2003 Honda GL1800 recalls and problems

The 2003 Honda GL1800 has 6 safety recalls and 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Recalls
6
Complaints
101
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 3

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Honda GL1800 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Honda GL1800 recalls

Recall 15V-700: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Oct 23, 2015 · 145,219 vehicles affected · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

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.

Recall 11V-567: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Dec 1, 2011 · 126,000 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

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 05V-027: Structure

Reported Jan 31, 2005 · 34,919 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

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.

Recall 05V-010: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Jan 24, 2005 · 36,046 vehicles affected · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

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.

Recall 03V-350: Structure

Reported Sep 26, 2003 · 8,196 vehicles affected · AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

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 02V-340: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Dec 23, 2002 · 660 vehicles affected · AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the bank angle sensors designed to shut off the fuel pump and the engine electrical power in the event the motorcycle falls over, were installed using the wrong size screws allowing the screws to eventually detach from their mounting point.

Risk: If the sensor detaches, the engine will stop unexpectedly. Sudden loss of engine power, especially while turning, could cause a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the mounting screw size and, if necessary, install screws of the correct size. Owner notification began december 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-289-8226.

2003 Honda GL1800 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Structure54
Engine and Engine Cooling14
Steering8
Suspension6
Power Train5
Service Brakes5
Tires3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Wheels2
Engine2
Electronic Stability Control1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Frame and Members — 30
  • Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields — 14
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System — 11
  • Structure › Body — 7
  • Suspension › Rear — 4
  • Power Train › Manual Transmission — 3
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2
  • Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 12,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Honda GL1800 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · at 90,000 miles · reported Sep 13, 2020
Told by honda the frame recall was done in 2012. In 2020 I inspected the frame and there are cracks in the frame again where the recall stated they would be. The replacement frame is cracking. Both major cracks are at the welds at the rear passenger foot pegs
Structure · reported Jul 18, 2019
Honda safety recall service bulletin gl1800 #14 revised: september 2008 states that my motorcycle is one of the affected units for the recall (I.e. The frame welds need to be reinforced). That work has never been done. However, the records for doing a VIN check only go back 15 years, and a local honda dealer says no fix is needed.
Engine · reported Apr 27, 2018
The engine run hotter than usual in heavy traffic and going up hill at higher RPM . All fans are running ok as expected but still when ever stuck in traffic at 75 degree temperature outside the engine temperature seem to creep up higher towards the red mark . This is a safety issue as if the engine spill coolant , I and my passage risk getting into an accident due to slippery surface. Had it check by the pro and they are pointing at the ECM . This should be fix and is honda's responsibility . Many other owners had previously complained of similar issues.
Service Brakes · at 8,000 miles · reported Nov 16, 2017
The contact owned a 2003 honda gl1800 motorcycle. While riding approximately 35 MPH, the rider lost control of the motorcycle and crashed off the side of a 25 foot hill while attempting to maneuver a blind hairpin turn. The rider was fatally injured. A police report was filed. The motorcycle was destroyed. Photos from the police report indicated that during the incident, only the front brakes were applied, and the rear brake did not apply. The failure occurred after the rider descended down a winding road for approximately 15 miles, causing the brakes to be used excessively. The cause of the…
Steering · at 15,180 miles · reported Jul 22, 2017
I purchased the motorcycle on 11/05/16 from imotorsports in elmhurst ill. From day one it had a very bad wobble in the steering and if I was not holding strongly onto the bike it would definitely crash. After asking for a repair to this wobble imotorsports manager jason said they would install a new set of tires on it and this should solve the problem. The bike only had 15,158 miles on it so I thought for sure this would be the answer. Jason told me that after the bike got used to the new tires that the wobble would go away. The wobble would occur anytime it was in motion from 15-45 MPH. The…

Other Honda GL1800 years

Compare all Honda GL1800 years · All Honda models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Honda GL1800 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2003 Honda GL1800: 15V-700 (service brakes, hydraulic), 11V-567 (service brakes, hydraulic), 05V-027 (structure), 05V-010 (service brakes, hydraulic), 03V-350 (structure) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Honda GL1800?

Owners report structure problems most often (54 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (14). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 12,000 miles.

Are Honda recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.