RoadVitals

2008 Honda GL1800A

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.
2
Latest Mar 10, 2026
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.
0
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Honda GL1800A, most frequently naming the brakes and powertrain (other) categories. 12 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

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Powertrain (other)150.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Mar 10, 2026

I recently took my 2008 honda goldwing vin: [XXX] to Broward Motorsports located at 2100 W Sunrise Blvd Suite 161, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 to complete a brake drag recall. this recall to the best of my knowledge was NHTSA Recall Number: 15V-700 (JV6) to address the brake drag issue where the rear brake locks after pressure is applied to the rear brake pedal. After the recall was allegedly complete I noticed that the problem still persists and although the dealership states that both the master and secondary cylinders were replaced one was not. The secondary master cylinder is still the original and is most likely the issue of concern. No punch marks or signs of replacement are visible on the secondary master cylinder. I would like to have my motorcycle inspected by another dealership and if the initial recall was not properly completed I would like it to be completed in an urgent manner. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11723221
Incident
Mar 8, 2026
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2020

THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 4 TO 5 THE GEAR DOES NOT SEEM TO GO IN. THEN IT JERKS AND CLUNKS INTO 5TH. BELOW IN THIS FORM IT ASKS FOR A DATE. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE BIKE. ILL ENTER TODAYS DATE

NHTSA ID
11319967
Incident
Apr 1, 2020
Mileage
50,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

The Wrench - Jun

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK; STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

Technician newsletter - When troubleshooting it is good to have all of the tools at your disposal. If you are diagnosing a power trunk lock remote control issue on a GL1800, there is a Honda tool that you may not know is capable of testing the trunk lock remote.

GL1800 NO. 23

EQUIPMENT

"DEALER MESSAGE - ON DECEMBER 11, SEVERAL SECTIONS OF S/B GL1800 #23 WERE REVISED TO INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR THE REPAIR OF TRIKE COVERSIONS."

GL1800 SECONDARY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

"SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2012-2015 GL1800/A AND 2013-2015 GL1800B/BD MOTORCYCLES, AND IS IMPLEMENTING A RECALL REMEDY FOR 2001-2010 AND 2012 GL1800/A MOTORCYCLES ALREADY SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL “JG6”. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE (I.E., THE BRAKE FLUID IS NOT REPLACED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME DESPITE THE PUBLISHED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF REPLACEMENT EVERY 12,000 MILES OR TWO YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST), DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID. IF SUFFICIENT DEPOSITS ARE FORMED, THEY CAN RESULT IN A MALFUNCTION OF THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG."

MC - THE WRENCH

EQUIPMENT; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

NEWSLETTER - THE REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER (SMC) RECALL IS VERY INVOLVED, SO MAKE SURE TO READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE BULLETIN BEFORE HAND SO YOU CAN VISUALIZE THE PROCEDURES BEFORE YOU START. NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE INSTALLING AN UPDATED SMC AND A NEW REAR MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW EACH STEP IN EXACT ORDER SO THAT THE PEDAL BRAKE LINE IS COMPLETELY FLUSHED OF ANY CONTAMINANTS.

DLR MSG - MC - S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

"DEALER MESSAGE - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER (SMC) KITS FOR THIS RECALL ARE AVAILABLE ON OPEN ORDER. AS INDICATED IN S/B GL1800 #23 AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS RECALL, IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT ONLY PRO HONDA DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID BE USED DURING THE REPAIR PROCEDURE. TO HELP ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF BRAKE FLUID IS AVAILABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF PRO HONDA DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID WILL BE SHIPPED TO DEALERS. THE ALLOCATION IS BASED ON YOUR DEALERSHIP’S PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED GL1800 SMC RECALL WARRANTY CLAIMS."

SERVICE BULLETIN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2012-2015 GL1800/A AND 2013-2015 GL1800/B/BD MOTORCYCLES, AND IS IMPLEMENTING A RECALL REMEDY FOR 2001-2010 AND 2012 GL 1800/A MOTORCYCLES ALREADY SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL "JG6". HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS SUBJECT TO PROLONGED AGING DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE, DEPOSITS MAY FORM WITHIN THE BRAKE FLUID.

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 GL1800A by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016000
2015100
2014000
2013110039.4
2012000
2011000
2010000
2009000
2008Viewing200
2007000
2006000
2005010
2004330
2003164042.5
2002840
2001142048.7

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.