2018 Honda GL1800

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the rpm decreased, and the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 13,262.

HONDA MADE ACCESS TO THE FUEL DOOR A MULTI PROCESS OPENING ONE DOOR VIA AN ACTUATOR TO ACCESS THE MAIN FUEL DOOR. RIDERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE DOOR EITHER OPENING ON ITS OWN CATCHING WIND AND BREAKING OFF THE HINGES TO NOT OPENING AT ALL FORCING THE DOOR TO BE BROKEN TO GAIN ACCESS TO FUEL. WHEN THE DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN IT CREATING AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE WIND CATCHING THE BIKE MOVEMENT AND ACTUALLY BREAKING FROM THE FORCE TO NOT OPENING AT ALL IN A REMOTE AREA NOT ABLE TO FUEL LEAVING THE BIKE STRANDED IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BREAK THE DOOR WHICH HONDA WONT COVER. I HAVE PICTURE OF MINE REPRESENTING THE ISSUE AND THIS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED GREATLY.

I TRAILERED MY 2018 GOLDWING DCT, IN A TOY HAULER 5TH WHEEL. I SECURED THE BIKE WITH RATCHETING TIE DOWNS AT THE HANDLEBARS, ACROSS THE SEAT AND MORE IN THE BACK OF THE BIKE. THE BIKE WAS FINE AFTER DAY 1 OF TRAVEL. AFTER DAY 2, WHEN WE ARRIVED WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SPINDLE ON WHICH THE HANDLEBARS PIVOT, HAD COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF, AND THE HANDLEBARS WERE NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFICALLY WARNED NOT TO ANCHOR AT THE HANDLEBARS; MY OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT STATE ANYTHING REGARDING ANCHORING/NOT ANCHORING AT THE HANDLEBARS. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE BIKE, WITH ZERO ABILITY TO STEER, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THIS WAS AS CATASTROPHIC A STEERING FAILURE AS I CAN IMAGINE. THERE ALREADY IS A SHOP BULLETIN, REGARDING MY BIKE, BUT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY BIKE DIDN'T QUALIFY, AS THE REPORTED SLOP IN MY HANDLEBARS WAS NOT VERTICAL, SO THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITHOUT ACTUALLY MY BIKE'S STEERING SPINDLE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE DAMAGE, BUT THIS PAGE WON'T LET ME LOAD IT. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SPINDLE HAS CRACKED, PREVIOUSLY, BASED ON THE DISCOLORATION. THE BIKE WILL BE DELIVERED TO MY DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY, 9/8/2020. THEY CLAIM THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE DIED. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL 2018 GOLDWINGS, AS HONDA ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT AN EXISTING ISSUE (THE SHOP BULLETIN).

I WAS SEATED ON MY 2018 DCT GOLDWING, HAVING JUST ROLLED BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, (I DID NOT USE THE REVERSE FUNCTION) IT WAS RUNNING, WHEN I PUSHED "D" FOR DRIVE IT SHOT OUT FORWARD ON IT'S OWN, AS IF THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN. WITHIN 1 SECOND OR LESS I REAR ENDED ANOTHER 2018 GOLDWING ABOUT 1 CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME. WE BOTH CRASHED. NO SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURY TO US. BUT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH TO BYSTANDERS IN THE PARKING LOT IF WE HAD HIT THEM. I WAS NOT TWISTING THE THROTTLE, AS THE PARKING LOT WAS CROWDED. THE ENGINE DID NOT SLOW TILL IT HIT THE GROUND WHEN THE AUTO KILL ENGAGED. I FEAR THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN EITHER THE THROTTLE BY WIRE, OR COMPUTER CONTROLS. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF OTHER 2018 DCTS THAT LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT TWISTING THE THROTTLE.

SELF-CANCELING TURN SIGNALS TURN OFF AFTER 7 SECONDS WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE SPEEDS. THIS IS WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DESCRIBES AS 'LANE CHANGE MODE'. THIS REQUIRES ME TO REACTIVATE THE SIGNALS AT LEAST 3 TIMES PRIOR TO MAKING A TURN. THE SELF-CANCELING FUNCTION WILL ONLY WORK PROPERLY WHEN SPEED IS LESS THAN 25 MPH. I HAVE HAD THIS AT THE LOCAL DEALER FOR 10 DAYS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT OR PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATION ON WHY IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR ON HOW TO SELECT NORMAL MODE VERSES LANE CHANGE MODE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED HONDA TECHNICAL SUPPORT (866-784-1870 CASE # 11368588) 4 TIMES, THEY ARE ALSO UNABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THE OPERATION OF THE SIGNALS, THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO OPERATE THE SIGNALS. I HAVE ASKED HONDA TO PROVIDE ME WITH CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THEIR LARGEST GOLDWING DEALERS HOPING ONE OF THEM WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS DEALER INFORMATION. THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE WHAT IS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR DIRECTION ON OPERATING THE TURN SIGNALS, THERE IS NO DIRECTION OR INFORMATION ON HOW TO SELECT THE NORMAL MODE OR THE LANE CHANGE MODE. ' THE TURN SIGNAL WILL AUTOMATICALLY STOP WHEN YOU COMPLETE THE TURN. ' WHEN USED FOR A LANE CHANGE, THE TURN SIGNAL AUTOMATICALLY STOPS AFTER 7 SECONDS OR AFTER RIDING 131 YARDS (120 M). YOU CAN MANUALLY CANCEL THE TURN SIGNAL BY PRESSING THE SWITCH IN. IN SOME CASES, THE TIMING AT WHICH THE TURN SIGNAL STOPS IS CHANGED. ALWAYS USE THE RECOMMENDED TIRES TO ENSURE CORRECT AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION OPERATION.

