AI Damage2003 Honda GL1800A: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Honda GL1800A filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 16
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 63% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Structure: 10 complaints (63% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 16 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 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
In :march, 2016, I purchased a 2003 honda goldwing 1800a from the original owner, a private party. I took the motorcycle in repairs, as it was damaged. The mechanic found a crack in the rear frame near a weld, and referred me to redlands honda. I spoke to wes in service who inspected the frame and called honda.
Bought the bike july 9. Private party. I was going thru the bike checking everything out and found the frame is broke behind the passenger floorboards on both sides. I have done some research and this is very common.
If the rear foot pedal brake is applied without also using the front hand brake the bike shudders, sometimes violently, and the braking power is diminished .applying the front brake usually eliminates the shudder. The greater the ambient temperature the worse the problem gets.
A friend on mine also riding a gl1800 found a frame tube cracked on his motorcycle. After checking many bulletin boards on the internet he found this to be an ongoing problem in the same model years of bikes that honda put out a recall on in 2005 because of defective welds. His entire frame was replace by honda.
Shift shaft seal dislodged from engine/transmission, causing engine oil to be dumped onto roadway ahead of rear tire. First occurrence-seal replaced under warranty. Second occurrence-owner charged for repair, even though vehicle is covered by extended warranty.
Engine appears to be overheating during slow speed operation. Temperature gauge enters the red danger zone during "parade mode riding" (heavy traffic). Cooling fan operation and brake (light) operation have dramatic impact on gauge indication when the engine is warm.
2003 gl 1800a excessive front end wobble beginning shortly after the purchase of the motorcycle of which honda has made clear is "normal" when in reality it's highly dangerous.
The gl1800 overheats to the point of spilling coolant. The coolant overflow hose is in front of the rear tire. Honda has identified the problem and attempted a fix by installing a new ecm, however the problem still exists.
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 9,040 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL1800A has 6 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 16, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda GL1800A?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 16. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (13%), jerking, harsh shifts (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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.