The 2003 Honda Gl1800 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 351,040 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC05V0100002005-01-2436,046 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FORCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE FORLEAKAGE. IF LEAKAGE IS CONFIRMED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PCV FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.
STRUCTURE03V3500002003-09-268,196 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 REINFORCE THE WELDS ON ALL FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
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.
Consequence
IF THE SENSOR DETACHES, THE ENGINE WILL STOP UNEXPECTEDLY. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING, COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOUNTING SCREW SIZE AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL SCREWS OF THE CORRECT SIZE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. 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…
Complaints by component
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
30
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
11
STRUCTURE:BODY
7
STEERING
6
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES
5
1crashes1deaths
SUSPENSION:REAR
4
2deaths
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
3
ENGINE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
Total complaints107
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Told by honda the frame recall was done in 2012. In 2020 I inspected the frame and there are cracks in the frame again where the recall stated they would be. The replacement frame is cracking. Both major cracks are at the welds at the rear passenger foot pegs”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda gl1800. The contact stated that upon inspection it was discovered that the frame was fractured. The contact indicated that the fracture was located at the mid section of the left side of the motorcycle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer…”
“Honda safety recall service bulletin gl1800 #14 revised: september 2008 states that my motorcycle is one of the affected units for the recall (I.e. The frame welds need to be reinforced). That work has never been done. However, the records for doing a vin check only go back 15 years, and a local…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda gl1800. While driving at 65 mph, the brake pedal was applied however failed to respond. The contact noticed there was no brake fluid in the reservoir. The motorcycle was taken to cycle shack north (1101 interstate 45 s, conroe, tx 77301 [REDACTED]) where it was…”
“The engine run hotter than usual in heavy traffic and going up hill at higher rpm . All fans are running ok as expected but still when ever stuck in traffic at 75 degree temperature outside the engine temperature seem to creep up higher towards the red mark . This is a safety issue as if the…”
“Back brake fails completely”
“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…”
“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…”
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 2003 Honda Gl1800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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