2001 Honda GL1800 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine running hot and the cooling system overflowing during slow, stop-and-go riding, along with front tire cupping that appears within the first few thousand miles of tire life. A separate group of complaints describes cracks in the aluminum frame near weld areas, and a smaller set describes rear brake drag or lock-up, in some cases after recall-related brake work. Most cooling complaints come from low-speed traffic rather than highway riding, and many complaints do not list an odometer reading.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and coolant overflow in slow traffic

   • 29 complaints (35%)
   • median 9,450 mi at 2.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2016

   Riders describe the temperature gauge climbing into the red during stop-and-go traffic, parades, or any stretch ridden between roughly 0 and 25 mph, and some say coolant escapes from the recovery tank and lands near the rear tire. Several complaints mention that the cooling fans stop running above about 15 mph, so heat builds in exactly the speed range where airflow is low. Owners report the gauge settling near the halfway mark afterwards in some cases, and several say the dealer or manufacturer told them the behaviour was not considered a problem. A few describe the engine shutting off or stalling during the same hot, slow conditions. Reports cluster around low-speed riding in warm weather; most complaints in the sample do not list an odometer reading, and those that do cite low mileage.

   What to check: Ride the bike in slow traffic or let it idle hot for several minutes and watch the temperature gauge and the coolant recovery tank. Ask the seller whether the coolant has been changed on schedule and whether the fans were ever checked for operation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Overheat/spewing of coolant on rear brakes and rear tire of my gl 1800/a Honda motorcycle. Situation was on the washington dc beltway, no shoulder to pull over onto, stop and go traffic. Motorcycle was spewing coolant on the the brakes and rear wheel, causing a very hot steam to rise on our legs and lower torso, also causing the rear wheel & brakes to become extremely slippery, as well as uncontrollable under existing traffic conditions. Honda has not fullfilled it's promis to repair these motorcycles as of yet!”

   NHTSA complaint #10030580, filed 2003-08, 9,450 miles

   “This is a manufacturer's defect. The cooling fans are designed to stop functioning at speeds in excess of 15 MPH. When I ride in stop and go traffic, or slow traffic. This motorcycle is certain to overheat (temperature gauge is in the red section). I must pull to the side of the road to allow the fans to come on and cool the motorcycle down obviously this is a dangerous situation. Dt”

   NHTSA complaint #770029, filed 2002-11
2. 2
   Tires

   Front tire cupping and front-end wobble

   • 14 complaints (17%)
   • median 23,525 mi at 3.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2010

   Owners describe the front tire developing severe cupping within the first few thousand miles even with pressures kept near the recommended figures, followed by a wobble or shake in the front end, especially at lower speeds or as the tire wears. Several complaints mention replacing tires repeatedly with the same result, and some describe vibration between about 40 and 50 mph that persisted after steering head bearing, fork alignment and balancing work. Some riders also report rear tires that cracked, bulged or went out of round, and a few describe tread separation. Dealers and tire makers were reported as saying the wear was normal or not covered. Cupping is described from roughly 3,000 to 5,000 miles on a tire, with wobble worsening as the tire ages; one report describes it at 17,000 miles on the bike.

   What to check: Run a hand over the front tread looking for scalloped or uneven wear and check tire date codes, then ride slowly through 30 to 50 mph to feel for shake. Ask what tires are fitted and how many miles they have covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This motorcycle radial tire has developed squirm ( the front end wobbles left/right) as though the radial plies have separated. I have not experienced this on any vehicle since the very first radials appeared on cars. I previously had radial michelins on another machine and had no such experience. Can you help? (DOT number: enu2 tiresize: 130/70r18)”

   NHTSA complaint #750837, filed 2001-08

   “Within the first 3000 miles abnormal tire wear started showing up, now at 5000 miles the tire is cupped to where it causes safety problems with handling. I don't think a tire should be worn and causing wobbles at so low of a mileage. I am seeing this on all the new 2001 goldwings that I see and talk to the owners. (tiresize: 130/70r18)”

