2013 Honda GL1800 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 2013 Honda GL1800, 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
- Fuel system531.3%
- Engine425.0%
- Brakes318.8%
- Electrical16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Suspension16.3%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER STARTING ENGINE, 1ST GEAR ENGAGEMENT, RELEASE CLUTCH AND FEED THROTTLE. MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION BETWEEN 1-10 MPH FORCING YOU TO ENGAGE CLUTCH LEVER AND THEN TWIST THROTTLE TO TRY AND GET ENGINE TO REV BACK UP. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HAPPEN AND YOU WILL NOT FALL OVER DUE TO LACK OF POWER FROM STALL. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN ENGINE TEMP IS IN THE LOWER RANGE BUT CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN ENGINE IS WARM BUT YOU HAVE STOPPED FOR 10-20 MINUTES AND THEN YOU TRY TO START OFF AGAIN. THIS IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH A 900 LB. MOTORCYCLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASING IN APRIL 2013.
RIDING WHILE THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A STALL REQUIRING THE RIDER TO PULL THE CLUTCH. IF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE BIKE WILL CRASH. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS STILL TODAY. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT MANY OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING. *TR
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
AFTER STARTING ENGINE, 1ST GEAR ENGAGEMENT, RELEASE CLUTCH AND FEED THROTTLE. MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION BETWEEN 1-10 MPH FORCING YOU TO ENGAGE CLUTCH LEVER AND THEN TWIST THROTTLE TO TRY AND GET ENGINE TO REV BACK UP. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HAPPEN AND YOU WILL NOT FALL OVER DUE TO LACK OF POWER FROM STALL. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN ENGINE TEMP IS IN THE LOWER RANGE BUT CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN ENGINE IS WARM BUT YOU HAVE STOPPED FOR 10-20 MINUTES AND THEN YOU TRY TO START OFF AGAIN. THIS IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH A 900 LB. MOTORCYCLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASING IN APRIL 2013.
THE ENGINE STUTTERS AND STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM, CAUSING A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT EMERGENCY ACTION TO DISABLE DRIVE TRAIN, SUCH AS QUICKLY DISENGAGING CLUTCH IN ORDER TO ALLOW A SMOOTH COAST UNTIL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE SAFELY RESTORED. THIS CONDITION PERSISTS UNTIL THE ENGINE IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR FOR ABOUT 15-30 MINUTES DEPENDING ON RIDING CONDITIONS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 gl 1800 anti dive device failure causing bumps while riding.
MY BIKE WAS BROUGHT INTO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2015 FOR REAR BRAKE RECALL SERVICE. MY BIKE WAS OPERATING FINE PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK BEING DONE. IN JULY 1, 2016 AFTER NOT RIDDEN MY BIKE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MY REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY - I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH; SINCE MY I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO USE MY BRAKES LEVER THAT WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE A CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED ME! SO I BRING MY BIKE INTO MY LOCAL DEALER (FRIENDLY HONDA OF SLIDELL, LA) ON JULY 6, 2016 AND THE INSPECTED MY BIKE AND WORKED WITH AMERICAN HONDA TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE. I WAS ADVISED BY MY LOCAL DEALER WHEN I PICKED UP MY AUGUST 3, 2016 THAT MY REAR BRAKE ROTOR WAS WARPED AND DAMAGED. THEY REQUESTED AMERICAN HONDA REPLACE THE ROTOR SINCE IT WAS CAUSED BY THEIR BRAKE RECALL . AMERICAN HONDA DENIED THEIR REQUEST. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA TWICE TO PROTEST THE WAY MY BIKE IS NOW OPERATING WHEN I USE MY REAR BRAKES - THE BIKE SHUTTERS AND VIBRATES WHENEVER I USE MY REAR BRAKES WHICH IN MY OPINION OF BEING A VERY EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE RIDER OF 15+ YEARS. I FEEL THAT AMERICAN HONDA HAS PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER OF POSSIBLY LOSING CONTROL OF MY BIKE WHEN I'M RIDING ON THE ROAD. I SPOKE WITH TWO FOLKS AT AMERICAN HONDA (FELIX AND MATT WHO IS THE SUPERVISOR - EMPLOYEE ID MT98) AND I'VE RECEIVED ZERO RELIEF FOR THE UNSAFE CONDITION MY BIKE IS IN NOW. I PURCHASED MY BIKE BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER 2014 AND THE BIKE ONLY HAS 10,784 MILES ON IT.
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
ONLY WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL WARMING UP, AT ABOUT 1800 RPM I HAVE A VERY NOTICABLE HESITATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITS A COLD START STUMBLE. AT AROUND 1700-2200 RPM (IN ANY GEAR) THE ENGINE STUMBLES / NEAR-STALLS. THIS LOSS OF POWER IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE WHERE RELIABLE POWER / SPEED IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN RIDING STABILITY ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED MANEUVERING. LOSS OF POWER TWO-UP WITH A PASSENGER, LEANED OVER AT 25 DEGREES, AT ~0-5 MPH, IN SECOND GEAR...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...HAVE ALMOST CRASHED MORE THAN ONCE. IN MANY GL1800 AND OTHER MOTORCYCLE USER FORUMS THIS IS A KNOWN AND MUCH DISCUSSED DYNAMIC WHICH HONDA HAS TO-DATE IGNORED / DISMISSED. *TR
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
THE ENGINE STUTTERS AND STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM, CAUSING A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT EMERGENCY ACTION TO DISABLE DRIVE TRAIN, SUCH AS QUICKLY DISENGAGING CLUTCH IN ORDER TO ALLOW A SMOOTH COAST UNTIL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE SAFELY RESTORED. THIS CONDITION PERSISTS UNTIL THE ENGINE IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR FOR ABOUT 15-30 MINUTES DEPENDING ON RIDING CONDITIONS.
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
2013 gl 1800 anti dive device failure causing bumps while riding.
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 .