2008 Honda GL1800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GL1800 years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda GL1800. That ranks 4th out of 22 GL1800 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (9 complaints, 19%), typically at around 18,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 4 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 47owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 9 | 19% | 18,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 17% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 15% | 21,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 13% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 13% | 2,350 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 11% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 9% | 100 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 4% | 60 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 4% | 11,530 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 2% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | 80 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | 1,292 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 60 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Honda GL1800 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2009 and 2012 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A," Honda is recalling certain 2006-2009 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in Zone A or Zone B above, Honda is recalling certain 2006-2008 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KE5.
Air bags
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Honda GL1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured February 8, 2006, to May 14, 2009 originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Honda GL 1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured May 10, 2007, to May 14, 2009 originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Motorcycles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These motorcycles are equipped with an air bag inflator assembled as part of the air bag module, used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module containing the inflator, free of charge. Honda distributed an interim notification to owners on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KA8.
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.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact reported on a 2008 Honda Goldwing GL1800 Motorcycle. The contact is an Attorney and stated that the motorcycle was traveling at an undetermined speed and the braking system malfunctioned causing the operator to lose control of the motorcycle and drive off the road, down an embankment…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA GOLDWING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V700000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL…
V6 transmission started having problems getting stuck and popping out of 5th gear took to motorcycle factory woodbridge va where i bought it they said no problem later it is now completely wasted transmission and needs what everybody knows that it was a bad design and needs work at least 4-5 k to…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v347000 (air bags). The part for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda goldwing. While attempting to stop the vehicle in traffic, the front and rear brakes did not work. The contact downshifted to a stop. The motorcycle was driven home. The following day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master…
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 | 47 | 4 |
| 2007 GL1800 | 20 | 4 |
| 2006 GL1800 | 22 | 5 |
| 2005 GL1800 | 18 | 2 |
| 2004 GL1800 | 10 | 4 |
| 2003 GL1800 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda GL1800?
Owners most often report power train, steering, tires problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Honda GL1800?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 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 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.