RoadVitals

2003 Honda GL1800A Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Jul 7, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
63%
of 16 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda GL1800A submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Jul 7, 2016

IN :MARCH, 2016, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING 1800A FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, A PRIVATE PARTY. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE IN REPAIRS, AS IT WAS DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE REAR FRAME NEAR A WELD, AND REFERRED ME TO REDLANDS HONDA. I SPOKE TO WES IN SERVICE WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME AND CALLED HONDA. HONDA SENT REDLANDS HONDA A FRAME. ON 6/23/2016, WES INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE FRAME, ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $2500. AS A SAFETY RECALL, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY PARTS OR LABOR TO HAVE THE SAFETY RECALL PROCEDURE PERFORMED. NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TO DATE. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CRACK.

NHTSA ID
10883175
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Mileage
77,450 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 14, 2014

BOUGHT THE BIKE JULY 9. PRIVATE PARTY. I WAS GOING THRU THE BIKE CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT AND FOUND THE FRAME IS BROKE BEHIND THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS VERY COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610240
Incident
Jul 9, 2014
Mileage
89,600 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 28, 2009

A FRIEND ON MINE ALSO RIDING A GL1800 FOUND A FRAME TUBE CRACKED ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. AFTER CHECKING MANY BULLETIN BOARDS ON THE INTERNET HE FOUND THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODEL YEARS OF BIKES THAT HONDA PUT OUT A RECALL ON IN 2005 BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WELDS. HIS ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACE BY HONDA. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ONE OF THE ONES REQUIRING RE-WELDING OF THE FRAME. HE CAME TO MY HOME YESTERDAY AND EXAMINED MY BIKE AND WE FOUND THE SAME FRAME CRACK IN MY BIKE AS WAS ON HIS BUT MINE IS BIGGER. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THIS CRACK ON THE FRAME. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACK I AM NOW AFRAID TO RIDE THE BIKE FOR FEAR IT MAY FAIL COMPLETELY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR MY WIFE. I ONLY HAVE 32000 MILES ON THIS BIKE. OF THE DOZEN OR SO BIKES MY FRIEND HAS EXAMINED MINE HAS THE LOWEST MILEAGE OF ALL OF THEM. I WANT THE FRAME REPLACED OR PROVIDED WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282059
Incident
Aug 27, 2009
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 6, 2008

CRACKED SUBFRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244559
Incident
Oct 4, 2008
Mileage
153,100 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 18, 2008

LOCATED CRACKED FRAME (2)TUBES ON REAR TRIANGULAR AREA OF THE ALUMINUM FRAME. THE TUBE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BIKE IS CRACKED. THE LEFT SIDE IS APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY THROUGH. THE AREA SUPPORTS THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234852
Incident
Jul 18, 2008
Mileage
106,954 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 24, 2005

NOTICE OF GL1800/A GOLD WING FRAME WELD RECALL WAS RECEIVED FROM NHTSA ABOUT MARCH OF 2005. TOOK NOTICE AND BIKE TO DEALER: BEND RECREATION, OF BEND OREGON. APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO REPAIR WELDS. APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELLED BY BEND RECREATION BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A "HONDA CERTIFIED WELDER". WHEN CHALLENGED ON THIS MATTER AFTER HONDA SENT OUT ANOTHER NOTICE OF RECALL, BEND RECREATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET TO ME AS SOON AS THEY HAD THE TIME. THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE ANY INTEREST IN DOING THE RECALL ORDERED WORK. THEY REFUSED COMPLETELY UNTIL I TOLD THEM I BOUGHT THE 2003 WING IN THEIR DEALERSHIP. AND HAVE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO PORTLAND, OREGON FOR THE REQUIRED WORK.

NHTSA ID
10134132
Incident
Aug 24, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Apr 20, 2004

THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE FRAME CRACKED MORE THAT THE FRAME WELD RECALL STATED (03V350000). *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10063569
Incident
Mar 8, 2004
Mileage
9,300 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 16, 2004

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. *PH THE DEALER REFUSE TO PROVE RECALL SERVICE FOR THE CONSUMER MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED AT THAT LOCATION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10056025
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structure
Filed Dec 1, 2003

UPON REINFORCING THE WELDS ON THE FRAME AS STATED IN RECALL 03V350000 FOR THE FRAME WELD DEALERSHIP NOTICED LARGE CRACK IN THE FRAME. MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO STUFF CRACKS WITH METAL INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE FRAME. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY FIX, AND THE FRAME COULD CRACK AGAIN AT ANYTIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049800
Mileage
1,600 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 21, 2003

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RECALL BEING DONE BY AMERICAN HONDA CORP. (AHC) ON THEIR GOLD WING GL1800 TO REPAIR POSSIBLE FRAME AND WELD DAMAGE. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED 4/24/03. IT IS LESS THAN 7 MONTHS OLD. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS REJECTED FOR THEIR 'NORMAL' RECALLS SERVICE BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS TOO HEAVILY DAMAGED FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED IN THE FIELD. AHC WANTS TO SHIP THE BIKE BACK TO THE FACTORY IN OHIO (FROM NJ) AND EITHER REPAIR THE CRACKS THEY DISCOVERED OR REPLACE THE FRAME ON THE BIKE. THEY ARE GIVING ME NO CHOICES EXCEPT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT. MY PROBLEM WITH THEM FIXING IT AT THE FACTORY, IS TWO FOLD: 1. THE PEOPLE AT THE FACTORY ARE USED TO PUTTING A BIKE TOGETHER FROM SCRATCH, ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE, ACCORDING TO STRICT ENGINEERING GUIDELINES, BUT PROBABLY HAVE NEVER TAKEN ONE APART BEFORE AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. I, DO NOT WISH TO BE THE "GUINEA PIG". 2. I HAVE OVER $5000 IN ADDED ACCESSORIES ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND THEIR SOLE REPRESENTATIVE (A "STEVE" WHO WILL NOT PROVIDE HIS LAST NAME BUT GIVES HIS ID AS MT56: A. REFUSES TO GIVE ME ANY WRITTEN ASSURANCE THAT ALL MY ACCESSORIES WILL WORK WHEN I GET THE BIKE BACK. B. INSISTS THAT THE ONLY WAY I MAY GET THAT INSURANCE IN WRITING IS TO HAVE A LAWYER CONTACT HIS COMPANIES LEGAL DEPT. C. WILL NOT GIVE ME A NAME TO CONTACT. D. THREATENED ME THAT IF I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO IT NOW, THAT IT "MAY TAKE THEM A LOT LONGER TO DO IT LATER." E. ADMITTED THAT MANY OTHER BIKES HAD DAMAGE TO THE FRAME WAS MUCH WORSE THAN THEY EXPECTED AND ARE FINDING THAT MANY BIKES WILL HAVE TO BE SHIPPED BACK TO THE FACTORY TO BE REPAIRED. THIS "STEVE-MT56" (WHOEVER HE IS) WILL ONLY GIVE ME 'HIS' WORD THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE HANDLED CORRECTLY AND THAT I MUST CHECK OUT THE BIKE FULLY BEFORE I PICK IT UP AFTER THE REPAIR, TO HAVE DAMAGE THEY DO, COVERED BY AMERICAN HONDA. I AM QUITE UPSET BY THEIR TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT ATTITUDE AND LACK OF WRITTEN ASSURANCE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS MATTER? *LA

NHTSA ID
10047328
Incident
Nov 20, 2003
Mileage
12,500 mi

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

Data on this page last refreshed .