NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Honda GL1800A Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Honda GL1800A has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 16 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Honda dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Honda GL1800A. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Honda GL1800A owner complaints

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda GL1800A, describing incidents dated August 22, 2003 to June 23, 2016.

Most-cited components

Structure 10 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10883175 · Filed July 7, 2016
IN :MARCH, 2016, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING 1800A FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, A PRIVATE PARTY. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE IN REPAIRS, AS IT WAS DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE REAR FRAME NEAR A WELD, AND REFERRED ME TO REDLANDS HONDA. I SPOKE TO WES IN SERVICE WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME AND…
ODI #10610240 · Filed July 14, 2014
BOUGHT THE BIKE JULY 9. PRIVATE PARTY. I WAS GOING THRU THE BIKE CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT AND FOUND THE FRAME IS BROKE BEHIND THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS VERY COMMON. *TR
ODI #10519662 · Filed June 13, 2013
IF THE REAR FOOT PEDAL BRAKE IS APPLIED WITHOUT ALSO USING THE FRONT HAND BRAKE THE BIKE SHUDDERS, SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKING POWER IS DIMINISHED .APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE USUALLY ELIMINATES THE SHUDDER. THE GREATER THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE THE WORSE THE PROBLEM GETS. (OVER 105 DEGREES IT…

Read all 16 complaints

Rear Brakes may Drag

NHTSA #15V700000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported October 23, 2015 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 145,219 vehicles

Repair completion: 54.07% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign JV6 · Owners notified December 7, 2015 · Vehicles built May 7, 2002 – June 24, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

MOTORCYCLE/FRAME CRACKS

NHTSA #05V027000 · Structure — Frame and Members · NHTSA notice

Reported January 31, 2005 · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Potentially affected: 34,919 vehicles

Honda campaign P66 · Owners notified February 9, 2005 · Vehicles built September 11, 2002 – June 24, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HONDA RECALL NO. P66.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

MOTORCYCLES/COMBINED BRAKE SYSTEM LEAK

NHTSA #05V010000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported January 24, 2005 · HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Potentially affected: 36,046 vehicles

Honda campaign P65 · Owners notified January 31, 2005 · Vehicles built April 16, 2002 – June 24, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

HONDA RECALL NO.P65.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

HONDA/FRAME WELDS

NHTSA #03V350000 · Structure — Frame and Members — Underbody Shields · NHTSA notice

Reported September 26, 2003 · AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Potentially affected: 8,196 vehicles

Owners notified October 3, 2003 · Vehicles built March 1, 2002 – September 10, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Honda GL1800A. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

16 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Honda GL1800A.

Structure

ODI #10883175

Incident: June 23, 2016 · Filed: July 7, 2016

IN :MARCH, 2016, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING 1800A FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, A PRIVATE PARTY. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE IN REPAIRS, AS IT WAS DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE REAR FRAME NEAR A WELD, AND REFERRED ME TO REDLANDS HONDA. I SPOKE TO WES IN SERVICE WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME AND CALLED HONDA. HONDA SENT REDLANDS HONDA A FRAME. ON 6/23/2016, WES INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE FRAME, ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $2500. AS A SAFETY RECALL, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY PARTS OR LABOR TO HAVE THE SAFETY RECALL PROCEDURE PERFORMED. NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TO DATE. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CRACK.

Structure

ODI #10610240

Incident: July 9, 2014 · Filed: July 14, 2014

BOUGHT THE BIKE JULY 9. PRIVATE PARTY. I WAS GOING THRU THE BIKE CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT AND FOUND THE FRAME IS BROKE BEHIND THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS VERY COMMON. *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10519662

Incident: May 30, 2013 · Filed: June 13, 2013

IF THE REAR FOOT PEDAL BRAKE IS APPLIED WITHOUT ALSO USING THE FRONT HAND BRAKE THE BIKE SHUDDERS, SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKING POWER IS DIMINISHED .APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE USUALLY ELIMINATES THE SHUDDER. THE GREATER THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE THE WORSE THE PROBLEM GETS. (OVER 105 DEGREES IT BECOMES UNRIDEABLE) ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN CHECK BY THE DEALER AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. HONDA TECH DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND TELLS THEIR DEALERS TO INSTRUCT RIDERS TO APPLY BOTH BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. ALL MC RIDERS KNOW THAT APPLYING THE FRONT BREAK IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS CAN CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

