Model year record

2012 Honda GL1800 recalls & problems

The 2012 Honda GL1800 has 5 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (17 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints31filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsJan 9, 2018

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 18V045000960 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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

Air bagsJan 10, 2017

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 17V031000882 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2009 and 2012 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles 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, if not included in "Zone A," Honda is recalling certain 2006-2009 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles 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." Additionally, if not included in Zone A or Zone B above, Honda is recalling certain 2006-2008 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KE5.

Service brakes, hydraulicOct 23, 2015

Foundation components › Master cylinder

Recall 15V700000145,219 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

EquipmentDec 12, 2011

Equipment

Recall 11E0540007,446 vehicles

Problem: KURYAKYN IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MOUNTS, PART NUMBER 607005, SOLD AND INSTALLED FOR USE ON 2001-2012 HONDA GL 1800 (GOLDWING) MOTORCYCLES. THIS MOUNT WAS SOLD ON KURYAKYN 'TRANSFORMER' PASSENGER FLOORBOARD SETS, PART NUMBER 7005 FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, TO PRESENT. THE FLOORBOARD MOUNT MAY CRACK AND BREAK FREE FROM THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT SECURE THE MOUNT TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Risk: THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR A CRASH.
Fix: KURYAKYN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE REPLACEMENT MOUNT KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KURYAKYN AT 1-866-296-4728.

Service brakes, hydraulicDec 1, 2011

Foundation components › Master cylinder

Recall 11V567000126,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine	17	300 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	17	1,000 mi
Power train	5	4,700 mi
Vehicle speed control	3	1,000 mi
Electrical system	2	—
Suspension	2	—
Wheels	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	1	—
Service brakes	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
I AM HAVING SLOW SPEED HESITATION WITH THE THROTTLE WHILE RIDING ON THE ROAD. WHEN I ROLL THE THROTTLE ON THE BIKE SOMETIMES HESITATES, DOES NOTHING SO WHEN I TRY MORE FUEL THE THROTTLE CONTROL FINALLY DECIDES TO START WORKING AND HAS MADE FOR SOME WILD RIDES ESPECIALLY IN TURNS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TOO MUCH FUEL ADDED WHEN NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
Aug 30, 2016 · 14,000 miles
Engine
MY GOLDWING HAS THE HESITATION PROBLEM LIKE SO MANY OTHERS. I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THE STUMBLE. IT WILL HESITATE AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY GET FUEL AGAIN AND LUNGE FORWARD DANGEROUSLY. IF I WOULD HIT SAND OR GRAVEL OR BE ON A GRAVEL ROAD OR GRAVEL PARKING LOT IT WOULD BE A BAD SPIN OUT AND LOSE CONTROL AND GO DOWN WITH DAMAGE TO MYSELF , MY WIFE AND THE BIKE. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SO ONE DATE LISTED DOWN BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE. BOUGHT THE BIKE ON DEC 12,2015 WITH ONLY 1685MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS OWNER SAID IT STUMBLED. MY 1988 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX IT. WHY NOT THESE NEWER GOLDWINGS?
Dec 12, 2015 · 1,685 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
MY HONDA GOLD WING 2012 HAS A DANGEROUS STUMBLE THAT FREQUENTLY CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STUTTER AND NEARLY STALL. MANY TIMES, I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION, OR TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP, AND THE POWER DROPS OFF TO NOTHING, THEN, WHEN I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO COMPENSATE, THE MOTORCYCLE SURGES FORWARD CAUSING THE BIKE TO LUNGE AHEAD. IN TRAFFIC, IT LUNGES TOWARD THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AT A STOP SIGN IN THE COUNTRY, IT LUNGES TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARTED. IT DOES NOT HELP TO WARM UP THE ENGINE. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN AS NO ONE BELIEVES ME EVEN THOUGH IT IS TRUE: WARMING UP THE ENGINE DOES NOT HELP!!! ONLY TRAVELLING A MILE OR TWO…
Oct 1, 2012 · 1,000 miles
Engine
ON COLD START-UPS(EVEN IN THE SUMMER IN FLORIDA), THE MOTORCYCLE WILL STUMBLE OR HESITATE UNTIL WARMED UP. THIS CAUSES INCONSISTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE THROTTLE CONTROL IN SLOW TURNS. I HAVE NEARLY DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALSO HAVE ENCOUNTERED PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND NOT HAVING PREDICTABLE THROTTLE CONTROL TO GET GOING SAFELY. VERY DANGEROUS!
Oct 18, 2015 · 7,000 miles
Engine
ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEVERE HESITATION TO A MOMENTARY LOSS OF COMPLETE POWER DURING COLD OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND SAME SEVERE PROBLEM ON HOT SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. ALSO HESITATES AT ALL TIMES WHILE DRIVING BUT NOT AS SEVERE AS FIRST TWO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN TRAFFIC AND PULLING OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IN CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY WHILE TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT.
Oct 10, 2015 · 7,000 miles
Service brakes
I OWN A MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE DOCUMENTS SHOWING AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. IS NOT COMPLYING WITH CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V472000. THEY STATE THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IN FACT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED ONE. I SEND CUSTOMERS TO DEALERS AND THE DEALER AND HONDA MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER SERVICE DENY THEIR CLAIM AND EITHER CHARGE THEM FOR REPAIRS OR I DO THE REPAIR. WHAT GOOD IS A RECALL IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT? SOMEONE WILL HAVE A BAD CRASH AND DIE. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND MY PAPER WORK AND GET SOMEONE TO ACT ON THIS RECALL.
Apr 30, 2015 · 19,500 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN
May 14, 2012 · 3,200 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
2012 GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OFF WHEN FIRST STARTED. UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT TO WARM UP COMPLETELY BEFORE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF, IT WILL TRY TO STALL OR SPUTTER AND NOT HAVE ANY POWER AT LEAST MOMENTARILY. THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A TIP OVER ACCIDENT WITH THIS 950LB BIKE. WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC FLOW, IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW IN JUNE 2012. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MANY OTHER GOLDWING OWNERS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED MANY OF THEM TO DROP THEIR BIKE WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO HONDA DEALERS WITH NO…
Jul 30, 2012 · 200 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Inconsistent Throttle ControlClosed
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…
PE15014 · opened Apr 20, 2015 · closed Nov 13, 2015
Southern Honda PowersportsClosed
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…
AQ12001 · opened May 14, 2012 · closed May 13, 2013