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What 31 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Gl1800

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (31)Engine (17)Fuel system (17)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Speed control (3)Brakes (2)Electrical system (2)Suspension (2)Wheels (1)

Newest first · 31 complaints · page 1 of 2

Sep 1, 2016Fuel system

I AM HAVING SLOW SPEED HESITATION WITH THE THROTTLE WHILE RIDING ON THE ROAD. WHEN I ROLL THE THROTTLE ON THE BIKE SOMETIMES HESITATES, DOES NOTHING SO WHEN I TRY MORE FUEL THE THROTTLE CONTROL FINALLY DECIDES TO START WORKING AND HAS MADE FOR SOME WILD RIDES ESPECIALLY IN TURNS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TOO MUCH FUEL ADDED WHEN NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI 10903036

Mar 3, 2016EngineFuel system

MY GOLDWING HAS THE HESITATION PROBLEM LIKE SO MANY OTHERS. I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THE STUMBLE. IT WILL HESITATE AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY GET FUEL AGAIN AND LUNGE FORWARD DANGEROUSLY. IF I WOULD HIT SAND OR GRAVEL OR BE ON A GRAVEL ROAD OR GRAVEL PARKING LOT IT WOULD BE A BAD SPIN OUT AND LOSE CONTROL AND GO DOWN WITH DAMAGE TO MYSELF , MY WIFE AND THE BIKE. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SO ONE DATE LISTED DOWN BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE. BOUGHT THE BIKE ON DEC 12,2015 WITH ONLY 1685MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS OWNER SAID IT STUMBLED. MY 1988 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX IT. WHY NOT THESE NEWER GOLDWINGS?

NHTSA ODI 10839640

Nov 27, 2015Fuel system

MY HONDA GOLD WING 2012 HAS A DANGEROUS STUMBLE THAT FREQUENTLY CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STUTTER AND NEARLY STALL. MANY TIMES, I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION, OR TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOP, AND THE POWER DROPS OFF TO NOTHING, THEN, WHEN I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO COMPENSATE, THE MOTORCYCLE SURGES FORWARD CAUSING THE BIKE TO LUNGE AHEAD. IN TRAFFIC, IT LUNGES TOWARD THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AT A STOP SIGN IN THE COUNTRY, IT LUNGES TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARTED. IT DOES NOT HELP TO WARM UP THE ENGINE. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN AS NO ONE BELIEVES ME EVEN THOUGH IT IS TRUE: WARMING UP THE ENGINE DOES NOT HELP!!! ONLY TRAVELLING A MILE OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD, OR REVVING THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY BEFORE STARTING OFF, WILL TEMPORARILY "FIX" THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO HAVE TIS FIXED. THEY "RESET THE ECM." THIS KINDA SORTA WORKED A LITTLE AND FOR A VERY SHORT TOME, THEN THE PROBLEM COMES RIGHT BACK. ONCE THE BIKE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL MILES (NOT JUST WARMED UP), THE STUMBLE WILL GO AWAY. IN ADDITION, IF THE ENGINE IS WARM FROM RIDING, BUT I STOP FOR AS LITTLE AS 20 MINUTES, THE STUMBLE OFTEN COMES BACK EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS WARM. BY THE WAY, MODERN FUEL INJECTED ENGINES SHOULD NOT NEED ANY WARM UP. THIS FUEL SYSTEM ERROR IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED WHEN THEIR BIKE STUMBLES AND FALLS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, OR LUNGES OFF THE ROAD OR INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS FAULT IS WELL KNOWN BY GOLD WING RIDERS AND HAS BEEN WIDELY DISCUSSED ON GOLD WING FORUMS. THERE IS EVEN A $125.00 AFTERMARKET PART THAT TRICKS THE FUELING SYSTEM INTO PERFORMING PROPERLY. I WILL BE BUYING THIS PART IN THE SPRING. WITHOUT YOUR HELP, HONDA WILL CONTINUE TO IGNORE THIS SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT. PLEASE HELP ME KEEP RIDERS SAFE BY MAKING THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10807146

