2001 Honda GL1800

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 requires, among other things, that a motor vehicle or equipment manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with federal motor vehicle safety standards.In turn, a dealer may not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed.(see 49 U.S.C. 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. 573.11)NHTSA issued an information request to Southern Honda on May 14, 2012 to which they responded on July 6, 2012.NHTSA?s inquiry led it to believe that Southern Honda had failed to complete the requirements of five recalls that required inspections and/or repairs of motorcycles prior to their sale or delivery.NHTSA believes that 329 motorcycles affected by recalls had not been inspected and/or repaired prior to their sale and delivery between 2007 and 2012.The agency is unaware of any deaths or injuries involving these vehicles.NHTSA concluded that it had a potential civil penalty claim against Southern Honda for violations of the Safety Act.Southern Honda denied any violations of the Safety Act.In order to settle this matter, Southern Honda agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $125,000, to be paid in five annual installments.This AQ is closed.

HONDA IS AMENDING THE SCOPE OF 03V-350 TO ADD 34,919 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLES.THE INITIAL RECALL RANGE INCLUDED FRAMES MANUFACTURED WITH ONE OF A NUMBER OF WELDING PROCESSES.HONDA BELIEVED, ON THE BASIS OF DATA AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, THAT ONLY THOSE GL'S BUILT WITH THAT ONE PROCESS WERE AT RISK OF FAILURE.WITH THE ORIGINAL RECALL (IN SEPTEMBER, 2003), HONDA INTRODUCED YET ANOTHER WELD PROCESS.SUBSEQUENTLY, HONDA BECAME AWARE OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING GL'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUILT USING ANOTHER EARLY WELDING PROCESS.THUS, HONDA HAS DECIDED TO RECALL ALL GL1800'S BUILT PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 20, 2003 REGARDLESS OF WHAT WELD PROCESS WAS BEING USED AT THE TIME.THIS RECALL EXPANSION AFFECTS THE 2001, 2002, 2003 AND 2004 MODEL YEARS AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AFFECTED U.S. GL1800 MOTORCYCLES INCREASES FROM 8,196 TO 43,115.

THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES, INTRODUCED WITH THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, UTILIZE AN ALUMINUM FRAME INDIVIDUALLY WELDED BY HONDA EMPLOYEES IN THE COMPANY?S MARYSVILLE, OHIO ASSEMBLY PLANT.NHTSA/ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER LEARNING THAT SOME 2002 MODEL YEAR GL1800?S WERE EXPERIENCING REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE WHEN THE LOWEST CROSSMEMBER WOULD COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.IT APPEARED THE CROSSMEMBER WAS SEPARATING DUE TO SUB-STANDARD WELDING OF THE CROSSMEMBER TO THE FRAME. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 HONDA BRIEFED ODI STAFF AND ADVISED THAT THE SUBJECT WELD FAILURES RESULTED FROM A COMBINATION OF PRODUCTION LINE CHANGES THAT TOOK EFFECT ON MARCH 1, 2002.THESE CHANGES WERE:1) FEW, IF ANY, REINFORCING TIG WELDS APPLIED TO THE CROSSMEMBER MIG WELDS; 2) A RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED WELDER BEGAN WELDING FRAMES AS OF THAT DATE; AND 3) A LESS ROBUST WELD QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION WAS INTRODUCED.EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 11, 2002 HONDA ADDRESSED THESE ASSEMBLY LINE ISSUES.ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 HONDA ADVISED NHTSA/ODI THAT IT WAS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL OF ALL MYR 2002/2003 GL1800?S BUILT FROM MARCH 1, 2002 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2002.THIS IS A WORLDWIDERECALL INVOLVING 9,521 MOTORCYCLES, OF WHICH 8,196 ARE IN THE UNITED STATES.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING BOTH HONDA?S SEPTEMBER 4TH BRIEFING AND THE RECALL, PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA?S OCTOBER 2, 2003 MEMO.BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY HONDA CONCERNING THE PRODUCTION LINE CHANGES; THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF ALL 2001-2003 GL1800?S; AND NHTSA?S INDEPENDENT INFORMATION GATHERING ACTIVITIES; THE SCOPE OF HONDA?S RECALL APPEARS JUSTIFIED.ODI WILL CLOSELY MONITOR SUBJECT CROSSMEMBER WELD INTEGRITY FOR BIKES BUILT OUTSIDE THE RECALL SCOPE, AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HONDA?S RECALL REMEDY FOR THOSE BIKES WITHIN IT, AND WILL TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT WITH ODI'SFINDINGS.

