The 2004 Honda Gl1800 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 342,184 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC15V7000002015-10-23145,219 affected
Defect
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.
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.
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…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC11V5670002011-12-01126,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
STRUCTURE05V0270002005-01-3134,919 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC05V0100002005-01-2436,046 affected
Defect
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
POWER TRAIN
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
EQUIPMENT:MOTORCYCLE:HELMETS
1
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints11
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda gl1800 motorcycle. The contact stated that the motorcycle exhibited fractures along the passenger and driver side lower frame, located at the passenger side foot rest. The motorcycle was not taken to a dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not contacted.…”
“Transmission "locked up" and the vehicle will no longer move. Forward or reverse, nothing. The rear wheel will not turn at all. Had just come out of driveway when it started making a chattering noise, then when I got on road the noise got louder and about the time I shifted to second gear the rear…”
“As you are driving when engine gets warm kills on you .found out its the computer honda is having issues with them and know they are trying to update has not made recall. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda goldwing motorcycle. While attempting to stop, the vehicle hesitated before finally coming to a stop. The contact replaced the brakes and brake pads; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified…”
“Hjc symax ii modular helmet complaint both my friend and I, [xxx] (witness), both riding 30 years, were traveling.on the blue ridge pkwy entering the parkway at waynesboro, va to avoid the skyline drive. Around 7:15 we decided to head to roanoke where we would have cell and internet. Headed south…”
“The gl1800 motorcycle has a reverse on it. This should only be allowed to engage, when in neutral & never while running. I found a circumstance that allowed it to start engaging, and possibly could have been disastrous had I not acted quickly. The steps for this are: -bike is in 1st gear -bike is…”
“The gl1800 motorcycle has a reverse on it. This should only be allowed to engage, when in neutral & never while running. I found a circumstance that allowed it to start engaging, and possibly could have been disastrous had I not acted quickly. The steps for this are: -bike is in 1st gear -bike is…”
“2004 goldwing october 2003 build date. At roughly 12,000 miles spring 2005, third gear engagement, up or down, would occasionally result in a single loud clunk as throttle power was applied. By the time the bike was at 55,000 miles summer 2009, this condition of clunking (skipping a gear dog) was…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ12001 Opened 2012-05-14 · closed 2013-05-13
Southern Honda Powersports
NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act…
InvestigationRQ04009 Opened 2004-09-21 · closed 2005-02-02
FRAME CROSSMEMEBER WELD FAILURES
HONDA IS AMENDING THE SCOPE OF 03V-350 TO ADD 34,919 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLES.THE INITIAL RECALL RANGE INCLUDED FRAMES MANUFACTURED WITH ONE OF A NUMBER OF WELDING PROCESSES.HONDA BELIEVED, ON THE BASIS OF DATA AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, THAT ONLY THOSE GL'S BUILT WITH THAT ONE PROCESS WERE AT…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Honda Gl1800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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