AI Damage2004 Honda GL1800A: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Honda GL1800A filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and electronic stability control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electronic stability control 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 33% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
I have a 2004 honda goldwing with a california side car kit. I purchased it from the second owner about 1.5 yrs ago. About a year ago I was riding a back road when the starter engaged. I hadn't touched the start switch? I tried the kill switch both positions as this model has an up and down feature.
On 2004 honda gl1800a motorcycle transmission would jump back into 4th gear from od gear. The transmission would also disengage while in od gear.
Dt: the consumer stated that when riding the motorcycle at 40 mph and taking both hands off of the handle bars, the motorcycle would shake violently. The consumer also noticed this problem on july 5, 2005. The consumer spoke to the dealer and they were going to charge the consumer for inspecting the motorcycle.
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 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL1800A has 6 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda GL1800A?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, electronic stability control, engine. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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 2026-11-06.