Oct 25, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

ON COLD START-UPS(EVEN IN THE SUMMER IN FLORIDA), THE MOTORCYCLE WILL STUMBLE OR HESITATE UNTIL WARMED UP. THIS CAUSES INCONSISTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE THROTTLE CONTROL IN SLOW TURNS. I HAVE NEARLY DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALSO HAVE ENCOUNTERED PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND NOT HAVING PREDICTABLE THROTTLE CONTROL TO GET GOING SAFELY. VERY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI 10785837

Oct 17, 2015Engine

ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH SEVERE HESITATION TO A MOMENTARY LOSS OF COMPLETE POWER DURING COLD OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND SAME SEVERE PROBLEM ON HOT SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. ALSO HESITATES AT ALL TIMES WHILE DRIVING BUT NOT AS SEVERE AS FIRST TWO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN TRAFFIC AND PULLING OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IN CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY WHILE TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10783109

Jun 20, 2015Brakes

I OWN A MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE DOCUMENTS SHOWING AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. IS NOT COMPLYING WITH CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V472000. THEY STATE THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IN FACT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED ONE. I SEND CUSTOMERS TO DEALERS AND THE DEALER AND HONDA MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER SERVICE DENY THEIR CLAIM AND EITHER CHARGE THEM FOR REPAIRS OR I DO THE REPAIR. WHAT GOOD IS A RECALL IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT? SOMEONE WILL HAVE A BAD CRASH AND DIE. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND MY PAPER WORK AND GET SOMEONE TO ACT ON THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10726390

Dec 11, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10663709

Oct 9, 2014Electrical systemEngineFuel system

2012 GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OFF WHEN FIRST STARTED. UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT TO WARM UP COMPLETELY BEFORE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF, IT WILL TRY TO STALL OR SPUTTER AND NOT HAVE ANY POWER AT LEAST MOMENTARILY. THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND A TIP OVER ACCIDENT WITH THIS 950LB BIKE. WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC FLOW, IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW IN JUNE 2012. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MANY OTHER GOLDWING OWNERS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED MANY OF THEM TO DROP THEIR BIKE WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE OFF. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO HONDA DEALERS WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO HONDA TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN DEATHS IF NOT RESOLVED. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO A HUGE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON GOLDWING ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643482

Oct 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THE ENGINE STUMBLES AND LOSES POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 1500RMP AND MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10641998

Sep 30, 2014Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE RODE ROUGHLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

NHTSA ODI 10640285

Sep 27, 2014Engine

AT LOW SPEED THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS TO HAVE A DECREASE OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-30 SECONDS THEN ITS OK. HAS GONE ON SINCE I OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639538

Sep 26, 2014Fuel system

THIS BIKE HAS A BAD STUMBLE PROBLEM. IT WILL STUMBLE WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAUSING ME TO NEARLY FALL AND GET HIT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS AFTER YOU HAVE STOPPED FOR 15 TO 30 MINS AND YOU START TO GO AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES SINCE 1954 SO I AM NOT NEW TO RIDING BIKES. THIS IS GOING TO GET SOME ONE KILLED. I HAVE TRIED TO GET HONDA TO FIX IT BUT THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL ITS DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU GIVE IT MORE THROTTLE AND THEN IT LUNGES STRAIGHT AHEAD THE WAY YOU ARE POINTED. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I HAVE BEEN RIDDING HONDA GOLDWINGS SINCE 1975 AND THEY DID NOT DO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639483