Structure

ODI #10282059

Incident: August 27, 2009 · Filed: August 28, 2009

A FRIEND ON MINE ALSO RIDING A GL1800 FOUND A FRAME TUBE CRACKED ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. AFTER CHECKING MANY BULLETIN BOARDS ON THE INTERNET HE FOUND THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODEL YEARS OF BIKES THAT HONDA PUT OUT A RECALL ON IN 2005 BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WELDS. HIS ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACE BY HONDA. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ONE OF THE ONES REQUIRING RE-WELDING OF THE FRAME. HE CAME TO MY HOME YESTERDAY AND EXAMINED MY BIKE AND WE FOUND THE SAME FRAME CRACK IN MY BIKE AS WAS ON HIS BUT MINE IS BIGGER. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THIS CRACK ON THE FRAME. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACK I AM NOW AFRAID TO RIDE THE BIKE FOR FEAR IT MAY FAIL COMPLETELY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR MY WIFE. I ONLY HAVE 32000 MILES ON THIS BIKE. OF THE DOZEN OR SO BIKES MY FRIEND HAS EXAMINED MINE HAS THE LOWEST MILEAGE OF ALL OF THEM. I WANT THE FRAME REPLACED OR PROVIDED WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT BIKE. *TR

Structure

ODI #10244559

Incident: October 4, 2008 · Filed: October 6, 2008

CRACKED SUBFRAME. *TR

Structure

ODI #10234852

Incident: July 18, 2008 · Filed: July 18, 2008

LOCATED CRACKED FRAME (2)TUBES ON REAR TRIANGULAR AREA OF THE ALUMINUM FRAME. THE TUBE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BIKE IS CRACKED. THE LEFT SIDE IS APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY THROUGH. THE AREA SUPPORTS THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PASSENGER. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10180905

Incident: December 12, 2006 · Filed: January 27, 2007

SHIFT SHAFT SEAL DISLODGED FROM ENGINE/TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO BE DUMPED ONTO ROADWAY AHEAD OF REAR TIRE. FIRST OCCURRENCE-SEAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND OCCURRENCE-OWNER CHARGED FOR REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. CAUSE OF PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED, THEREFORE SAFETY HAZARD REMAINS SHOULD PROBLEM RECUR.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10164505

Incident: June 23, 2005 · Filed: August 4, 2006

ENGINE APPEARS TO BE OVERHEATING DURING SLOW SPEED OPERATION. TEMPERATURE GAUGE ENTERS THE RED DANGER ZONE DURING "PARADE MODE RIDING" (HEAVY TRAFFIC). COOLING FAN OPERATION AND BRAKE (LIGHT) OPERATION HAVE DRAMATIC IMPACT ON GAUGE INDICATION WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. ACCORDING TO HONDA'S RECORDS THE HEATING SYSTEM RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. LOCAL DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR ITS SOLUTION. *JB

Steering

ODI #10136020

Incident: August 26, 2003 · Filed: September 9, 2005

2003 GL 1800A EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE MOTORCYCLE OF WHICH HONDA HAS MADE CLEAR IS "NORMAL" WHEN IN REALITY IT'S HIGHLY DANGEROUS. *JB

Structure

ODI #10134132

Incident: August 24, 2005 · Filed: August 24, 2005

NOTICE OF GL1800/A GOLD WING FRAME WELD RECALL WAS RECEIVED FROM NHTSA ABOUT MARCH OF 2005. TOOK NOTICE AND BIKE TO DEALER: BEND RECREATION, OF BEND OREGON. APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO REPAIR WELDS. APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELLED BY BEND RECREATION BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A "HONDA CERTIFIED WELDER". WHEN CHALLENGED ON THIS MATTER AFTER HONDA SENT OUT ANOTHER NOTICE OF RECALL, BEND RECREATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET TO ME AS SOON AS THEY HAD THE TIME. THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE ANY INTEREST IN DOING THE RECALL ORDERED WORK. THEY REFUSED COMPLETELY UNTIL I TOLD THEM I BOUGHT THE 2003 WING IN THEIR DEALERSHIP. AND HAVE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO PORTLAND, OREGON FOR THE REQUIRED WORK.

Other Honda GL1800A model years

Check your 2003 Honda GL1800A VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Honda GL1800A at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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