Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
43,800 miles · Aug 19, 2005
SuspensionCrash
THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMI…
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THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMITED BRAKING DUE TO THE OIL CONTAMINATED BRAKES. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TWO EXACTLY THE SAME LEFT FRONT SHOCK SEAL FAILURES. #1 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LAID DOWN ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING. #2 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD THE BRAKES COVER WITH OIL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, & I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE & HAD TO USE "DOWN SHIFTING" TO AID IN THE STOPPING. HONDA IS ONLY REPLACING THE LIP SEAL, NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS, & GIVING THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MYSELF WITH REDUCED BRAKING. ALSO, HONDA IS NOT LOOKING INTO THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF THESE FAILURES.
NHTSA ODI #10133516
42,995 miles · Aug 12, 2005
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TEXAS I DROVE ON A ROUGH AREA OF THE PAVEMENT. I THEN NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THE OIL WAS BEING "PUMPED OUT" THROUGH THE SHOCK OIL SEAL THAT FAILED. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED INTO THE RADIATOR, WINDSCREEN, INSTRUMENT PANEL,ENGINE, FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. I EXITED TH…
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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TEXAS I DROVE ON A ROUGH AREA OF THE PAVEMENT. I THEN NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THE OIL WAS BEING "PUMPED OUT" THROUGH THE SHOCK OIL SEAL THAT FAILED. OIL WAS BEING SPRAYED INTO THE RADIATOR, WINDSCREEN, INSTRUMENT PANEL,ENGINE, FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE & AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP I NOTICED THE OIL COVERED BRAKES DID NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP IN A SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. I USED THE GEAR DOWN SHIFTING TO AID IN STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY AT PASADENA HONDA SERVICE FOR INSPECTION & TO CONVERSE W/ THE AMERICA DIVISION HONDA TECH ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE. BEFORE I LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE HONDA SERVICE, I REMOVED THE DUST COVER THAT IS COVERING THE FAILED OIL SEAL & FOUND A PORTION OF THE LIP ON THE OIL SEAL FOLDED OUTWARD. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE FAILED SEAL. WHEN EXERCISING THE SHOCK, OIL WOULD PUMP OUT OF THIS AREA. **THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE ON THE EXACT LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILURE, AS A POSSIBLE ANTI-DIVE MALFUNCTION. THIS MAY ALLOW THE LEFT SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FORCE THE RUBBER LIP SEAL TO ROLL OUTWARD & LOOSING THE CAPACITY. THE LAST FAILURE WAS IN JUNE 2004. HONDA DID NOT/ WOULD NOT COVER THE FIRST FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK FAILURES HAPPENING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132632
30,000 miles · Aug 12, 2005
SuspensionCrash
2001 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AGGRESSIVELY. SPEEDS WERE 20-30 MPH. UN-KNOWING THAT THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILED, AFTER THE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, & OIL WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE FORK SHOCK. THE OIL COVERED THE FRONT TIRE & BRAKE. PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, WHEN …
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2001 HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AGGRESSIVELY. SPEEDS WERE 20-30 MPH. UN-KNOWING THAT THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL FAILED, AFTER THE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, & OIL WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE FORK SHOCK. THE OIL COVERED THE FRONT TIRE & BRAKE. PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE FRONT TIRE LOST TRACTION, DUE TO THE OIL ON THE TIRE, & THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LANDED ON IT'S SIDE. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ONLY THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK SEAL. THEY SHOWED ME THE OLD SEAL & THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTORCYCLES FRONT SUSPENSION ANTI-DIVE SYSTEM IS FAILING IN THE SHOCK "LOCKUP" POSITION & THE SHOCK SEAL IS BEING OVER PRESSURED DURING THE SHOCK MOVEMENT ACTION. ARGUED WITH THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR & THE HONDA MOTORCYCLE DIVISION 866-784-1870 FROM 10 AM TILL 2 PM, & THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE & THIS IS A ISOLATED INCIDENT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10132597
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2005
Electrical SystemStructure
CONSUMER TOOK 2001 HONDA GL1800 TO THE DEALER FOR THE FRAME INSPECTION AND THE KILL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED.*MR THE VEHICLE RAN FINE PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *NM
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.
ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, CERTAIN FRAME WELDS DO NOT MEET MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH LOADS CREATED WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES OR THROUGH POTHOLES CAN CAUSE THE AFFECTED WELDS TO CRACK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE WELDS ON 2001-2002 MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. ON 2003-2004 MOTORCYCLES, THE UNITS WILL BE REPAIRED, NO INSPECTION WILL BE NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Honda GL1800A Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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