2008 Honda Gl1800 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (7) · Service Brakes (6) · Power Train (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Honda Gl1800 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
36 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-10 · campaign 17V031000 · 882 vehicles
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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A," Honda is recalling certain 2006-2009 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ev
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags 2016-05-24 · campaign 16V347000 · 2,701 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Honda GL1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured February 8, 2006, to May 14, 2009 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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module containing the inflator, free of charge. Honda distributed an interim notification to owners on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KA8.
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 (17)
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 17 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-11-23 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“the contact reported on a 2008 honda goldwing gl1800 motorcycle. the contact is an attorney and stated that the motorcycle was traveling at an undetermined speed and the braking system malfunctioned causing the operator to lose control of the motorcycle and drive off the road, down an embankment, and crash into a tree. during the crash, both the op…”
2020-07-01 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v700000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. hall's motorsports birmingham (2878 us-31, pelha…”
2019-03-08 · Power Train · 20,000 mi“v6 transmission started having problems getting stuck and popping out of 5th gear took to motorcycle factory woodbridge va where i bought it they said no problem later it is now completely wasted transmission and needs what everybody knows that it was a bad design and needs work at least 4-5 k to fix that may show up again…”
2017-05-03 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v347000 (air bags). the part for the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer confirmed that the parts were not available for the reca…”
2017-04-24 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder · 37,065 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. while attempting to stop the vehicle in traffic, the front and rear brakes did not work. the contact downshifted to a stop. the motorcycle was driven home. the following day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder failed. the contact also stated that the motor…”
2016-10-31 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing motorcycle. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16e042000 (air bags). the part to do the repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the co…”
2016-10-13 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2008 honda goldwing. while driving various speeds, the brakes failed without warning and the vehicle crashed into a ditch. a police report was filed. the contact sustained injuries to the ribs, hands, and a punctured lung, which required medical attention. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was des…”
2016-10-11 · Service Brakes“tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a manufacturer recall concerning the brake system. the dealer kept the vehicle for a week, but could not determine the cause of the internal brake fluid leak. a week later, the contact obtained access to the vehicle and the mechanic noticed that the brake pedal trav…”
2016-02-24 · Power Train · 51,000 mi“drops in/out of 5th gear every 1-3 minutes. gears 1-3 occasionally drop in/out and consistently make a light grinding sound, including neutral. this vehicle is out of warranty but i think honda should be responsible for fixing it because i consider it a safety issue. if a rider should suddenly lose power on a busy interstate, there is a signific…”
2015-12-10 · Power Train · 4,400 mi“insufficient radiator fan clearance results in a damaged radiator causing a coolant leak which results in an uncontrolled slide ending in a crash. coolant leaking from the radiator that the fan damaged causes a loss of traction at the rear wheel. i noticed my left foot was wet and smelled engine coolant. i was making a left turn out of galveston…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.