RoadVitals

2015 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.
8
Latest May 3, 2025
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.
2
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.
0
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Honda GL1800, most frequently naming the steering, brakes and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 15 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

  • Steering450.0%
  • Brakes337.5%
  • Exterior lighting112.5%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

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

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Oct 23, 2015
145,219 units potentially affected
The defect: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2010 and 2012-2015 GL1800, 2001-2005 GL1800A and 2013-2015 GL1800B motorcycles. The rear brakes of the affected motorcycles may drag after the brakes are released.
The risk: A rear brake that drags may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, extended riding with the rear brake dragging could generate enough heat to result in a fire.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary brake master cylinder and the rear brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on December 7, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JV6. Note: This recall supercedes recall 14V-472.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number JV6View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed May 3, 2025

The speedometer is faded and the lense is cloudy and the driver is unable to see the speed of the vehicle during the day at all.

NHTSA ID
11658628
Incident
May 3, 2025
Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Honda GL1800 Motorcycle. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the contact depressed the hand brake lever on the handlebar and the rear brake foot pedal to slow for traffic. The contact stated that the rear wheel locked up and caused the motorcycle to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, while using the front and rear brakes to stop the motorcycle, the rear wheel locked up. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V700000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the recall repair had been completed in 2016. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

NHTSA ID
11603180
Incident
Jul 17, 2024
Mileage
31,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2019

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS, I AM INQUIRING IF NHTSA HAS HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLES HAVING THE WOBBLE IN THEIR STEERING HANDLEBARS? I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS STEERING DEFECT ON THE INTERNET AND I HAD EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND WITH MY 2015 GL1800. I CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT THIS SERIOUS HANDLEBAR WOBBLE THAT IT WAS GETTING SO BAD BETWEEN 30-45MPH THAT IT WAS CAUSING TAKING CORNERS AT THESE SPEEDS THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE SHAKE TERRIBLY AND ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. HONDA SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN UNDER MY PURCHASED 5-YEAR WARRANTY POLICY. I WENT AROUND AND AROUND WITH THEM WITH NO HELP. I HAD TO TAKE SOME OF THE INTERNET GOLDWING FORUMS SUGGESTIONS: FORK BRACE, NEW MATCHED AND BALANCED TIRES, AND THE MOST RECOMMENDED SOLUTION TO GO WITH AFTERMARKET TAPERED BEARINGS REPLACING HONDA'S ROUND BALL-TYPE BEARINGS. THIS IN FACT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED HONDA AGAIN TO GIVE THIS FEEDBACK AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE PARTS OR LABOR THAT FIXED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE'. HONDA JUST DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A VERY SERIOUS ENGINEERED FLAW! THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SPECIFIC DANGEROUS HANDLEBAR SHAKING/WOBBLE. HONDA WILL NOT OWE UP TO THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY ENGINEERED BEARING PROBLEM. I FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND FORCE HONDA TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THESE BEARINGS BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED, IF NOT ALREADY. I HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK ON CONTACTING HONDA AND THE OLD REPLACED BEARINGS THAT ARE VERY LOOSE. THE FIXED COST ABOUT $400 WITH THE LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP'S DISCOUNT THEY GAVE ME FOR ALL THE TROUBLES. THE SHOP SAID THEY HAVE DONE SO MANY OF THESE GL1800 OVER YEARS ALREADY HERE IN OUR SMALL COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

NHTSA ID
11280624
Incident
Oct 8, 2019
Mileage
14,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE BAR SHIMMIED AND MOVED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE MAKING TURNS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME DEFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,730.

NHTSA ID
11255085
Incident
Sep 1, 2019
Mileage
31,730 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 17, 2019

THE FRONT FORKS, WHEEL, AND HANDLEBARS SHAKE BADLY AND CONSTANTLY WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 32 AND 42 MILES PER HOUR, ON ANY ROAD SURFACE. A QUICK LOOK ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE HONDA DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS SHAKING WAS DUE TO "FLAT SPOTS" ON THE MAIN STEERING BEARING CAUSED BY ALLOWING THE MOTORCYCLE TO SIT FOR LONG PERIODS WITHOUT MOVING IT. I SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT OF THAT BEARING, AND AFTER LEAVING THE BIKE WITH THE DEALER, THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE BEARING DID NOT NEED REPLACING. SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM ON WEBSITES CATERING TO SUCH SUBJECTS. SOME SUGGESTED THE OEM FRONT TIRE IS FAULTY, AND REPLACING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE WITH A MICHELIN TIRE, WHICH DID NOTHING TO SOLVE OR HELP THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER NOW STATES THAT THIS TERRIBLE SHAKING IS "WITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGES". I BELIEVE THIS DANGEROUS SHAKING IS CAUSED BY AN INHERENT DESIGN DEFECT, THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND THAT HONDA HAS NO INTENTION OF CORRECTING IT.

NHTSA ID
11232894
Incident
Jul 3, 2019
Mileage
2,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING F6B MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2018. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO WORLD OF POWERSPORTS (2700 W PIONEER PKWY, PEORIA, IL 61615) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BY A DIFFERENT DEALER IN 2015. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300. *TR*JB

NHTSA ID
11231441
Incident
Jun 8, 2019
Mileage
2,300 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 28, 2016

WHEN DECLARATION FROM 40MPH TO 30 MPH THE FRONT END (HANDLE BARS) WOBBLE BAD. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 2550 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID
10852084
Incident
Nov 18, 2015
Mileage
1,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA GL1800. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE REAR BRAKES OF THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V700000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10807963
Incident
Sep 23, 2015
Mileage
99,000 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.

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.

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.

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
2015Viewing820
2014721
2013921
2012315249.3
2011010
2010245157.0
2009261
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.