2002 Honda GL1800 Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRAVELING 14 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM WAS FAILING. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID

10276054

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE WAS SUBJECT TO THE JUNE 2003 ENGINE COOLING CAMPAIGN WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. I HAD MY BIKE REPAIRED ON JULY 30, 2003 AT HONDA OF MILPITAS (R/O 94030949). SINCE THE CAMPAIGN REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE BIKE HAS HAD A SURGING PROBLEM AT 1500 RPM. WHEN RIDING, OR IF THE BIKE IS STATIONARY, WHEN I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO 1500 RPM, THE ENGINE SPEED DROPS TO 1000 RPM AND THEN JUMPS BACK TO 1500 RPM. THIS WILL GO ON FOR AS LONG AS I HOLD THE THROTTLE AT 1500 RPM. WHILE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN THE BIKE IS STATIONARY, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN RIDING. WHEN RIDING IN PARKING LOTS, IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, I FREQUENTLY RUN THE ENGINE AROUND 1500 RPM AND WHEN I HIT THAT RPM, THE ENGINE SPEED DROPS WITHOUT WARNING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE IN A SHARP TURN WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED. SINCE I CANNOT SAFELY WATCH THE TACHOMETER AND THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S VERY HARD TO DRIVE AROUND THAT ENGINE SPEED. NOT ONLY IS THIS BEHAVIOR ANNOYING WHILE RIDING, IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS AS I COULD BE INJURED IF THE BIKE FELL WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO HONDA OF MILPITAS IN JUNE 2004 TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS AN ECM MAPPING PROBLEM AND THAT AMERICAN HONDA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THEM ANY TIME TO TROUBLESHOOT AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM (R/O 94034826). *TR

NHTSA ID

10204727

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

4,500 mi

GL1800 2002 OVERHEATING AT LOW SPEED. PAID $1,000.00 PLUS FOR SERVICE BULLETIN FIX AND IT DID NOTHING TO HELP THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165375

Incident

Aug 7, 2006

THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE MOTORCYCLE OFF TO LET THE ENGINE COOL OFF. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE SWITCH THAT TURNS THE FANS ON ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY ARE FAULTY, AND DON'T COME ON WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BECAUSE OF A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081961

Incident

Jul 13, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

VEHICLE'S FRONT END WOBBLES BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH.* MR WHEN THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT END WOBBLED BECAUSE OF THE TIRES USED. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PAY TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED ON BIKE BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE ORIGINALS ON. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE BIKE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE AND IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED. (WHEN THE CRUISE WAS SET AND IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 40 MPH WITHOUT A FIRM GRIP ON THE HANDLE BARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE) *CB THE BIKE ALSO HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT WAS HOW THE BIKE WAS DESIGNED.*JB *CB

NHTSA ID

10040233

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

MY 2002 HONDA GL1800 HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIR OF ENGINE OVERHEATING. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE OVERHEATING RECALL WORK CONDUCTED TWICE ON THE BIKE. THE FIRST REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL ACTUALLY ACTUALLY ACERBATED THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THE SECOND RECALL REPAIR ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED THE BIKE OVER ITS ORIGINAL DELIVERED STATE. AMERICAN HONDA REFUSES TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS THAT COULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT SOME OF THE GL1800 MOTORCYCLES HAVE THIS INHERENT DEFECT AND OTHERS DO NOT. HONDA APPARENT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT RECTIFIED BY THEIR ECM RECALL. THE OVERHEATING MAKES THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE IN HEAVY, CONGESTED TRAFFIC AT LOW SPEEDS. HONDA SAYS TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT OVERHEATS. SITTING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE L.A. FREEWAY ON A MOTORCYCLE ADJACENT TO CONGESTED TRAFFIC AND SCREACHING AUTO AND TRUCK BRAKES IS UNNERVING AND QUITE UNSAFE. AMERICAN HONDA'S V.P OF THE MOTORCYCLE DIVISION, RAY BLANK, HAS REFUSED TO RESPOND TO MY TWO COMPLAINT LETTERS APPEALING FOR HONDA TO CORRECT THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THE RECALL REPAIR THAT HONDA IS UTILIZING DOESN'T WORK AND CORRET THE DEFECT FOR MANY GL1800 OWNERS. I ASK THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059069

Incident

Feb 7, 2004

Mileage

400 mi

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2002 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE.*MR CONSUMER'S WIFE BURNED THE LEG ON THE EXHAUST DUE TO A POOR LOCATION OF THE EXHAUST. SHE SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. THEY DECIDED TO SELL THE BIKE FOR SAFETY REASONS. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE: WOBBLY HANDLEBAR, THE REPEATED CUPPING OF THE FRONT TIRE, OVERHEATING, AND THE BREAKING OF SWING ARM FRAMES WITHOUT NOTICE. *PH

NHTSA ID

10049892

I HAVE A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING. IT HAS A RECALL FOR A OVER HEATING PROBLEM AND A FRAME BREAKING PROBLEM. I DO NOT AT ALL FEEL SAFE ON THIS MOTORCYCLE OR WOULD I IF SOMEONE WERE TO WELD ON AN ALUMINUM FRAME. THIS FRAME BREAKAGE IS MORE THAN JUST SOMETHING THAT WILL LEAVE YOU STANDING BESIDE THE ROAD. HONDA NEEDS TO BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE BIKES, NOT MODIFY THEM. MY FRAME IS NOT BROKEN BUT IS UNDER RECALL AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH OR WITH OUT THE FIX. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047634

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

ENGINE OVERHEATING - I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN JULY OF 2002. I EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN TEMECULA CALIFORNIA AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THEY KEPT IT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED THE HONDA COOPERATION AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT BACK IN. I DID. AGAIN NOTHING. I AM NOT OVERSEAS AND HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE OCT 2002. I HAVEN'T RIDDEN THE BIKE AND WON'T RIDE AGAIN AS I AM IN THE MARINE CORPS STATIONED ABROAD UNTIL 2005. I FINALLY DISCOVERED THIS SITE AND REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SELF-SAME PROBLEMS AS I AM HAVING. I HAVEN'T RIDDEN IT ENOUGH TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT AS OTHERS HAVE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES OR ANYTHING. HONDA HAS MY ADDRESS STATESIDE AND OVERSEAS AS I DO RECEIVE MY BILL HERE. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO REMEDY THESE MATTERS/CONCERNS OF US WHO HAVE PAID IN EXCESS OF $15,000.00? WHEN ONE SPENDS HIS/HER HARD EARNED MONEY ON "TOYS," WE EXPECT MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041622

Incident

Jul 20, 2002

Mileage

9,000 mi

HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE FRAME FAILURE. *MR FRAME FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ENGINE DROPPED TO THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WAS DANGEROUSLY AFFECTED. HONDA HAD BEEN SECRETLY REPLACING THESE. THE ENGINE ALSO OVERHEATED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO SPILL ON THE HIGHWAY JUST AHEAD OF THE REAR TIRE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10034006

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2002 HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE, AND NOW HAVE 4500 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME OVERHEATING CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED WITH THE NHTSA. MOST RECENTLY, IT OVERHEATED WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE WITH AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 89 DEGREES. HONDA HAS RECENTLY BEGUN A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND INSPECT/REPLACE THE HEADS AND RADIATORS. QUESTIONS ARE BEING RAISED ON MANY OF THE GL1800 WEB SITES AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REPLACING THE ECM. THERE ARE SOME OWNERS WHO HAVE SEEN POOR RESULTS FROM THE ECM REPLACEMENT AND SOME HAVE REPORTED PERFORMANCE AND GAS MILEAGE REDUCTIONS WITH THE NEW ECM. SOME OWNERS STATE THAT THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN MAY JUST MASK THE EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE BY RECALIBRATING THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE. AS STATED IN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEAT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. PLEASE ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE GL1800 OVERHEATING POPULATION AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR HONDA'S ACTIONS TO ENSURE PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ARE IMPLEMTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE COMPLETELY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032650

Incident

Aug 9, 2003

Mileage

4,500 mi

MY 2002 GL1800A HAS A CRACKED WELD ON THE FRAME UNDER THE SEAT AREA AND IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE. THE MOTORCYCLE ALSO OVERHEATS IN SLOW TRAFFIC ON WARM DAYS, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET IT COOL DOWN.

NHTSA ID

10030967

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

2,590 mi

MOTORCYCLE TEMPERATURE CLIMBED INTO THE RED/ FLUID LEAK. MR. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD RAISED, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND DISCOVERED 1/2 OF FLUID COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR, AFTER 10 MINUTES THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019633

Incident

Jul 7, 2002

MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS, FORCING DRIVER TO PULL OVER IN TRAFFIC, MOST USUALLY, HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10007617

Incident

Feb 16, 2003

Mileage

440 mi

MOTORCYCLE CONSISTENTLY OVERHEATS WHEN DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH FOR 3-5 MINUTES. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY A COOLING FAN WHICH BLOWS AIR FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARD. WHEN THE COOLING FAN FORWARD AIR SPEED EQUALS THE AMBIENT FRONT-TO-BACK AIRFLOW SPEED, THERE IS A NET ZERO AIRFLOW OVER THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO OVERHEAT. THIS OVERHEATING COULD CAUSE INJURY IF THE OVERHEATING CAUSES COOLANT TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE VENT TUBE WHICH WOULD EXPEL COOLANT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10000813

