2001 Honda GL1800A Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA GL1800A MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT INCREASE BEYOND 40 MPH UNTIL HE TOUCHED THE SCREEN. THE DEALER WAS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PART WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM HONDA. HE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE HE HAD TO USE ONE HAND TO TOUCH THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,180 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,442. UPDATED 08/31/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO TAP ON THE PLASTIC COVER WITH HIS FIST TO GET IT TO MOVE. UPDATED 08/31/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10340988

Incident

Apr 22, 2010

Mileage

36,180 mi

I HAVE A 2001 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800A MOTORCYCLE. IN JUNE OF 2004 WHILE RIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS I DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, IT WENT IN FINE BUT AS I ACCELERATED OUT OF A CURVE THE BIKE LURCHED FORWARD. WHEN I GOT BACK TO RENO I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THEY RODE IT AND COULD NOT GET IT TO ACT UP FOR THEM. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. FINALLY IT DOES IT FOR THE HONDA SERVICE MANAGER. HE CONTACTS HONDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAY TO BRING IT IN AND OPEN IT UP TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT OF THE BIKE AND THE CASE SPLIT TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS AT 94,700 MILES. I HAD RIDDEN THE BIKE OVER 12,000 MILES SINCE THE FIRST LURCHING INCIDENT BECAUSE THE HONDA DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID TO KEEP RIDING IT. THEY FOUND A BENT SHIFTING FORK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTING DRUM, FORK AND OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS. HONDA COVERED IT UNDER A "GOOD WILL" WARRANTY. THE BIKE WAS STILL COVER UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN MAY OF 2008 AT 154,313 MILES, THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN, AGAIN I BRING IT TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER THEY RIDE IT AND IT WON'T DO IT FOR THEM. FINALLY IT IS RECREATED FOR HONDA IN APPROX. SEPT OF '08. THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN NOT GET TO IT UNTIL DECEMBER OR JANUARY. I BRING IT IN ON JAN 7,2009 AT 164,000 MILES. THEY TEAR IT APART-SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE CYLINDERS ARE OUT OF ROUND. I HAVE THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN. HONDA CORP. WILL NOT COVER ANY COSTS. BIKE RUNS FINE NOW BUT I FEAR IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. THANKS YOU.................. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272961

Incident

Jun 13, 2004

Mileage

94,700 mi

I SUBMITTED AN EARLIER COMPLIANT #10237793. THIS DESCRIBED A FRAME CRACK IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME. TODAY, I FOUND A SECOND FRAME CRACK IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION BUT, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE(RIGHT) OF THE FRAME. THE CRACK ORIGINATES IN A WELD AREA & MIGRATES INTO THE FRAME TUBING. BOTH CRACKS, ON EACH SIDE OF THE FRAME LOOK IDENTICAL. THE FRAME PART THAT IS CRACKED IS KNOWN AS THE SUB-FRAME, WHICH IS THE TRIANGLE PORTION AT THE REAR HALF OF THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240721

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

61,800 mi

I DISCOVERED THE FRAME ON MY 2001 HONDA GL1800A IS CRACKED. ITS LOCATION IS THE LEFT LOWER TUBE THAT IS BELOW THE BATTERY BOX. THIS PARTICULAR CRACK SITUATION HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MANY CQNSUMERS.THIS CRACK WAS NOT DESCRIBED IN THE LAST HONDA MOTORCYCLE FRAME CRACK RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10237793

Incident

Aug 11, 2008

Mileage

61,000 mi

I DISCOVERED FRAME CRACKS ON MY 2001 HONDA GOLDWING GL 1800, ON 16 APRIL, 2008. THE FRAME CRACKS ARE LOCATED BELOW THE PASSENGER FOOT REST ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE CRACK BEGINS IN A WELD AND DESCENDS INTO THE FRAME. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA ON 16 APRIL TO SEEK GUIDANCE AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE HONDA DEALER IN SAVANNAH, GA. ON 19 APRIL, 2008. THE SERVICE MANAGER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND SENT PHOTOS TO AMERICAN HONDA AND THE DECISION TO REPLACE THE FRAME WAS MADE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 17 JUNE, THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED. I WILL PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE ON 18 JUNE, 2008. HONDA HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY. I JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. MY FRAME IS NOT THE FIRST THAT HAS EXPERIENCED CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231356

Incident

Apr 19, 2008

Mileage

51,000 mi

TIRE LOSING AIR BETWEEN TIRE AND RIM. 6 TO 8 PSI IN A DAY. MULTIPLE LEAKS AROUND TIRE AND WHEEL ON BOTH SIDES OF TIRE. CHECKED FOR PROPER SEATING ON RIM. OK. RESET TIRE ON RIM. STILL LEAKS. RIM IS IN GOOD CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184417

Incident

Mar 6, 2007

Mileage

8,235 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10168900

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

Mileage

21,000 mi

2001 GL1800 GOLDWING ENGINE SURGES FROM 1500 RPM TO 1000 RPM AND CONTINUES TO OSCILLATE UP AND DOWN UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED OR RPM IS RAISED ABOVE 1500. *TS THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER SERVICE BULLETIN 1800A13 WAS COMPLETED. THE SB WAS FOR AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT THE EARLIER GL1800'S HAD. *NM UPDATED 04/21/06.

NHTSA ID

10155196

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MY 2001 HONDA GL1800 HAS A SURGING PROBLEM WHEN ENGINE RPM IS 1400-1500 IN ANY GEAR OR JUST STANDING STILL. AT A STAND STILL IF THE THROTTLE IS HELD AT 1400-1500 RPM THE ENGINE WILL OSCILLATE BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 RPM UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED. WHILE DRIVING AT THIS RPM IN ANY GEAR THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSE OF ENGINE RPM AND THEN A SURGE BACK CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN RIDING 2 UP. IT ALL STARTED AFTER THE ECM WAS UPDATED (10/01/03) FOR AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM (RECALL). HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET JUST AS THEY DID WITH THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150023

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

47,500 mi

REAR SUSPENSION NOT SETTING IN FULL RANGE. WAS REPLACED ONCE BY HONDA WARRANTY 2-2-05 AND AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS ARE NOW CONSIDERED NORMAL. HAVE LOST OVER 25% OF SUSPENSION ADJ RANGE. HONDA NOW REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142928

Incident

Oct 26, 2005

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMITED BRAKING DUE TO THE OIL CONTAMINATED BRAKES. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TWO EXACTLY THE SAME LEFT FRONT SHOCK SEAL FAILURES. #1 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LAID DOWN ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING. #2 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD THE BRAKES COVER WITH OIL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, & I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE & HAD TO USE "DOWN SHIFTING" TO AID IN THE STOPPING. HONDA IS ONLY REPLACING THE LIP SEAL, NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS, & GIVING THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MYSELF WITH REDUCED BRAKING. ALSO, HONDA IS NOT LOOKING INTO THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF THESE FAILURES.

NHTSA ID

10133516

Incident

Aug 11, 2005

Mileage

43,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TEXAS I DROVE ON A ROUGH AREA OF THE PAVEMENT. I THEN NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THE OIL WAS BEING "PUMPED OUT" THROUGH THE SHOCK OIL SEAL THAT FAILED. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED INTO THE RADIATOR, WINDSCREEN, INSTRUMENT PANEL,ENGINE, FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE & AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP I NOTICED THE OIL COVERED BRAKES DID NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP IN A SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. I USED THE GEAR DOWN SHIFTING TO AID IN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY AT PASADENA HONDA SERVICE FOR INSPECTION & TO CONVERSE W/ THE AMERICA DIVISION HONDA TECH ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE. BEFORE I LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE HONDA SERVICE, I REMOVED THE DUST COVER THAT IS COVERING THE FAILED OIL SEAL & FOUND A PORTION OF THE LIP ON THE OIL SEAL FOLDED OUTWARD. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED SEAL. WHEN EXERCISING THE SHOCK, OIL WOULD PUMP OUT OF THIS AREA. **THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE ON THE EXACT LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILURE, AS A POSSIBLE ANTI-DIVE MALFUNCTION. THIS MAY ALLOW THE LEFT SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FORCE THE RUBBER LIP SEAL TO ROLL OUTWARD & LOOSING THE CAPACITY. THE LAST FAILURE WAS IN JUNE 2004. HONDA DID NOT/ WOULD NOT COVER THE FIRST FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK FAILURES HAPPENING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132632

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

42,995 mi

2001 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AGGRESSIVELY. SPEEDS WERE 20-30 MPH. UN-KNOWING THAT THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILED, AFTER THE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, & OIL WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE FORK SHOCK. THE OIL COVERED THE FRONT TIRE & BRAKE. PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE FRONT TIRE LOST TRACTION, DUE TO THE OIL ON THE TIRE, & THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LANDED ON IT'S SIDE. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ONLY THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD SEAL & THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTORCYCLES FRONT SUSPENSION ANTI-DIVE SYSTEM IS FAILING IN THE SHOCK "LOCKUP" POSITION & THE SHOCK SEAL IS BEING OVER PRESSURED DURING THE SHOCK MOVEMENT ACTION. ARGUED WITH THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR & THE HONDA MOTORCYCLE DIVISION 866-784-1870 FROM 10 AM TILL 2 PM, & THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE & THIS IS A ISOLATED INCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132597

Incident

May 16, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK 2001 HONDA GL1800 TO THE DEALER FOR THE FRAME INSPECTION AND THE KILL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED.*MR THE VEHICLE RAN FINE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10124708

Incident

Apr 26, 2005