   NHTSA complaint #750390, filed 2001-08
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Cracks in the aluminum frame near welds

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 62,800 mi at 8.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2005–2010

   Owners describe finding cracks in the aluminum frame, often at the edge of a weld or in a tube just past it, with locations including the rear triangle, the area above the left passenger footrest and the crossmember above the battery. Several say the crack was found during cleaning or routine maintenance rather than through any warning, and one reports the frame broken apart on both sides. Complaints describe frame weld inspection and repair under an earlier campaign, and later cracks appearing in the same or nearby areas, with dealers welding the frame in some cases and declining frame replacement in others. Mostly reported on motorcycles with tens of thousands of miles, from roughly 40,000 miles upward, including bikes that had already passed a frame weld inspection.

   Recall 05V0270002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the frame tubes around the rear triangle, above the left passenger footrest and above the battery, looking for hairline cracks or fresh weld repairs and paint. Ask whether the frame weld recall work was carried out and whether any frame repair or replacement has been done since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Motorcycle, Honda goldwing, 2001 left frame crack: there have been numerous instances of frames being cracked and upon inspection of my motorcycle frame I noticed that I have the identical crack in my frame. The crack is located adjacent to the left passenger footrest and is visible by removing the rear tire and viewing it from under the bike. The crack extends down from a weld that attaches the lower left rear support tube to the center section of the frame.”

   NHTSA complaint #10325068, filed 2010-04, 93,457 miles

   “I've been keeping a close eye on the frame issues since I have an early '01 standard. During the one recall the dealer found that the welds were too small and had them repaired per the service bulletin. Then later they found a crack on the left crossmember above the battery where we've seen others cracked. The dealer checked with Honda to see if they would replace the frame and Honda said no. The dealer did repair the frame by welding and sprayed silver paint over the repair under warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10239119, filed 2008-08, 64,999 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Rear brake drag and lock-up

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 23,153 mi at 14.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2021

   Owners describe the rear brake dragging or locking on without warning, in some cases causing a violent shudder after brake recall work and in others locking the rear wheel during low-speed traffic. One rider reports the rear wheel locking within a short distance of purchase, and another describes the bike stopping abruptly at around 20 mph before the brake released after several attempts. Complaints also mention a rear brake dragging condition that was the subject of earlier service campaigns, with a dealer reworking the system without resolving the shudder in one case. Reported at widely varying mileage, from within the first few dozen miles of ownership to over 20,000 miles, and often during sustained low-speed brake use in traffic.

   Recall 15V700000Recall 11V5670009 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the secondary master cylinder recall work was completed and when the brake fluid was last replaced, since the recall text ties drag to neglected fluid changes. Push the bike with the engine off to feel for any rear brake drag.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a 1800 Honda goldwing touring bike 2-3 years ago had a brake recall and still do? Mine was worked on twice? After I bought I drove it 54 miles the rear wheel locked up pulling me in the ditch? Flipping the bike and sending it end over end total? That was all don,t before I got out of the er and hospitol....updated 06/21/17 the consumer stated the vehicle was totaled and sold. Updated 08/04/2017”

   NHTSA complaint #11000149, filed 2017-06, 52 miles

   “Had brake recall work done at Honda dealership. After that & has temp got hotter I developed a extremely violent brake shutter.returned it to the dealership. They notified Honda and attempted to rework the brakes but did not fix the problem. I did some research on the internet goldwing brake shuddering & found out I was not the only one having this problem & Honda is aware of it.called Honda cs told them what it was doing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885934, filed 2016-07, 23,153 miles

Buying note. On a used example, the highest-value checks are the frame around the rear triangle and passenger footrest area, the condition and age of the tires, and whether the brake recall work and fluid changes were done. A slow-traffic test ride is worth more than a highway run on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.