NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Honda GL1800A Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Honda GL1800A has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 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 2004 Honda GL1800A. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Honda GL1800A owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Honda GL1800A, describing incidents dated July 5, 2005 to February 14, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11040290 · Filed October 26, 2017
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA GOLDWING WITH A CALIFORNIA SIDE CAR KIT. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE SECOND OWNER ABOUT 1.5 YRS AGO. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS RIDING A BACK ROAD WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. I HADN'T TOUCHED THE START SWITCH? I TRIED THE KILL SWITCH BOTH POSITIONS AS THIS MODEL HAS AN UP AND DOWN FEATURE…
ODI #10264242 · Filed April 6, 2009
ON 2004 HONDA GL1800A MOTORCYCLE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP BACK INTO 4TH GEAR FROM OD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO DISENGAGE WHILE IN OD GEAR. *TR
ODI #10139273 · Filed October 11, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 40 MPH AND TAKING BOTH HANDS OFF OF THE HANDLE BARS, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON JULY 5, 2005. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR INSPECTING THE…

Read all 3 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 20, 2003 – July 29, 2004 (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 June 24, 2003 – September 19, 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 June 24, 2003 – August 4, 2004 (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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Honda GL1800A. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Honda GL1800A.

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #11040290

Fire

Incident: February 14, 2016 · Filed: October 26, 2017

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA GOLDWING WITH A CALIFORNIA SIDE CAR KIT. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE SECOND OWNER ABOUT 1.5 YRS AGO. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS RIDING A BACK ROAD WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. I HADN'T TOUCHED THE START SWITCH? I TRIED THE KILL SWITCH BOTH POSITIONS AS THIS MODEL HAS AN UP AND DOWN FEATURE. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, NO AVAIL. FINALLY IT STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. AFTER RETURNING HOME IT WOULD NOT RESTART, I DID A CHECK AND FOUND THE START RELAY WAS FRIED. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME SYMPTOMS AND RESPONSE TO WHAT SHOULD HAVE SHUT A BIKE DOWN SAME RESULTS. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN LAKE CITY, FL. AFTER TRYING TO SELL ME A NEW BIKE PIECE BY PIECE I PAID MY $1K AND LEFT WITH A NEW STARTER AND NEW STARTER RELAY. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHEN IT HAPPENED I HAD SEVERAL STARTER RELAYS ONBOARD AND SURE ENOUGH REPLACE THE START RELAY IT STARTED I MADE IT HOME. THIS WEEK WHILE WASHING IT I TURNED THE KEY ON AND BEFORE I COULD MOUNT IT IT STARTED CHUGGING BY THE STARTER THROUGH MY YARD. CHOICE LEAVE IT AND ALLOW IT TO STOP BY RUNNNING IN THE HOUSE OR A CAR TO GET A WRENCH TO TAKE THE NEGATIVE OFF THE BATTERY OR STAY WITH IT AN CHOKE IT DOWN USING THE BRAKES. AGAIN START RELAY AND STARTER. I REALIZE YOU DON'T DEAL WITH WARRANTY ISSUES BUT IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE KEY, THE KILL SWITCH OR BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT WITH THE CLUTCH SINCE THE STARTER HAS NO CONNECTION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DISCUSSED ON GOLDWING FORUMS. I CAN'T FIND ANYONE AT HONDA TO HELP...CAN YOU BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT?

Power Train

ODI #10264242

Incident: July 6, 2005 · Filed: April 6, 2009

ON 2004 HONDA GL1800A MOTORCYCLE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP BACK INTO 4TH GEAR FROM OD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO DISENGAGE WHILE IN OD GEAR. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10139273

Incident: July 5, 2005 · Filed: October 11, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 40 MPH AND TAKING BOTH HANDS OFF OF THE HANDLE BARS, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON JULY 5, 2005. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR NOISE BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED EACH TIME THE CONSUMER DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK (12/08/05) *SC

Other Honda GL1800A model years

Check your 2004 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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