Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

2 reports

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200 miles · Jul 6, 2016

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemInjury

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SINCE THE BIKE WAS NEW IT HAS A SEVERE STUMBLE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE MOTORCYCLE ACTS AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR OR FUEL OR BOTH AND WILL LOSE POWER. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE BY ADDING MORE THROTTLE IT WILL TAKE OFF SUDDENLY, SOMETIMES WITH NEAR DISASTROUS RESULTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND THREE TIMES I WAS IN MORTAL DANGER, ONCE WITH MY WIFE ON THE BACK OF THE BIKE. (SHE WILL NOT RIDE ON THIS BIKE ANY MORE AND I WILL BE GETTING A NEW ONE.) THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED MANY THINGS AT THE DIRECTION OF HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, INCLUDING NEW PLUGS, NOW FUEL INJECTION, AND REFLASHING THE ECU. NOTHING HAS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. HONDA CS FIRST SUGGESTED LETTING THE MOTORCYCLE WARM UP TO FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE...NEAR 20 MINUTES EVEN IN WARM WEATHER. THEY THEN ADVISED ME TO GET COUPLES COUNSELING IF MY WIFE WON'T RIDE WITH ME DUE TO THE ISSUE. LAST, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I NOT DRIVE IN LOCATIONS WHERE I HAVE TO MAINTAIN LESS THAN 10MPH. (I WORK AT A HOSPITAL THAT IS WITHIN A SCHOOL ZONE ON A MILITARY BASE.) IN THE END HONDA HAS DENIED THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10883150

1,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015

Engine

THROTTLE SURGES AND/OR HESITATES AT SLOW SPEEDS TILL ENGINE WARMS UP. QUITE DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #10760402

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.

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.

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

PE15014 · Inconsistent Throttle Control

Opened Apr 20, 2015 · Closed Nov 13, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

This PE was opened after NHTSA received 10 owner complaints alleging vehicle control was compromised due to inconsistent throttle control in MY 2012-14 Honda GL1800 motorcycles.Typically during the first five minutes of operation (cold engine), riders would experience a pronounced engine stumble when operating the bike at low speeds and minimal throttle applications.Riders were concerned that this scenario would result in a crash if the stumble were to occur while making a sharp turn at low speed.Since opening this investigation we discussed the issue with Honda motorcycle dealers and service personnel and subject vehicle owners / complainants.We test rode one complaint GL1800 and monitored web forum activity.Based on the information gathered, the issue of low speed engine stumble in these motorcycles does not appear to jeopardize safety.The absence of crashes in a population of vehicles with up to 4 years in service indicates riders are able to instinctively correct for any control issue that may accrue from a low speed cold engine stumble.In the absence of a actionable defect trend, we are closing this PE.We continue to monitor complaints and other information sources for any data that may alter this finding.If such information is found, we will respond accordingly.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 10785837,10783109,10781852,10760402,10670092,10662128,10653041,10643482,10641998,10639635,10639538,10639483,10633401,10633110,10632624,10632569,10631910,10621114,10577493,10572733,10550566,10549745,10548741,10548568,10546436,10532817,10532620,10532347,10532553,10532249,10531538,10523914,10523890,10523515,10523017,10512486