2006 Honda GL1800 Recalls & Complaints

Incident: July 20, 2024 · Filed: October 30, 2024

Honda/Garmin has not provided updates to the integrated navigation system since 2014. As a result, on numerous occasions, the navigation system has given the wrong information to the rider. My motorcycle is a 2006, but I know this problem exists through at least the 2009 model year. Contacted Garmin for updated navigation data. They said there will be none because Honda would not pay Garmin to create updated navigation data for the GPS. The navigation system is now unsafe because can give wrong directions. There are hundreds of Goldwings with built-in GPS that are unsafe. Honda should be required updates or reimburse owners for their purchase of an external GPS.

Incident: June 8, 2024 · Filed: June 13, 2024

A Shinko SE890 size 180-60-16 prematurely started coming apart at 3850 miles. My wife and I were riding 2 up on a Honda Goldwing. Pressure of the tire was checked the day we went for this 480 mile ride. The temperature was 90 degrees and the road was very good. When we neared the end of the ride, the motorcycle started shaking violently. I kept control, and the others who were riding with me helped me figure out what just happened. The tire was coming apart and there was a big bulge on the left side. The tire was not over any rough road. Granted it was hot, and we had 390 lbs on the bike, which is not overloaded. The pressure was at 44 lbs, which was probaly due to the heat. Chapparal tire in San Bernadino Ca recieved pictures and commentary. Initially they said They would warrant the tire, then 2 days later said it was because of a road hazard. I know I hit nothing with the tire. I wanted money back not another Shink tire. These tires are not well made and on a motorcycle very dangerous

Incident: July 2, 2016 · Filed: July 8, 2016

BRAKE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED IN MAY. A COMPLETE BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT AND BLEED DON. A BRAKE SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN EVIDENT SINCE PURCHASE NEW AND AN ABNORMAL NUMBER OF TIRES HAVE FAILED DUE TO BLISTERING OF THE TREAD AND IN ONE CASE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I HAVE LONG CONTENDED THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKING ENGINEERING PROBLEM. ROAD BIKE 400 MILES AFTER RECALL SERVICE AND RETURNED TO DEALER. HE THEN STATED THAT MY REAR BRAKES PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND THE REAR ROTOR MARRED. THE BRAKE PADS HAD LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM. AFTER REPLACING THE ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THE CALIPER WAS DRAGGING AND HONDA IN TORRANCE HAD BEEN CONTACTED , THEY ASKED THAT THE MECHANIC TAKE THE CALIPER APART AND HE STATED IT SEEMED NORMAL BUT WAS NOT. SHOP INSTALLED A NEW CALIPER AND NOW WAITING FOR NEXT BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRE AND SHUDDER PROBLEM IS CAUSED PRIMARILY FROM REAR BRAKE CALIPER DRAGGING AND OVERHEATING THE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY.. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT MY TIRES BLISTER AND FAIL AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TREAD SEPARATION. THIS IS NOT ONE BRAND OF TIRE ..HAPPENED ON METZELER, AVON AND 3 DUNLOP E3 ALL AT CORRECT TIRE PRESSURES.THIS PROBLEM IS EVIDENT IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS

Incident: October 5, 2014 · Filed: October 26, 2014

I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL NOT A PANIC SITUATION. THE BRAKES APPARENTLY LOCKED UP AND LEFT A 22' SKID MARK ON THE BLACK TOP ROAD. WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT AND I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED GOLDWING RIDER HAVING RIDDEN APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MILES. I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE ON BOARD AND PULLING MY ESCAPADE TRAILER AS I HAVE DONE FOR APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES FOR 20 YEARS. MY WIFE AND I WERE EJECTED FROM THE BIKE AND SUSTAINED NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. WE WERE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL IN FAYETTEVILLE AR AND WERE TREATED AND RELEASED WITH ROAD RASH AND I HAVE CRACKED RIBS AND A BROKEN FINGER. OUR FULL FACE HELMETS AND OTHER PROTECTIVE GEAR AND LUCK SAVED US FROM MORE SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES. I HAVE THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT AND CAN FIND NO EXPLANATION OTHER THAN BRAKE FAILURE / LOCK UP. IN MY 299,000 MILES OF GOLDWING RIDING I HAVE NEVER LOCKED THE BRAKES NOR HAVE I LEFT A SKID MARK BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. NOTE HONDA ISSUED A SAFETY ALERT WARNING OF POTENTIAL BRAKE PROBLEMS BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED AND SAID THEY WILL REPAIR WHEN THEY DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR. MY BIKE WAS INSURED AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BUT I ESTIMATE MY OUT OF POCKET MEDICAL COSTS AT $5,000. *TR

