AI Damage2001 Honda GL1800A: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Honda GL1800A filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 29% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- Structure: 4 complaints (29% of all).
- Suspension: 4 complaints (29% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The anti-drive system is mal-functioning & hydraulically locking the left front fork shock. This is allows the shock to over pressure & fail the sealing lip seal. The oil then is pumped out during the shock operation & the oil is covering the front brakes & tires.
2001 honda gl1800 goldwing motorcycle. While in traffic, applied front brake several times aggressively. Speeds were 20-30 mph. Un-knowing that the left front fork shock seal failed, after the braking in traffic, & oil was pushed out of the fork shock. The oil covered the front tire & brake.
While driving 40 mph, he noticed that the speedometer would not increase beyond 40 mph until he touched the screen. The dealer was stated that they could not replace the part without permission from honda.
In june of 2004 while riding in the mountains I downshifted to second gear, it went in fine but as I accelerated out of a curve the bike lurched forward. When I got back to reno I reported this to the local honda dealer. They rode it and could not get it to act up for them.
I submitted an earlier compliant #10237793. This described a frame crack is on the left side of the frame. Today, I found a second frame crack in the exact same location but, on the opposite side(right) of the frame. The crack originates in a weld area & migrates into the frame tubing.
I discovered the frame on my 2001 honda gl1800a is cracked. Its location is the left lower tube that is below the battery box. This particular crack situation has been experienced by many cqnsumers.this crack was not described in the last honda motorcycle frame crack recall.
I discovered frame cracks on my 2001 honda goldwing gl 1800, on 16 april, 2008. The frame cracks are located below the passenger foot rest on both left and right side. The crack begins in a weld and descends into the frame.
Tire losing air between tire and rim. 6 to 8 psi in a day. Multiple leaks around tire and wheel on both sides of tire. Checked for proper seating on rim. Ok. Reset tire on rim. Still leaks. Rim is in good condition.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL1800A has 6 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Honda GL1800A?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, suspension, electrical system. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (14%), unintended acceleration (14%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Honda GL1800A?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Honda GL1800A from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.