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: 4 of 5 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.
Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. 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.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reports
1,502 miles · Mar 24, 2023
Service Brakes
The contact owns a 2016 Honda GL1800. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the rear brakes locked up, causing the motorcycle to abruptly stop. The contact pushed the motorcycle to a nearby parking lot and pumped the brake pedal several times until the brakes released. The motorcycle was taken to the dea…
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The contact owns a 2016 Honda GL1800. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the rear brakes locked up, causing the motorcycle to abruptly stop. The contact pushed the motorcycle to a nearby parking lot and pumped the brake pedal several times until the brakes released. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer but not diagnosed. The motorcycle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,502.
NHTSA ODI #11513549
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2021
Engine
Motorcycle stumbles and hesitates during engine warmup. Problem creates a hazard situation if this happens in traffic. If you apply throttle before engine is at operating temperature while leaving a street light, stop sign or in traffic the motorcycle stumbles and hesitates. This situation can cause the vehicle behind the motor…
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Motorcycle stumbles and hesitates during engine warmup. Problem creates a hazard situation if this happens in traffic. If you apply throttle before engine is at operating temperature while leaving a street light, stop sign or in traffic the motorcycle stumbles and hesitates. This situation can cause the vehicle behind the motorcycle to overrun the motorcycle cause an accident resulting in injury or even death.
NHTSA ODI #11437937
20,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA GOLD WING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, WHEN HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE BRAKES CEASED AND THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED BRAKING AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA GOLD WING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, WHEN HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE BRAKES CEASED AND THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED BRAKING AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V700000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER CYCLE CITY POWER SPORTS LOCATED AT 66 MILLARD FARMER INDUSTRIAL BLVD, NEWNAN, GA 30263, (855) 894-5973, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. ## VIN PASSED ## HONDA 2016 MOTORCYCLE GOLD WING AUDIO/COMFORT ##
NHTSA ODI #11349864
20,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineCrash
WITH BIKE IN GEAR, SIDE STAND DOWN, KILL SWITCH IN KILL POSITION, AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, WHILE REPLACING THE BATTERY THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BIKE ENGINE ENGAGED AND ROLLED FORWARD CAUSING IT TO FALL ON TOP OF ME, AND DAMAGING THE SADDLE BAG WHICH WAS LEFT OPEN BECAUSE THE COVER TO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT NOW IS ATTACHED INSI…
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WITH BIKE IN GEAR, SIDE STAND DOWN, KILL SWITCH IN KILL POSITION, AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, WHILE REPLACING THE BATTERY THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BIKE ENGINE ENGAGED AND ROLLED FORWARD CAUSING IT TO FALL ON TOP OF ME, AND DAMAGING THE SADDLE BAG WHICH WAS LEFT OPEN BECAUSE THE COVER TO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT NOW IS ATTACHED INSIDE THE SADDLE BAG. HONDA IS BLAMING LIGHTS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER FOR BURNING OUT THE RELAY TO THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. THUS, BYPASSING THE NORMAL MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE BIKE FROM ENGAGING . THIS CONSTITUTES A SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW IF THE BIKE CAN START AND ENGAGE A GEAR WITH ALL OF THE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS IN PLACE. DURING THIS PROCEDURE THE BIKE WAS STATIONARY ON A LEVEL GARAGE FLOOR
NHTSA ODI #11152576
1 miles · Aug 21, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion System
I WAS JUST STARTING FROM MY HOUSE AND HAD SOME HESITATION IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I MADE A RIGHT TURN ABOUT A 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AGAIN I HAD HESITATION IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. NOTE, I DO LET THE BIKE IDLE DOWN BEFORE TAKEN OFF. THIS 2016 WITH FUEL INJECTION THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. HONDA NEEDS TO SOMETHING AND MAKE …
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I WAS JUST STARTING FROM MY HOUSE AND HAD SOME HESITATION IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I MADE A RIGHT TURN ABOUT A 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AGAIN I HAD HESITATION IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. NOTE, I DO LET THE BIKE IDLE DOWN BEFORE TAKEN OFF. THIS 2016 WITH FUEL INJECTION THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. HONDA NEEDS TO SOMETHING AND MAKE A RECALL.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2010 and 2012-2016 Honda GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycles. These motorcycles have air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag module that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KJ1.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2016 Honda GL1800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year