I AM WRITING YOU REGARDING MY NEW 2018 HONDA GOLDWING TOUR. THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. IT ONLY WORKS AS A LANE CHANGING PROGRAM, WHICH MAKES IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE. IN THEIR CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND THEY SIMPLY TURN OFF FAR TOO SOON. I OFTEN FIND THAT I HAVE TO TURN THEM BACK ON BEFORE I COMPLETE MY TURN. THAT IS OF COURSE VERY HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF AS YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN, DOWN SHIFTING, WATCHING TRAFFIC AND PLANNING YOUR TURN. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I NO LONGER USE THIS FEATURE AS IT IS SAFETY HAZARD. PEOPLE AROUND YOU THINK YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR MIND AND THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TURN FOR EXAMPLE. THIS CONCERN IS BEING ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE GOLDWING COMMUNITY. ANY OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS OR FACEBOOK GROUPS HAVE MANY RIDERS SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING ABOUT THIS SYSTEM. IT IS EVEN MENTIONED IN MANY REVIEWS OF THE BIKE, FOR EXAMPLE: HONDA SAYS IT WAS BUILT THAT WAY AND ITS NORMAL TO TURN OFF EARLY... THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE PLUS THEY OFFER AN OPTION IN THE SOFTWARE TO CONVERT IT TO MANUAL WHICH MEANS THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM. WHO ELSE OFFERS AN OPTION TO TURN OFF THE AUTO CANCELLATION. WHAT OTHER TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CLICKED ON NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION YOU WANT TO TURN AT? IT STAYS ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 SECONDS THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF, WHICH ONLY GOOD FOR A QUICK LANE CHANGE. THIS IS OCCURRING ON EVERY BIKE FROM AT LEAST 2018 ON ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME BIKE. THE GOLDWING FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX IT OR STOP ADVERTISING THAT IT HAS AUTO TURN CANCELLATION. WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY A LANE CHANGE ONLY SWITCH. BIKE IS 2018 NEW GOLDWING WITH ONLY 3500 MILES ON IT.

THIS IS A BRAND-NEW LEFTOVER 800 POUND MOTORCYCLE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REBOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT RIDES WELL ON SMOOTH ROADS AND BECOMES EXTREMELY PUNISHING AND THREATENING ON NORMAL IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. I DISCOVERED THIS WITHIN MY FIRST TWENTY MINUTES OF OWNING THE BIKE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP EVER SINCE. THIS IS HONDA'S PREMIUM TOURING BIKE, ONE THAT THEY CLAIM IS THE SMOOTHEST, MOST SOPHISTICATED LONG-DISTANCE BIKE ON THE PLANET, YET IT CONSTANTLY BOTTOMS OUT AND FEELS QUITE DANGEROUS OVER LARGER POTHOLES OR COMMON ROUGH AREAS ON SO MANY OF OUR CALIFORNIA ROADS. THE MECHANIC HONDA SENT ME TO CLAIMED THAT THIS "STIFFNESS THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OUT" WAS NORMAL FOR THE BASE GOLD WING AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE STOCK SHOCKS WITH VERY EXPENSIVE AFTER-MARKET SHOCKS. THOUSANDS OF WORDS OF HONDA ADVERTISING CLAIM THAT IS THE FINEST, MOST COMFORTABLE TOURING BIKE ON THE ROAD, YET THEIR MECHANIC SAYS I NEED NEW SHOCKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS, AND I WELCOME ANY INSPECTION BY QUALIFIED ENGINEERS OR TECHNICIANS (THOSE WHO DON'T OWE THEIR LIVELIHOOD TO HONDA) TO PROVE WHAT I SAY, AND I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR THOSE INSPECTIONS. HONDA GAVE ME A THREE-YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY AND THEN SIMPLY VOIDED IT BY HAVING ONE OF THEIR UNDERLINGS SAY THE BIKE IS NORMAL. THIS IS CORPORATE OBFUSCATION AT ITS WORST. HONDA HAS DEVELOPED A BRAND NEW FRONT END AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR 2018, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO OPEN PANDORA'S BOX AND ADMIT THAT SOME OF THESE BIKES ARE NOT SAFE TO RIDE. SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR FOR A COMPANY I HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH SINCE 1968. I KNOW AND CAN PROVE THAT MOST OF THESE BIKES, THE TRULY NORMAL ONES, RIDE VERY WELL, JUST AS I KNOW THAT MINE IS ABNORMAL AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

2 INCIDENTS- MAY 26TH 2019 AND NOVEMBER 24TH 2019. AT A STOP ON A STREET - THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS THE HONDA 7 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE GOLD WING TOUR DCT MOTORCYCLE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT OPENING THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE BIKE TO LEAP FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IN MAY HAPPENED WHILE THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHICH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AS THE ENGINE POWER OVERCAME THE BRAKES AND JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET - THE BIKE WAS STOPPED BY ENGAGING THE KILL SWITCH. THE SECOND TIME IN NOVEMBER MY HAND WAS NOT ON THE RIGHT HANDLE - THROTTLE - WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSED THE BIKE TO GO FORWARD ABOUT 4 FEET BEFORE I COULD GRAB THE BRAKES AND STOP FORWARD MOTION. FORTUNATELY IN BOTH CASES THERE WAS NOT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME......