IllustrationSELF APPLYING REAR BRAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MUST STOMP BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE. UNPREDICTABLE OCCURANCE.
1996 Honda GL1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GL1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reportsTHE TURN SIGNALS ON ALL HONDA GOLDWINGS MOTORCYCLE ARE DESIGNED TO CANCEL AFTER 7 SECONDS OR AFTER 110 YARDS OF TRAVEL. THIS MEANS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE SIGNALS MANY TIMES BEFORE TURNING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SIGNALS DO NOT CANC…
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THE TURN SIGNALS ON ALL HONDA GOLDWINGS MOTORCYCLE ARE DESIGNED TO CANCEL AFTER 7 SECONDS OR AFTER 110 YARDS OF TRAVEL. THIS MEANS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE SIGNALS MANY TIMES BEFORE TURNING. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SIGNALS DO NOT CANCEL IF SPEED IS BELOW 15 MPH. *AK *BF *NM
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BEARING WAS GETTING WORSE, AND HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR 4-5 YEARS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WONT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS SHOT AND IS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT MAKIN…
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THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BEARING WAS GETTING WORSE, AND HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR 4-5 YEARS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WONT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS SHOT AND IS WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT MAKING NOISE DUE TO THE SUSPENSION/BEARING(S) BUT THE TIRES. (THE NOISE EXISTED IN THE PAST 3 SETS OF TIRES) THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO BE RIDING AND POSSIBLY GETTING HURT OR KILLED INCLUDING A PASSENGER. *SCC
MOTORCYCLE NEVER HANDLED PROPERLY. IN SEPTEMBER CONSUMER WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN REAR OF MOTORCYCLE LOCKED THE WHEEL. THIS RESULTED FROM SWING ARM BECOMING BENT, AND DISCONNECTED PARTIALLY FROM FRAME OF MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
BALANCE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ON THE ROAD, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. CLIENT WAS THROWN OFF MOTORCYCLE AND LANDED ON HIS BACK, PUNCTURING A LUNG.
BATTERY FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING HEAD BEARING LOOSENED UP,CAUSED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE FRONT WHEEL. WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *SLC
STOCK BRAKE PADS FADED WHEN THEY ARE HOT AND BRAKES PRODUCED A SQUEALING NOISE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.