Sep 15, 2014Engine

THE PROBLEM I'M ABOUT TO DESCRIBE IS COMMON ON THE 2012 AND NEWER GOLDWINGS. EARLIER GOLDWINGS DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE HAD 3 AND I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHOSE OLDER GOLDWINGS DO NOT DO THIS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT UNLESS THE ENGINE HAS HAD TIME TO WARM UP WHICH TAKES ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. I FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TURNING LEFT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST LAID IT DOWN. ANOTHER DANGEROUS INCIDENT WAS WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC COMING BUT I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IT STALLED AGAIN. THE POWER KICKED IN JUST IN TIME TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS AND FROM WHAT I READ AT GOLDWING WEBSITES MOST OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT IF THIS IS NOT FIXED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HONDA DID TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN ON NEWER GOLDWING BUT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND SO FAR HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU WILL FORCE HONDA TO DEAL WITH THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633110

Sep 11, 2014Fuel system

AT LOW OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AT LOW RPMS (ABOUT 1700) ACTS LIKE IT IS STARVED FOR FUEL (STUMBLES) AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL NOT TAKE FUEL. TRIED A HOT RESET OF THE ECM, LETTING THE BIKE WARM UP, STILL DOES IT. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ON THE GL1800.ORG WEBSITE ARE REPORTING THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632624

Sep 9, 2014EngineFuel system

EVERY DAY WHEN I START THE MOTORCYCLE AND PROCEED TO DRIVE, IT STUMBLE OR STALLS ALMOST FALLING OVER INTO THE STREET AS IF IT HAD CARBURETORS AND THE CHOKE WAS NOT ON. TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING I MUST TURN THE THROTTLE SEVERAL TIMES TO INCREASE THE ENGINE RPM'S AND THEN MANAGE TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE FROM OVER COMPENSATING AND CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE HONDA DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND OR THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON THAT A FUEL INJECTED, COMPUTER CONTROLLED ENGINE NEEDS TO IDLE 5 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING OFF. BASICALLY THIS FUEL INJECTED, COMPUTER CONTROLLED ENGINE IS THE SAME AS ANY AUTOMOBILE ENGINE AND NONE I AM FAMILIAR WITH EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. OVER 150 DOCUMENTED CASES ARE DISCLOSED AT IPETIONS.COM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631910

Aug 18, 2014Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRE FELT ABNORMAL WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.

NHTSA ODI 10625977

Aug 9, 2014Engine

COLD STUMBLE HAPPENS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS WARMED ABOVE THE COLD RIDE MARK SPECIFIED BY THE GL1800 OWNERS MANUAL BUT BEFORE THE ENGINE GETS TO THE FULLY WARM TEMPERATURE MARK, WHEN I STOP AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY AND GIVE THROTTLE TO THE MOTORCYCLE IT WILL STUMBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND ALMOST CAUSE THE RIDER TO DROP THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS RIDDEN FOR AN HOUR AND PARKED AT A SHOPPING MALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES IN 75* WEATHER AND THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARTED UP STILL HOT, IF I RIDE ABOUT 10FEET TO 15 FEET TO A STOP SIGN, THEN GIVE THROTTLE THE ENGINE STUMBLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN ALMOST CAUSING THE RIDER TO DROP THE MOTORCYCLE. PARTS AFFECTED "ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE'. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621114

Apr 4, 2014Fuel system

THE MOTORCYCLE HAD A HESITATION AT LOW SPEED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF BALANCE WHILE IN A TURN REQUIRING THE RIDER TO PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN TO PREVENT THE 900 LB MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING AT 8-10 MPH FROM FALLING IN ON A TURN. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED RPM 1250 WHICH PUTS THE SPEED ABOUT 8MPH. WHEN THE TROTTLE WAS INCREASES SLIGHTLY THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE IN A ON -OFF FASHION. WHEN THIS OCCURED WHILE IN A SLOW SPEED TURN THE RESULTS WHERE THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED POWER TO KEEP THE TURN GOING AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD FALL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TURN. HONDA WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE HESITATION. WA LEMON LAW ARBITRATION FORCED HONDA TO REPURCHASE THE MOTOCYCLE FILE # 130066.

