2004 Honda Gl1800 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly (2) · Structure:body (1) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Honda Gl1800 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2015-10-23 · campaign 15V700000 · 145,219 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 recall supercedes recall 14V-472.
Equipment 2011-12-12 · campaign 11E054000 · 7,446 vehicles
Defect: KURYAKYN IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MOUNTS, PART NUMBER 607005, SOLD AND INSTALLED FOR USE ON 2001-2012 HONDA GL 1800 (GOLDWING) MOTORCYCLES. THIS MOUNT WAS SOLD ON KURYAKYN 'TRANSFORMER' PASSENGER FLOORBOARD SETS, PART NUMBER 7005 FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, TO PRESENT. THE FLOORBOARD MOUNT MAY CRACK AND BREAK FREE FROM THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT SECURE THE MOUNT TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Risk: THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR A CRASH.
Fix: KURYAKYN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE REPLACEMENT MOUNT KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KURYAKYN AT 1-866-296-4728.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2011-12-01 · campaign 11V567000 · 126,000 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (27)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2015-12-11 · GL1800 NO. 23 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"dealer message - on december 11, several sections of s/b gl1800 #23 were revised to include information for the repair of trike coversions."
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid 2015-12-11 · GL1800 SECONDARY · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"service bulletin - honda is launching a safety recall of 2012-2015 gl1800/a and 2013-2015 gl1800b/bd motorcycles, and is implementing a recall remedy for 2001-2010 and 2012 gl1800/a motorcycles already subject to safety recall jg6. honda has determined that under conditions where the brake fluid
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2015-12-10 · MC - THE WRENCH · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
newsletter - the repair procedure for the secondary master cylinder (smc) recall is very involved, so make sure to read through the entire bulletin before hand so you can visualize the procedures before you start. not only will you be installing an updated smc and a new rear master cylinder, but it
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2015-11-24 · DLR MSG - MC - S · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"dealer message - effective immediately the secondary master cylinder (smc) kits for this recall are available on open order. as indicated in s/b gl1800 #23 and other communications about this recall, it is absolutely critical that only pro honda dot 4 brake fluid be used during the repair procedur
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid 2015-10-29 · SERVICE BULLETIN · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - honda is launching a safety recall of 2012-2015 gl1800/a and 2013-2015 gl1800/b/bd motorcycles, and is implementing a recall remedy for 2001-2010 and 2012 gl 1800/a motorcycles already subject to safety recall "jg6". honda has determined that under conditions where the brake fluid
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder 2015-10-23 · DLR MSG - MC - S · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"dealer message - the service bulletin in support of the safety recall of 2001-2015 gl1800/a and gl1800b/bd motorcycles for a potentially defective secondary master cylinder is posted on in. servicebulletin safety recall: gl1800 #23 includes the affected models, repair procedure, parts informatio
Showing the 6 most recent of 27 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-01-16 · Structure:body · 46,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda gl1800 motorcycle. the contact stated that the motorcycle exhibited fractures along the passenger and driver side lower frame, located at the passenger side foot rest. the motorcycle was not taken to a dealer to be inspected. the manufacturer was not contacted. the motorcycle was not repaired. the failure mileage w…”
2017-05-02 · Power Train · 7,000 mi“transmission "locked up" and the vehicle will no longer move. forward or reverse, nothing. the rear wheel will not turn at all. had just come out of driveway when it started making a chattering noise, then when i got on road the noise got louder and about the time i shifted to second gear the rear wheel locked up completely and skidded to a stop. a…”
2014-12-04 · Electrical System · 14,000 mi“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. *tr…”
2014-10-17 · Service Brakes“tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda goldwing motorcycle. while attempting to stop, the vehicle hesitated before finally coming to a stop. the contact replaced the brakes and brake pads; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin and failure mileage were una…”
2012-11-14 · Equipment:motorcycle:helmets · 74,000 mi · 💥 crash“hjc symax ii modular helmet complaint both my friend and i, [xxx] (witness), both riding 30 years, were traveling.on the blue ridge pkwy entering the parkway at waynesboro, va to avoid the skyline drive. around 7:15 we decided to head to roanoke where we would have cell and internet. headed south on brp. i has expressed concerns about de…”
2011-10-25 · Unknown Or Other · 49,500 mi“the gl1800 motorcycle has a reverse on it. this should only be allowed to engage, when in neutral & never while running. i found a circumstance that allowed it to start engaging, and possibly could have been disastrous had i not acted quickly. the steps for this are: -bike is in 1st gear -bike is started -the reverse switch is accidentally hit w…”
2009-10-11 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 53,000 mi“2004 goldwing october 2003 build date. at roughly 12,000 miles spring 2005, third gear engagement, up or down, would occasionally result in a single loud clunk as throttle power was applied. by the time the bike was at 55,000 miles summer 2009, this condition of clunking (skipping a gear dog) was 100% likely. i have in that time been mindful of thi…”
2006-05-21 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“rear brakes ineffective on all models of honda goldwing 1800 motorcycles. many, many wing owners complain of having to pump the rear brakes to get them to work. if you're in a panic situation, you don't have time for that. i've had mine to the dealer twice about this problem with no resolution. they contacted honda of america and were given n…”
2005-07-25 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly · 11,990 mi“while riding my honda gl1800 motorcycle, the front tire ran over a flat piece of metal approx. 1" x 8". the metal strip flipped up and punctured the radiator overflow tank, causing radiator fluid to spill onto the roadway. the tank is directly infront of the rear tire. luckily, the puncture was on the right side of the tank, and the fluid spilled o…”
2005-05-18 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly · 4,389 mi“the radiator overflow tank on the honda gl1800 is under the bike and is lower then the frame. the front tire can kick up road debree and it will knock a hole in the tank. this happened to my brother-in-law and to my bike. when the tank has a hole in it, the antifreeze runs out on to the ground and under the rear tire on a two wheel bike. i aske…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.