2003 Honda GL1800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GL1800 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda GL1800. That ranks 2nd out of 22 GL1800 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (54 complaints, 53%), typically at around 19,010 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 101owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Honda GL1800 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 54 | 53% | 19,010 | “goldwing motorcycle” (13%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 14% | 2,300 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 8% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 6% | 9,989 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 5% | 32,090 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 20,997 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 2% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 13,590 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1% | 7,900 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | 5,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Honda GL1800 recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: 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.
Risk: The welded area could break, resulting in rear suspension collapse or lower cross member separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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, hydraulic
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields
Problem: 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.
Risk: The welded area could break, resulting in rear suspension collapse or lower cross member separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: On certain motorcycles, the bank angle sensors designed to shut off the fuel pump and the engine electrical power in the event the motorcycle falls over, were installed using the wrong size screws allowing the screws to eventually detach from their mounting point.
Risk: If the sensor detaches, the engine will stop unexpectedly. Sudden loss of engine power, especially while turning, could cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the mounting screw size and, if necessary, install screws of the correct size. Owner notification began december 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-289-8226.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Southern Honda Powersports (AQ12001) — opened May 14, 2012, closed May 13, 2013.
- Frame crossmemeber weld failures (RQ04009) — opened Sep 21, 2004, closed Feb 2, 2005, led to recall 05V027000.
- Rear suspension collapse (PE03039) — opened Aug 11, 2003, closed Oct 10, 2003, led to recall 03V350000.
- Motorcycle coolant spray onto rear tire (PE02077) — opened Oct 15, 2002, closed Mar 28, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Told by honda the frame recall was done in 2012. In 2020 i inspected the frame and there are cracks in the frame again where the recall stated they would be. The replacement frame is cracking. Both major cracks are at the welds at the rear passenger foot pegs
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda gl1800. The contact stated that upon inspection it was discovered that the frame was fractured. The contact indicated that the fracture was located at the mid section of the left side of the motorcycle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA GL1800. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED HOWEVER FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO CYCLE SHACK NORTH (1101 INTERSTATE 45 S, CONROE, TX 77301 [redacted]) WHERE IT WAS…
Honda safety recall service bulletin gl1800 #14 revised: september 2008 states that my motorcycle is one of the affected units for the recall (i.e. The frame welds need to be reinforced). That work has never been done. However, the records for doing a vin check only go back 15 years, and a local…
The engine run hotter than usual in heavy traffic and going up hill at higher rpm . All fans are running ok as expected but still when ever stuck in traffic at 75 degree temperature outside the engine temperature seem to creep up higher towards the red mark . This is a safety issue as if the engine…
Other Honda GL1800 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 GL1800 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 GL1800 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 GL1800 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021 GL1800 | 7 | 3 |
| 2020 GL1800 | 1 | 3 |
| 2019 GL1800 | 8 | 2 |
| 2018 GL1800 | 34 | 2 |
| 2016 GL1800 | 5 | 1 |
| 2015 GL1800 | 8 | 2 |
| 2014 GL1800 | 7 | 2 |
| 2013 GL1800 | 9 | 2 |
| 2012 GL1800 | 31 | 4 |
| 2010 GL1800 | 24 | 4 |
| 2009 GL1800 | 2 | 5 |
| 2008 GL1800 | 47 | 4 |
| 2007 GL1800 | 20 | 4 |
| 2006 GL1800 | 22 | 5 |
| 2005 GL1800 | 18 | 2 |
| 2004 GL1800 | 10 | 4 |
| 2003 | 101 | 6 |
| 2002 GL1800 | 182 | 6 |
| 2001 GL1800 | 84 | 5 |
See all Honda GL1800 problems by year, every Honda model, or the Honda VIN decoder.
Similar Honda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda GL1800?
Owners most often report structure, engine and engine cooling, steering problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 54 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Honda GL1800?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Honda GL1800 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GL1800 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.