NHTSA ODI 10577493

Nov 1, 2013EngineFuel system

I OWN A 2012 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS THE THIRD GOLDWING MODEL I HAVE OWNED SINCE 1978. I'VE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR ABOUT 46 YEARS NOW AND AM A SKILLED MECHANIC. MY REASON FOR THE COMPLAINT IS TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHER OWNERS FROM INJURY AND TO SEEK HELP WITH THE PROBLEM PLAGGING THE 2012/2013 MODEL GOLDWINGS. THERE IS A LOW END BOG WHEN ACCELERATING AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 12 WEEKS FOR THIS ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLVE. MY DEALER SENT MANY COMPUTER SCANS TO THE HONDA TECH DEPARTMENT, THE DEALER CAN SEE ON THESE GRAPHS THE GLITCH IN THE FUEL DELIVERY AND HONDA HAS TRIED SOME PARTS TO CORRECT THE GLITCH, SO THEY ARE ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM PUT DON'T HAVE A FIX FOR IT. I RODE MY 2001 GOLDWING ACROSS COUNTRY IN ALL TEMPS AND ELEVATIONS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE RIDDEN MULTIPLE 2012/2013 GOLDWINGS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WORSE THAT MINE. I SPOKE WITH MY DEALER TODAY AND WITH HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS BUT HONDA WILL DO NO MORE TO THE BIKE. HONDA SAYS IT'S A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MOTORCYCLE BUT IF THAT IS THE CASE WHY DID THEY TRY TO FIX IT? SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE HURT OR WORSE YET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS "CHARACTERISTIC". I'VE BEEN WORKING ON MOTORS AND RIDING LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. OLDER MODELS OF THIS BIKE HAVE NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS SO I'M THINKING HONDA KNOWS THIS WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT REFUSE TO DO SOMETHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THIS MODEL ON THE ROAD SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU ANY INFO THAT I HAVE. WE ALL PAID FOR A MOTORCYCLE THAT SHOULD PERFORM AND BE SAFE...PLEASE HELP...HONDA WON"T. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550566

Oct 28, 2013Transmission & drivetrainEngine

EVERY DAY WHEN LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY I START THE MOTORCYCLE. THEN DRIVE THE 50FT. TO THE STREET AND TURN LEFT. DURING THE TURN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGINS TO COUGH AND STUMBLE LOOKING FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION ALMOST FALLING OVER INTO THE STREET. TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING I MUST TURN THE THROTTLE SEVERAL TIMES TO INCREASE THE ENGINE RPM'S AND THEN MANAGE TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE FROM OVER COMPENSATING AND CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE HONDA DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND OR THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. THEN STATING THAT ALL 2012 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES ARE EXHIBITING THIS SAME CONDITION. BASICALLY THIS FUEL INJECTED, COMPUTER CONTROLLED ENGINE IS THE SAME AS ANY AUTOMOBILE ENGINE AND NONE I AM FAMILIAR WITH EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10549745

Oct 21, 2013EngineFuel system

THE 2012 AND LATER GOLDWINGS STALL DURING ACCELERATION WHEN THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FULL TEMPERATURE. THE STALLS CALL MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. OVER 150 DOCUMENTED CASES ARE DISCLOSED AT IPETIONS.COM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548741

Oct 19, 2013Engine

ON LEAVING WHEN ENGINE IS COLD, LEANING DO LEFT LEAVING DRIVEWAY ENGINE HESITATES OR CUTS OUT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, WHICH BIKE ALMOST TIPPING COMPLETELY OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548568

