The 2012 Honda Gl1800 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 273,061 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS18V0450002018-01-09960 affected
Defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2010 and 2012-2016 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycles. These motorcycles have air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag module that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature…
Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KJ1.
AIR BAGS17V0310002017-01-10882 affected
Defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2009 and 2012 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan),…
Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KE5.
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
17
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
17
POWER TRAIN
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
SUSPENSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1
WHEELS
1
Total complaints49
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I am having slow speed hesitation with the throttle while riding on the road. When I roll the throttle on the bike sometimes hesitates, does nothing so when I try more fuel the throttle control finally decides to start working and has made for some wild rides especially in turns. It is dangerous…”
“My goldwing has the hesitation problem like so many others. I have almost dropped the bike a couple of times because of the stumble. It will hesitate and then the engine will suddenly get fuel again and lunge forward dangerously. If I would hit sand or gravel or be on a gravel road or gravel…”
“My goldwing has the hesitation problem like so many others. I have almost dropped the bike a couple of times because of the stumble. It will hesitate and then the engine will suddenly get fuel again and lunge forward dangerously. If I would hit sand or gravel or be on a gravel road or gravel…”
“On cold start-ups(even in the summer in florida), the motorcycle will stumble or hesitate until warmed up. This causes inconsistent and unpredictable throttle control in slow turns. I have nearly dropped the motorcycle multiple times and also have encountered pulling out in traffic and not having…”
“On cold start-ups(even in the summer in florida), the motorcycle will stumble or hesitate until warmed up. This causes inconsistent and unpredictable throttle control in slow turns. I have nearly dropped the motorcycle multiple times and also have encountered pulling out in traffic and not having…”
“On cold start-ups(even in the summer in florida), the motorcycle will stumble or hesitate until warmed up. This causes inconsistent and unpredictable throttle control in slow turns. I have nearly dropped the motorcycle multiple times and also have encountered pulling out in traffic and not having…”
“Engine has a serious safety issue with severe hesitation to a momentary loss of complete power during cold operating temperatures and same severe problem on hot shut down and restart. Also hesitates at all times while driving but not as severe as first two. This is a serious safety issue in…”
“I own a motorcycle repair shop. I have documents showing american honda motor co. Is not complying with campaign number 14v472000. They state there is no remedy for this issue but in fact they have implemented one. I send customers to dealers and the dealer and honda motor co. Customer service…”
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…
InvestigationPE15014 Opened 2015-04-20 · closed 2015-11-13
Inconsistent Throttle Control
This PE was opened after NHTSA received 10 owner complaints alleging vehicle control was compromised due to inconsistent throttle control in MY 2012-14 Honda GL1800 motorcycles.Typically during the first five minutes of operation (cold engine), riders would experience a pronounced engine stumble when operating the…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Honda Gl1800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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