Incident: April 27, 2014 · Filed: April 27, 2014

FRONT END WOBBLES AT A LOW SPEED AN AT HIGH SPEEDS, MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE VERY UNSAFE. *TR

Incident: April 9, 2012 · Filed: November 10, 2012

WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP USING BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, A VIOLENT SHUDDER WAS NOTED FROM THE REAR BRAKE CAUSING THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE TO SHAKE NOTICEABLY. THE SHUDDER HAS RE-OCCURRED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS (APPROX 25). MY GL1800 WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP (NW HONDA-HOUSTON) FOR THE REAR BRAKE RECALL AND THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE WRITER AND DIRECTLY/PERSONALLY TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MECHANIC PERFORMING THE RECALL INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC TEST RODE THE MOTORCYCLE BUT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO GET A REPEAT OF THE SHUDDER. WHILE 2 UP WITH MY WIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE SHUDDER OCCURRED DURING BRAKING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSING US TO ALMOST IMPACT THE REAR OF A CAR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE SHUDDER OCCURS, BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY. SHUDDER OCCURS DURING REAR BRAKE ACTIVATION AND DOES NOT STOP REGARDLESS OF FRONT BRAKE ACTIVATION. SHUDDER SOMETIMES STOPS AFTER RELEASING AND RE-APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE OR SHUDDER WILL RETURN DIRECTLY UPON REAR BRAKE APPLICATION. *TR

Incident: June 2, 2012 · Filed: July 25, 2012

I WAS ACCELERATING IN THE ENTRANCE LANE ON THE INTERSTATE. AUTO AND TRUCK TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND AS I MERGED INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE THE MOTORCYCLE SHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR TO FOURTH AND BACK SURPRISING ME AND CAUSING ME TO QUICKLY SLOW AND TAKE ACTION TO THE RIGHT TO AVERT BEING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAD NOWHERE TO GO AS THE LANE TO HIS SIDE WAS OCCUPIED. I PROCEEDED TO GAIN SPEED AND THE MOTORCYCLE DID THE SAME SHIFTING ACTION EVERY MILE OR SO. I TOOK THE CYCLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I AM AT PRESENT HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT MY COST. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS EPISODE. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL FAILED COMPONENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION.

Incident: June 15, 2011 · Filed: October 28, 2011

I BOUGHT THIS BIKE WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON IT BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. AT SPEEDS BELOW OR AROUND 30MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES. HONDA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A WARRANTY ISSUE, YET ALL THE DEALERS TELL ME THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT FROM MANY GOLDWING OWNERS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS ALLS BALLS TAPERED STEERING BEARINGS FOR CORRECTION BUT I HAVE TO PAY. I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN AND IT IS NOT COVERED. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE STEERING ON THE GOLDWING AND HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE AT THEIR COST. I REMEMBER THE GAS TANKS EXPLODING ON THE FORD PINTO THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS NOT. LIVES WERE LOST OVER A LOW COST REPLACEMENT GASKET THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT BUT CHOSE TO IGNORE. THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE GOLDWING OWNERS TO HAVE ACCIDENTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, NOW. *TR

Incident: May 3, 2010 · Filed: May 5, 2010

2006 HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE, THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR OCCASIONALLY. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND MORE OFTEN NOW TO ALMOST ONCE EVERY TANK OF GAS OR 230 MILES. TWO DAYS AGO WHILE ENTERING A CORNER IT DROPPED OUT OF GEAR THEN INTO A LOWER GEAR AND TEMPORARILY LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE. THE PRICE TO LOOK INTO THE TRANSMISSION IS BETWEEN $3,500 AND $4,000. IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURES WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY. I WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT BREAKS. MY CONCERN IS IF THE TRANSMISSION BREAKS IN A TURN OR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IT MAY TAKE MY WIFE AND MYSELF WITH IT. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

Incident: November 28, 2009 · Filed: November 28, 2009

WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN 5TH GEAR PROCEEDING NORMALLY I FELT THE TRANSMISSION 'CLUNK' AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THEN A LOUD 'CLUNKETY CLUNK' AS THE ENGINE SEEMS TO NOW REV FREE, THEN A 'CLUNK' AS THE TRANSMISSION 'FELL' BACK INTO GEAR. AT NO TIME DURING THIS EVENT, WHICH TOOK PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 SECONDS WERE MY FINGERS TOUCHING EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH, NOR WAS MY FOOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE OR SHIFTER. THE BALLS OF MY FEET WERE PLANTED ON BOTH FOOTPEGS DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT. *TR