Oct 5, 2013Transmission & drivetrainWheels

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE HIGHWAY, AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT TIRE PICKED UP A SMALL, UNSEEN PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS AND FLUNG IT INTO THE OIL FILTER LOCATED ON THE LOWER FRONT END OF THE MOTOR CYCLE BODY. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE FILTER TO BE PUNCTURED, RESULTING IN A LARGE QUANTITY OF OIL TO BE EJECTED FROM THE BIKE AND SLUNG ALONG THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE MOTORCYCLE INCLUDING THE EXHAUST, THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND THE REAR TIRE. I BECAME AWARE OF THE SITUATION WHEN I NOTICED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE BIKE. I THEN LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. LUCKILY, I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND ALREADY STARTING TO SLOW DOWN. WHILE IN THE STOPPED POSITION I SAW A LARGE POOL OF OIL ON THE ROAD COMING FROM UNDER THE BIKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND MOVED THE BIKE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE HOLE IN THE OIL FILTER AND SAW THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE BIKE AND THE REAR WHEEL WERE COVERED IN THE OIL. I FEEL HONDA OWES IT TO ITS CUSTOMERS TO FIX THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY SAFETY CONCERN BY SIMPLY INSTALLING AN INEXPENSIVE BELLY PAN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BIKE. THIS WOULD SERVE TO PROTECT BOTH THE EXPOSED OIL FILTER AND THE EXPOSED COOLANT RESERVOIR. EITHER OF THESE EXPOSED ITEMS COULD, AND HAVE, EASILY GET PUNCTURED BY A ROCK OR OTHER DEBRIS AND SHOWER THE REAR TIRE AND BRAKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. I'VE CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. THEY HAVE DECLINED ANY ACTION. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA'S RESPONSE TO SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. HOPEFULLY, SOMEHOW THIS WILL BE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR WORSE. I WILL BE ORDERING AND INSTALLING A BELLY PAN ON MY BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10546878

Aug 1, 2013Fuel system

THE DATE SHOWN ABOVE IS THE LAST INCIDENT. THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING ISSUE THAT FIRST STARTED IN AUGUST, 2011. WHENEVER THE GOLDWING IS RAN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF 100 DEGREES OR HIGHER, WHEN YOU STOP AND PARK THE GOLDWING THE ISSUE OCCURS. AFTER SETTING FOR 10 - 15 MINUTES, IT BEGINS TO VENT GASOLINE FUMES. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, IT HAD BEEN SETTING IN MY CLOSED GARAGE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, WHEN I WENT OUT INTO THE GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE FREEZER. ON OPENING THE DOOR INTO THE GARAGE, I WAS GREETED WITH VERY STRONG GASOLINE FUMES. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT I DID NOT WANT TO CREATE A SPARK BY USING THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER, SO I RELEASED THE OPENER AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR BY HAND. I HAD TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE FUMES WERE COMPLETELY VENTED FROM THE GARAGE. I HAVE HAD THE GOLDWING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE OR FIND ANY REASON FOR IT. I HAVE CALLED HONDA SUPPORT TWICE TO TRY AND GET A FIX. THE LAST TIME WAS JULY 24, 2013. THEY SUPPOSEDLY ESCALATED THE ISSUE TO A MODEL SPECIALIST AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET A RESPONSE BACK. I AM STILL WAITING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE SAME RESULTS FROM HONDA. THEY JUST SAID IT WAS GAS IN THE TANK GETTING HOT AND VENTING AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I ASKED THEM WHAT THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF THE EMISSION EQUIPMENT WAS AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS BEEN SO HOT, I HAVE ACTUALLY SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES WHILE SETTING AND WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE IN THE MOTORCYCLE OR AN EXPLOSION FROM THE GASOLINE FUMES IN MY GARAGE. HONDA JUST WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY CONCERNS OR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WITH A SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10533153

Jul 31, 2013EngineFuel system

THERE IS A HESITATION BETWEEN THROTTLE APPLICATION AND ENGINE RESPONSE THAT CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO LUNGE FORWARD THEN ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED TWO GOLDWINGS PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE AND NEITHER HAD THIS HESITATION PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10532817

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Working with the data? Download all 31 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Honda Gl1800 verdict →