On 06/26/2021, Approx 4pm. Traffic heavy. Speed 20 mph or less. This caused consistent brake use. Rear brakes locked up. I was very close to the right edge of the road and bike stopped. I quickly activated emergency flashers and avoided any incident. This bike has ABS. There was a service recall performed about 4 yrs ago- at Barneys MC shop, St Petersburg- related to brakes. I was able to shut off the bike twice. Pumped/tapped FR/R brakes twice and the brakes finally released. No further incident. Will have bike inspected tomorrow. No warning lamps. This bike has very low mileage at 21,000.

NHTSA ID

11422482

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

CHAMPION SIDE CAR TRIKE KIT FRAME FAILURE ON A GL1800 WITH ONLY 28.K MILES AND NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

11000691

Incident

Jun 13, 2017

Mileage

28,500 mi

I BOUGHT A 1800 HONDA GOLDWING TOURING BIKE 2-3 YEARS AGO HAD A BRAKE RECALL AND STILL DO? MINE WAS WORKED ON TWICE? AFTER I BOUGHT I DROVE IT 54 MILES THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP PULLING ME IN THE DITCH? FLIPPING THE BIKE AND SENDING IT END OVER END TOTAL? THAT WAS ALL DON,T BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE ER AND HOSPITOL....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND SOLD. UPDATED 08/04/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11000149

Incident

Jul 21, 2015

Mileage

52 mi

ON 3/27/17 DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING IN MY GARAGE, I REMOVED THE SIDE COVERS AND FOUND THE FRAME WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY APART ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. FRAME BRAKE WAS IN THE LOWER TUBE SECTION OF THE REAR TRIANGLE OF MAIN FRAME DIRECTLY AFT OF THE WELD. THIS IS A KNOWN WEAK SPOT, SINCE HONDA REINFORCED THIS AREA OF THE ALUMINUM FRAME IN MID-2004. THIS BREAK WAS REPORTED TO HONDA POWERSPORTS CUSTOMER SERVICE IN TORRANCE, CA ON 3/28/17. HAD THE BROKEN FRAME INSPECTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY AUTHORIZED HONDA SERVICE MANAGER 3/31/17. NOW WAITING TO HEAR FROM HONDA.

NHTSA ID

10970451

Incident

Mar 27, 2017

Mileage

179,971 mi

HAD BRAKE RECALL WORK DONE AT HONDA DEALERSHIP. AFTER THAT & HAS TEMP GOT HOTTER I DEVELOPED A EXTREMELY VIOLENT BRAKE SHUTTER.RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY NOTIFIED HONDA AND ATTEMPTED TO REWORK THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET GOLDWING BRAKE SHUDDERING & FOUND OUT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM & HONDA IS AWARE OF IT.CALLED HONDA CS TOLD THEM WHAT IT WAS DOING. THEY INFORM ME IF I READ MY OWNER MANUAL ON BRAKE OPERATIONS THAT IT'S OPERATOR ERROR .I HAVE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT BRAKE COMBINATION YOU USE FRONT/REAR /SIMULTANEOUSLY IT CREATES THE SHUTTER. THIS STARTS WHEN THE TEMP GETS ABOVE 80 DEGREES IT DOES NOT MATTER SLOW OR HIGH SPEEDS IN CURVES OR TURNING A CORNER OR ONTO A PARKING LOT YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE.THERE IS STILL SOME KIND OF BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE GOLDWING GL 1800. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE HONDA DOES SOMETHING ABOUT. I WISH YOU'D DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE BRAKE SHUTTERING. JUST LOOK UP GOLDWING BRAKE SHUTTER IT STARTED 2002 AND GOES TO 2015. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS FILED A COMPLAINT?

