1996 Honda GL1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Honda GL1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes225.0%
- Suspension225.0%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Exterior lighting112.5%
- Steering112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SELF APPLYING REAR BRAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MUST STOMP BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE. UNPREDICTABLE OCCURANCE.
STOCK BRAKE PADS FADED WHEN THEY ARE HOT AND BRAKES PRODUCED A SQUEALING NOISE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BEARING WAS GETTING WORSE, AND HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR 4-5 YEARS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WONT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS SHOT AND IS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT MAKING NOISE DUE TO THE SUSPENSION/BEARING(S) BUT THE TIRES. (THE NOISE EXISTED IN THE PAST 3 SETS OF TIRES) THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO BE RIDING AND POSSIBLY GETTING HURT OR KILLED INCLUDING A PASSENGER. *SCC
MOTORCYCLE NEVER HANDLED PROPERLY. IN SEPTEMBER CONSUMER WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN REAR OF MOTORCYCLE LOCKED THE WHEEL. THIS RESULTED FROM SWING ARM BECOMING BENT, AND DISCONNECTED PARTIALLY FROM FRAME OF MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BATTERY FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
BALANCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ON THE ROAD, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. CLIENT WAS THROWN OFF MOTORCYCLE AND LANDED ON HIS BACK, PUNCTURING A LUNG.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TURN SIGNALS ON ALL HONDA GOLDWINGS MOTORCYCLE ARE DESIGNED TO CANCEL AFTER 7 SECONDS OR AFTER 110 YARDS OF TRAVEL. THIS MEANS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE SIGNALS MANY TIMES BEFORE TURNING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SIGNALS DO NOT CANCEL IF SPEED IS BELOW 15 MPH. *AK *BF *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING HEAD BEARING LOOSENED UP,CAUSED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE FRONT WHEEL. WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .