RoadVitals

2009 Honda GL1800

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Aug 16, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Jan 9, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Honda GL1800, most frequently naming the brakes and transmission categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 23 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Transmission150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V045000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 9, 2018
960 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2010 and 2012-2016 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycles. These motorcycles have air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag module that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KJ1.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KJ1View on NHTSA.gov
17V031000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 10, 2017
882 units potentially affected
The 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 ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in Zone A or Zone B above, Honda is recalling certain 2006-2008 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KE5View on NHTSA.gov
16V347000

AIR BAGS

May 24, 2016
2,701 units potentially affected
The 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 2006-2008 Honda GL 1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured May 10, 2007, to May 14, 2009 originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Motorcycles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These motorcycles are equipped with an air bag inflator assembled as part of the air bag module, used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: 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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KA8View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

AQ12001ClosedAudit Query

Southern Honda Powersports

Opened May 14, 2012
Closed May 13, 2013

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 16, 2012

THE HONDA GL1800 HAS EXHIBITED A BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE 2001. SOMETIME, WHEN USING THE REAR BRAKE, A SHUDDERING TAKES PLACE THAT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. IT IS ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE WINDSHIELD AND MIRRORS. IT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. THERE ARE FORUMS FOR THE GL1800 AND THEY ALL HAVE MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING IT ON DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS. MANY HAVE TAKEN THEIR MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALERS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY (INCLUDING MYSELF). A WIDE VARIETY OF FIXES HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED WITH NOTHING REALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. HONDA'S AREA SERVICE TECH SAID THE REAR BRAKE DISC ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. (ABOUT $800). HOWEVER, I HAVE ALREADY READ ON THESE FORUMS WHERE THE DISC ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. HONDA'S LATEST RESPONSE IS THAT 1. IT IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND 2. USING MORE FRONT BRAKE WILL STOP THE PROBLEM. BOTH OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE TRUE, HOWEVER, SOME OF THE GL1800'S NEVER EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SOMETIMES IT IS BEST NOT TO USE TOO MUCH FRONT BRAKE UNDER CERTAIN RIDING CONDITIONS AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS A 20K-24K DOLLAR MOTORCYCLE. THE BRAKES SHOULD WORK WITHOUT SHAKING THE MOTORCYCLE. REQUIRING THE FRONT BRAKE TO BE USED JUST TO STOP THIS VIBRATION IS JUST IGNORING THE REAL PROBLEM. A PROSPECTIVE BUYER MAY BE HESITANT TO BUY A MOTORCYCLE WITH THIS SYMPTOM, THUS LOWERING THE RESALE VALUE. HONDA'S MC WARRANTY MANAGER POLITELY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE HONDA WOULD DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HONDA FINALLY INVESTIGATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS AND NEITHER SHOULD A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER. INCLUDED IS JUST ONE LINK TO A FORUM ON THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://GL1800RIDERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?118643-REAR-BRAKE-SHUDDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471172
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 2009

2009 HONDA GOLDWING JUMPS OUT OF OVER DRIVE GEAR UNDER LOAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10276219
Incident
Jun 27, 2009
Mileage
300 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

GL1800 #24 - August 2024

WHEELS

Service Bulletin - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts for the new kit are available for future repairs.

MCPSP08192024901

WHEELS

Dealer Message - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts for the new kit are available for future repairs.

GL1800 #26 - July 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Bulletin - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts for the new kit are available for future repairs.

MCMSN06112024

WHEELS

Dealer Mesage - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts for the new kit are available for future repairs.

MCGL1800 - #28 - June 202

WHEELS

Service Bulletin - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts for the new kit are available for future repairs.

GL1800 #2 Nov23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Bulletin - Honda has sourced a new supplier for the 2009 ~ 2017 GL1800 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The new TPMS supplier parts are not compatible (will not communicate) with the original equipment parts. Therefore, if the original TPMS sensor/valve or receiver requires replacement, it will require the TPMS kit listed in this bulletin. Individual parts in the kit are available for future repairs.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda GL1800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024310—
2023210—
2022120—
2021730—
2020130—
2019820—
2018342050.8
2017000—
2016510—
2015820—
2014721—
2013921—
2012315249.3
2011010—
2010245157.0
2009Viewing261—
2008475152.9
2007205153.5
2006226145.6
2005183148.3
2004105254.0
20031017456.7
20021827456.9
2001846455.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.