NHTSA ID

10885934

Incident

Jun 11, 2016

Mileage

23,153 mi

ENGINE STOP SWITCH IS OVERLY SENSITIVE. IF MOTORCYCLE HITS A BUMP THE ENGINE MAY SHUT OFF. IF SWITCH IS TOUCHED IT WILL STOP ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10838942

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

Mileage

156,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GOLDWING 1800 USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN PLAINFIELD, CT. THE GOLDWING WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THE STEREO SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED THE 5 DISC CD CHANGER UNDER THE REAR TRUNK. FROM DAY 1 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CD CHANGER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BECOMING JAMMED UP WITH ALL 5 DISCS IN ONE SLOT, ETC. I HAD TAKEN OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALL THEY EVER TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A PRINT OUT OF ALL OF THE WORK DONE FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHICH ALSO SHOWED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CD CHANGER BUT THEY REPLACED IT TWICE FOR HIM YET NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM EXCEPT " WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM." SINCE THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS FOLDED AND A NEW OWNER IS RUNNING THE PLACE AND OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT BACKING ANYTHING THAT THE OLD DEALERSHIP DID OR SAID ( CAN NOT BLAME THEM THERE THOUGH!) I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THE CD CHANGER WHICH IS MADE BY PIONEER, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET THIS FIXED, REPAIRED, REPLACED, ANYTHING?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10395158

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

METZELER ME880 MARATHON, 180/60R16, FOR HONDA GL1800 REAR TIRE OUT OF ROUND CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO SHIMMY. TIRE WAS INSTALLED SUMMER OF 2009. SHIMMY BEGAN AFTER TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 5,000. THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE DEFLECTION IN TIRE, BUT PROBLEM STEADILY GOT WORSE. TIRE WAS CHECKED FREQUENTLY, PRESSURE CHECKED DAILY (KEPT AT 42PSI). AT ABOUT 9500 MILES ON TIRE, SHIMMY GOT WORSE, AND TIRE FOUND TO HAVE OVER 1/2 IN. RADIAL AND AXIAL RUNOUT. THIS IS THIRD METZELER ON MY GL1800. 1ST ONE, SUMMER OF 2006, HAD SLIGHT SHIMMY FROM START, LASTED ONLY 925 MILES - BLOWOUT FROM ROAD DEBRIS. HAD THAT TIRE REPLACED BY HONDA DEALER IN FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA. REPLACEMENT TIRE HAD NO SHIMMY UNTIL ABOUT 800 MILES. SHIMMY WORLENED UNTIL DANGEROUS CONDITION AND TIRE REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT BRAND. E-MAIL SENT TO METZELER WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358058

Incident

Aug 20, 2009

"DEALER MESSAGE - ON DECEMBER 11, SEVERAL SECTIONS OF S/B GL1800 #23 WERE REVISED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR THE REPAIR OF TRIKE COVERSIONS."

"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 IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE (I.E., THE BRAKE FLUID IS NOT REPLACED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME DESPITE THE PUBLISHED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF REPLACEMENT EVERY 12,000 MILES OR TWO YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST), DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID. IF SUFFICIENT DEPOSITS ARE FORMED, THEY CAN RESULT IN A MALFUNCTION OF THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG."

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 IS IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW EACH STEP IN EXACT ORDER SO THAT THE PEDAL BRAKE LINE IS COMPLETELY FLUSHED OF ANY CONTAMINANTS.

"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 PROCEDURE. TO HELP ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF BRAKE FLUID IS AVAILABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF PRO HONDA DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID WILL BE SHIPPED TO DEALERS. THE ALLOCATION IS BASED ON YOUR DEALERSHIP’S PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED GL1800 SMC RECALL WARRANTY CLAIMS."

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 IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE, DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID.

"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 INFORMATION, AS WELL AS WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION."