RoadVitals

2003 Honda GL1800A Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
16
Latest Jul 7, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda GL1800A, 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

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 7, 2016

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 · filed Jul 14, 2014
All 10 reports naming body & structure →

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE APPEARS TO BE OVERHEATING DURING SLOW SPEED OPERATION. TEMPERATURE GAUGE ENTERS THE RED DANGER ZONE DURING "PARADE MODE RIDING" (HEAVY TRAFFIC). COOLING FAN OPERATION AND BRAKE (LIGHT) OPERATION HAVE DRAMATIC IMPACT ON GAUGE INDICATION WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. ACCORDING TO HONDA'S RECORDS THE HEATING SYSTEM RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. LOCAL DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR ITS SOLUTION. *JB

NHTSA ID 10164505 · filed Aug 4, 2006

THE GL1800 OVERHEATS TO THE POINT OF SPILLING COOLANT. THE COOLANT OVERFLOW HOSE IS IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. HONDA HAS IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED A FIX BY INSTALLING A NEW ECM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *LA

NHTSA ID 10041702 · filed Oct 13, 2003

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IF THE REAR FOOT PEDAL BRAKE IS APPLIED WITHOUT ALSO USING THE FRONT HAND BRAKE THE BIKE SHUDDERS, SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKING POWER IS DIMINISHED .APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE USUALLY ELIMINATES THE SHUDDER. THE GREATER THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE THE WORSE THE PROBLEM GETS. (OVER 105 DEGREES IT BECOMES UNRIDEABLE) ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN CHECK BY THE DEALER AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. HONDA TECH DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND TELLS THEIR DEALERS TO INSTRUCT RIDERS TO APPLY BOTH BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. ALL MC RIDERS KNOW THAT APPLYING THE FRONT BREAK IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS CAN CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID 10519662 · filed Jun 13, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2003 GL 1800A EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE MOTORCYCLE OF WHICH HONDA HAS MADE CLEAR IS "NORMAL" WHEN IN REALITY IT'S HIGHLY DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID 10136020 · filed Sep 9, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SHIFT SHAFT SEAL DISLODGED FROM ENGINE/TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO BE DUMPED ONTO ROADWAY AHEAD OF REAR TIRE. FIRST OCCURRENCE-SEAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND OCCURRENCE-OWNER CHARGED FOR REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. CAUSE OF PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED, THEREFORE SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS SHOULD PROBLEM RECUR.*JB

NHTSA ID 10180905 · filed Jan 27, 2007

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

Data on this page last refreshed .