Model year record

2002 Honda GL1800A recalls & problems

The 2002 Honda GL1800A has 4 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (3 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints8filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

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.

StructureJan 31, 2005

Frame and members

Recall 05V02700034,919 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicJan 24, 2005

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 05V01000036,046 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMBINED-BRAKE SYSTEMS HAVE A PROPORTIONING CONTROL VALVE (PCV) THAT MECHANICALLY PROPORTIONS BRAKE FORCE WHEN THE REAR BRAKE IS APPLIED. A SEAL IN SOME PCVS IS IMPROPERLY SHAPED, AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
Risk: IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FORCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE FORLEAKAGE. IF LEAKAGE IS CONFIRMED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PCV FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.

StructureSep 26, 2003

Frame and members › Underbody shields

Recall 03V3500008,196 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REINFORCE THE WELDS ON ALL FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA 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	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
StructureFrame and members	3	0	0	64,760 mi
Service brakes	2	1	1	—
Electrical system	1	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingCooling system	1	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesCrash1 injury
THIS CONCERNS AN ONGOING SAFETY RECALL FOR REAR BRAKE LOCKUP ON GL1800 GOLDWING. I OWN A 2002 MODEL. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, MY REAR BRAKE HAS LOCKED UP, ONE TIME CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL AND DROP THE BIKE, BEING SLIGHTLY INJURED, WITH A SCRAPE TO THE RIGHT ARM. HONDA HAS THUS FAR NOT REIMBURSED ME FOR REPAIRS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UNENDING SAFETY RECALL. DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY, SINCE HONDA HAS ALLEGEDLY DONE THE RECALL, CLAIMING FLUID CONTAMINATION, EVEN THOUGH THEIR OWN DEALER HAS FLUSHED AND BLED THE SYSTEM TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. TWICE, THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE RIDING IN FORWARD MOTION, ONCE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP AFTER PARKING BIKE IN DEALER'S LOT, SO THIS CAN HAPPEN AT…
Apr 11, 2019 · 47,400 miles
Service brakes
FOLLOWING BRAKE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED IN LATE 2016 BY HONDA DEALER, MOTORCYCLE HAS EXPERIENCED SAME FAILURE OF REAR CALIPER/BRAKES HYDRAULICALLY SEIZING TO A COMPLETE STOP OF BIKE. THE HONDA RECALL(S) (2 RECALLS) IS STILL NOT ADEQUATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR BRAKES WITH GOLDWINGS.
Jul 1, 2017 · 46,000 miles
Structure › Frame and members
I RIDE A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800A. IN MID JUNE THE STARTER SWITCH STUCK AND THE STARTER FAILED. WHILE CHECKING THE STARTER THE HONDA DEALER FOUND MY FRAME WAS BROKEN IN TWO ON ONE SIDE AND CRACKED ON THE OTHER JUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER FOOT REST. IF THE SECOND SIDE HAD BROKEN THE TRUNK, BACKREST, SADDLE BAGS WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF MOST LIKELY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I SHIPPED MY MOTORCYCLE TO LAWRENCEVILLE HONDA IN LAWRENCEVILLE, GA WHERE I BOUGHT THE BIKE, FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT WHICH THEY RECOMMENDED. WHEN THEY CONTACTED CORPORATE HONDA THEY WERE TOLD THAT SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY ONE MONTH THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FRAME AND LIMITED TOTAL SUPPORT OF $4,000.00.…
Jun 16, 2009 · 157,200 miles
Structure › Frame and members
2002 ,1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE . I WAS CHECKING THE BIKE OVER AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE FRAME . THE CRACKS IS RIGHT BEHIND BOTH PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. RIGHT NOW THE BIKE IS AT A HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP . WAITING TO SEE WHAT HONDA IS GOING TO DO. *TR
Nov 2, 2008 · 64,760 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
VEHICLE IS A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. WHEN APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE, IT CAUSES THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE TO VIOLENTLY SHUDDER. THE SHUDDER WORSENS AS THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE RISES. DUE TO THE TECHNIQUE OF TURNING ON A MOTORCYCLE BY LEANING, THIS CAUSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HONDA HAS TRIED APPROXIMATELY 4 FIXES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, NONE HAVE WORKED. THEIR STANCE NOW IS THAT THE BRAKE SHUDDER IS INHERENT TO THIS PARTICULAR MOTORCYCLE AND THEIR "FIX" IS TO SIMPLY INSERT THAT STATEMENT INTO THE OWNER'S MANUALS GOING FORWARD. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE SHUDDER IS EASILY DUPLICATED ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND YOUR ENGINEERS ARE WELCOME (AND ENCOURAGED) TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES…
Jun 1, 2005
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
I HAVE A 2002 HONDA GOLDWING THAT CONTINUES TO GET HOT AND BOIL OVER IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I ALSO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF 5 MORE GOLDWING DOING THE SAME THING. ALL OF THESE BIKES HAVE HAD THE ECM CHANGED OUT.*AK
Sep 4, 2004
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED MOTORCYCLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
May 5, 2004
Structure › Frame and members
CRACK IN 2002 ABS HONDA GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE FRAME ON LEFT LOWER FRAME. *AK
Mar 17, 2004 · 18,050 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.