2001 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 2001 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
- Engine555.6%
- Powertrain (other)444.4%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MOTORCYCLE CONSISTENTLY OVERHEATS AND LEAVES ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HONDA SAYS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THEIR OTORCYCLES DOING THIS.*AK
1. DEALER LISTED IS NOT THE SELLING DEALER 2. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM EXISTS. 3. THIS IS SAFETY RELATED IN THAT IT OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS TYPICALLY IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CAUSED BY ROAD CONSTRUCTION, ACCIDENTS AND HIGH VOLUME. IN CASES WHERE THERE IS NO PLACE TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC OR STOP THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY ESCAPING STEAM FROM THE RADIATORS JUST IN FRONT OF THE RIDERS LEGS. OR IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF A FALL CAUSED BY ENGINE SEIZURE LOCKING UP THE DRIVE TRAIN CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO SKID. COMPOUNDING THIS WOULD BE THE SURROUNDING CONGESTED TRAFFIC MOVING BUMPER TO BUMPER AND MORE CONCERNED WITH THE HOLDUP INSTEAD OF ATTENTION TO THEIR IMMEDIATE SURRONDINGS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER IS 8% FAST AND ODOMETER IS 6% FAST ,THE SPEEDOMETER BEING 8% FAST CAUSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING ON TURNPIKES AND INTERSTATES ( THIS IS A TOURING MOTORCYCLE). WHEN REPORTED TO HONDA I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA WAS WITHIN THE LEGAL LIMITS AND HAD NO INTENTION OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE A LEGAL LIMIT THAT A SPEEDOMETER CAN BE INCORRECT, EVEN IF IS A SAFETY PROBLEM?*AK
SPEEDOMETER IS 6%TO 7% FAST THIS MEANS THAT THE DRIVER HAS TO COMPUTE HIS/HER ACTUAL SPEED, WHEN RIDING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND YOU ARE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ACCORDING TO THE SPEEDOMETER CARS ARE RIDING YOUR ON YOUR BACK FENDER OR TRYING TO PASS BECAUSE YOU ARE TRAVELING WELL BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AT AN INDICATED 65 MPH THE ACTUAL SPEED IS 60/61 MPH, THE FASTER YOU GO THE LARGER THE DIFFERANCE. IN THIS AGE OF ELECTRONICS THERE IS NO REASON THE SPEEDOMETER SHOULD BE 6% TO 7% FAST OR SLOW, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO COMPUTE THE ACTUAL SPEED. DRIVERS HAVE ENOUGH TO DO TO STAY SAFE. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL GL1800'S.
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 .