maintenance and cleaning in my garage, I removed the side covers and found the frame was broken completely apart on both sides of the motorcycle. Frame brake was in the lower tube section of the rear triangle of main frame directly aft of the weld. This is a known weak…”
“Had brake recall work done at honda dealership. After that & has temp got hotter I developed a extremely violent brake shutter.returned it to the dealership. They notified honda and attempted to rework the brakes but did not fix the problem. I did some research on the internet goldwing brake…”
“Engine stop switch is overly sensitive. If motorcycle hits a bump the engine may shut off. If switch is touched it will stop engine.”
“I bought a 1800 honda goldwing touring bike 2-3 years ago had a brake recall and still do? Mine was worked on twice? After I bought I drove it 54 miles the rear wheel locked up pulling me in the ditch? Flipping the bike and sending it end over end total? That was all don,t before I got out of the…”
“Motorcycle, honda goldwing, 2001 left frame crack: there have been numerous instances of frames being cracked and upon inspection of my motorcycle frame I noticed that I have the identical crack in my frame. The crack is located adjacent to the left passenger footrest and is visible by removing…”
“Metzeler me880 marathon, 180/60r16, for honda gl1800 rear tire out of round causing motorcycle to shimmy. Tire was installed summer of 2009. Shimmy began after tire mileage about 5,000. There was no detectable deflection in tire, but problem steadily got worse. Tire was checked frequently,…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ12001 Opened 2012-05-14 · closed 2013-05-13
Southern Honda Powersports
NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act…
InvestigationPE02077 Opened 2002-10-15 · closed 2003-03-28
MOTORCYCLE COOLANT SPRAY ONTO REAR TIRE
SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT WITH ODI'SFINDINGS.
InvestigationPE03039 Opened 2003-08-11 · closed 2003-10-10
REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE
THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES, INTRODUCED WITH THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, UTILIZE AN ALUMINUM FRAME INDIVIDUALLY WELDED BY HONDA EMPLOYEES IN THE COMPANY?S MARYSVILLE, OHIO ASSEMBLY PLANT.NHTSA/ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER LEARNING THAT SOME 2002 MODEL YEAR GL1800?S WERE EXPERIENCING REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE WHEN THE…
InvestigationRQ04009 Opened 2004-09-21 · closed 2005-02-02
FRAME CROSSMEMEBER WELD FAILURES
HONDA IS AMENDING THE SCOPE OF 03V-350 TO ADD 34,919 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLES.THE INITIAL RECALL RANGE INCLUDED FRAMES MANUFACTURED WITH ONE OF A NUMBER OF WELDING PROCESSES.HONDA BELIEVED, ON THE BASIS OF DATA AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, THAT ONLY THOSE GL'S BUILT WITH THAT ONE PROCESS WERE AT…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Honda Gl1800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.