Service Brakes. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Tires complaints

2 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2022

Tires

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Avon Cobra Chrome motorcycle tire 130/70R18. While driving on a California highway at 70 mph, I experienced a noticeable vibration in my handlebars. Thinking I may have a tire anomaly, I reduced speed and looked for a roadside area where I could stop the motorcycle and inspect the wheels and tires for damage. It took considerable effort to maintain control of the motorcycle as the front end felt as though it would “slide out” to one side or the other. After inspecting the front tire I observed a noticeable “bulb” or “blister” on the tread cap approximately 10” long. This blister was very hot in contrast to the remaining lukewarm tire. After the tire cooled, I could press my thumb against the blister, now receding, and feel the tread cap had separated from the inner core of the tire by approximately 1/2”. Because of the remote location where this tire failure occurred, I had no other choice but to ride the motorcycle 22 miles back to the last town I had passed, Wilets California, at 10-15 mph. In Wilets I was able to locate a motel and performed a tire swap the next day. This Avon tire failure occurred without warning. This same tire in a different size is now the subject of a recall for basically the same thing I experienced. I propose the aforementioned tire recall be expanded to include all Avon Cobra Chrome motorcycle tires regardless of size. Note: I also replaced the Avon Cobra Chrome on the rear of the motorcycle at the same time because we felt that it too could fail without warning.

NHTSA ODI #11471289

4,000 miles · May 15, 2012

SteeringTires

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THE MOTORCYCLE HANDLEBARS SHOOK VIOLENTLY UPON DECELERATION FROM ABOUT 40 MPH DOWN. AFTER CHECK WITH HONDA THEY ADVISED IT COULD BE A TIRE PROBLEM. THEY ACTED AS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. A CHECK WITH OTHERS WHO OWN GL1800'S STATE THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE GL1800 CALLED A DECELERATION WOBBLE. HONDA HAS NO FIX FOR IT AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THE NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE HONDA FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOME IS KILLED. I CHECKED WITH SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND EVERYONE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM KNOWN AS A SLOW SPEED OR DECELERATION WOBBLE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SPANS SEVERAL YEARS OF PRODUCTION. WHY WILL THE GOVT NOT MAKE HONDA FIX THE PROBLEM? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10458538

Official recalls

18V045000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 9, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

16V347000 · Air Bags

May 24, 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Honda GL1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured February 8, 2006, to May 14, 2009 originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Honda GL 1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured May 10, 2007, to May 14, 2009 originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Motorcycles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These motorcycles are equipped with an air bag inflator assembled as part of the air bag module, used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module containing the inflator, free of charge. Honda distributed an interim notification to owners on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KA8.

15V700000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Oct 23, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

11V567000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Dec 1, 2011

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2010, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMBINED BRAKING SYSTEM'S SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED BRAKING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE REAR BRAKE DRAGGING MAY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO CATCH FIRE.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

AQ12001 · Southern Honda Powersports

Opened May 14, 2012 · Closed May 13, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a motor vehicle or equipment manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with federal motor vehicle safety standards.In turn, a dealer may not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed.(see 49 U.S.C. 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. 573.11)NHTSA issued an information request to Southern Honda on May 14, 2012 to which they responded on July 6, 2012.NHTSA?s inquiry led it to believe that Southern Honda had failed to complete the requirements of five recalls that required inspections and/or repairs of motorcycles prior to their sale or delivery.NHTSA believes that 329 motorcycles affected by recalls had not been inspected and/or repaired prior to their sale and delivery between 2007 and 2012.The agency is unaware of any deaths or injuries involving these vehicles.NHTSA concluded that it had a potential civil penalty claim against Southern Honda for violations of the Safety Act.Southern Honda denied any violations of the Safety Act.In order to settle this matter, Southern Honda agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $125,000, to be paid in five annual installments.This AQ is closed.