Incident

Nov 17, 2002

Mileage

600 mi

WHEN STUCK IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC GOING INTO THE CITY THE COOLANT TEMP GAUGE WENT DEEP INTO THE RED. WITH NOWHERE SAFE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD I WAS FORCED TO PROCEED WITH THE FEAR OF THE ENGINE BOILING OVER. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AT THE GL1800 WEB SITES IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY FAULTY MANUFACTURING. HONDA DESIGNED THE RADIATOR FANS TO BLOW THE AIR FOWARD UP TO A SPEED OF 15 MPH. ANY FASTER THAN THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF AND ALLOW THE AMBIENT AIR TO PUSH THROUGH THE RADIATORS IN THE NORMAL DIRECTION. APPARENTLY THIS WAS DONE TO TRY TO KEEP SOME HEAT OFF OF THE RIDER AT LOW SPEEDS. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAVELLING 10MPH IN WARM CONDITIONS THE 10MPH INCOMING AIR IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE AIR FROM THE FANS. THIS CAUSES LITTLE OR NO AIR GOING ACROSS THE RADIATOR FINS, THUS CAUSING THE OVERHEATING CONDITION. IF THE BIKE IS STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER, THE FANS WILL PUSH THE AIR FOWARD AND ALLOW THE BIKE TO SLOWLY COOL DOWN. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO, AND IF THE BIKE OVERHEATS THE COOLANT OVERFLOW FROM THE RADIATORS IS AIMED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL. A SITUATION THAT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE FANS NEED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RADIATORS SO THEY CAN PULL THE AIR THROUGH. IN THE DIRECTION THAT NATURE INTENDED. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED FOR THEM TO REMEDY THIS. I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT, BUT SO FAR THEY ARE IN DENIAL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE. I AM NOT WILLING TO RISK ME AND MY WIFES LIFE. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH PLEASURE IN MIND. IF NOTHING IS DONE TO ALLEVIATE THIS I WILL HAVE HONDA BUY THE BIKE BACK FROM ME WITH NEW JERSEYS TOUGH LEMON LAW.

NHTSA ID

10000621

Incident

Aug 13, 2002

Mileage

3,427 mi

BIKE WILL OVER HEAT WHEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR AS LITTLE TIME AS 5 MINUTES. COOLANT DOES GET BLOWN OUT OF BIKE AND IT DOES GO ON BACK OF TIRE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZZARD. DT

NHTSA ID

770739

Incident

Sep 10, 2002

THIS IS BECOMING AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. DT

NHTSA ID

770617

HAVE HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM SCIENCE DAY 1. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM HONDA OR DEALER BOUGHT FROM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A MOTORCYCLE! DT

NHTSA ID

770573

Incident

Apr 5, 2002

DESPITE MAINTAINING RECOMMENDED PRESSURE, THE FRONT TIRE BECAME SO CUPPED WITH WEAR IN 3000 MILES THAT IT INDUCED A SEVERE VIBRATION TO THE MOTORCYCLE. TURNING WAS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS. DEALER SAID THIS OCCURRED ON ALL THE GL-1800 MOTORCYCLES AND RECOMMENDED A DIFFERENT BRAND. DT

NHTSA ID

770540

Incident

May 21, 2002

OVERHEATS WHEN TRAVELING @ 10 - 20 MILES PER HOUR, IN HOT WEATHER. DT

NHTSA ID

770505

Incident

Jul 3, 2002

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

770501

Incident

May 5, 2002

BIKE OVERHEATED IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY RUSH HOUR DRIVING. AIR TEMP WAS ABOUT 85. COOLANT TEMP GRADUALLY ROSE OVER ABOUT 2 MILES. BRIEF PERIODS OF 30 MPH SPEED WERE NOT ENOUGH TO COOL BIKE DOWN. TEMP GUAGE WAS NUDGING THE RED ZONE. NOT WISHING TO TEST THE SYSTEM OR TO HAVE A COOLANT BOIL OVER SITUATION, PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY FOR HALF HOUR. BY THEN TRAFFIC HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL FLOW AND BIKE OPERATED NORMALLY. DT

NHTSA ID

769974

Incident

Sep 18, 2002

ENGINE OVERHEATS IF VEHICLE SPEED IS MAINTAINED AT 12-14MPH FOR 8 MINTES OR LONGER SUCH AS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONGESTION OR ROAD CONSTRUCTION. DT

NHTSA ID

769968

Incident

Aug 25, 2002

I FEEL THIS ENGINE OVER HEATED FOR NO REASON IT WAS ONLY 80 DEG. DT

NHTSA ID

769966

Incident

Jul 16, 2002