2012 Honda GL1800: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 31 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel/propulsion system (35% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I am having slow speed hesitation with the throttle while riding on the road. When I roll the throttle on the bike sometimes hesitates, does nothing so when I try more fuel the throttle control finally decides to start working and has made for some wild rides especially in turns. It is dangerous to have too much fuel added when not expecting it. This has been an ongoing problem for about a year now.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2016
“My goldwing has the hesitation problem like so many others. I have almost dropped the bike a couple of times because of the stumble. It will hesitate and then the engine will suddenly get fuel again and lunge forward dangerously. If I would hit sand or gravel or be on a gravel road or gravel parking lot it would be a bad spin out and lose control and go down with damage to myself , my wife and the bike. It has happened many times so one date listed down below is not accurate. Bought the bike on dec 12,2015 with only 1685miles on it. Previous owner said it stumbled. My 1988 had the same problem and had a safety recall to fix it. Why not these newer goldwings?”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2015
“On cold start-ups(even in the summer in florida), the motorcycle will stumble or hesitate until warmed up. This causes inconsistent and unpredictable throttle control in slow turns. I have nearly dropped the motorcycle multiple times and also have encountered pulling out in traffic and not having predictable throttle control to get going safely. Very dangerous!”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“Engine has a serious safety issue with severe hesitation to a momentary loss of complete power during cold operating temperatures and same severe problem on hot shut down and restart. Also hesitates at all times while driving but not as severe as first two. This is a serious safety issue in traffic and pulling out. This happens when pulling into traffic in city street and highway while turning and going straight.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2015
“I own a motorcycle repair shop. I have documents showing american honda motor co. Is not complying with campaign number 14v472000. They state there is no remedy for this issue but in fact they have implemented one. I send customers to dealers and the dealer and honda motor co. Customer service deny their claim and either charge them for repairs or I do the repair. What good is a recall if you don't enforce it? Someone will have a bad crash and die. I want to know where to send my paper work and get someone to act on this recall.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2015
“On leaving when engine is cold, leaning do left leaving driveway engine hesitates or cuts out causing loss of power, which bike almost tipping completely over. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda goldwing motorcycle. The contact stated that the motorcycle rode roughly at various speeds. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 900.”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2013
“At low operating temperature, at low rpms (about 1700) acts like it is starved for fuel (stumbles) and acts like it will not take fuel. Tried a hot reset of the ecm, letting the bike warm up, still does it. Several other owners on the gl1800.org website are reporting the same or similar problem. *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda goldwing motorcycle. The contact stated that the front tire felt abnormal while riding approximately 55 mph. The front end of the vehicle vibrated violently. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 7,500.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2012
“The 2012 and later goldwings stall during acceleration when the engine temperature is below full temperature. The stalls call momentary loss of control. Over 150 documented cases are disclosed at ipetions.com. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2012
Recalls - 5 campaigns
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2010 and 2012-2015 GL1800, 2001-2005 GL1800A and 2013-2015 GL1800B motorcycles. The rear brakes of the affected motorcycles may drag after the brakes are released.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary brake master cylinder and the rear brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on December 7, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JV6. Note: This recall supercedes recall 14V-472.
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.
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2009 and 2012 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A," Honda is recalling certain 2006-2009 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in Zone A or Zone B above, Honda is recalling certain 2006-2008 Honda GL1800 (Goldwing) motorcycles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KE5.
KURYAKYN IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MOUNTS, PART NUMBER 607005, SOLD AND INSTALLED FOR USE ON 2001-2012 HONDA GL 1800 (GOLDWING) MOTORCYCLES. THIS MOUNT WAS SOLD ON KURYAKYN 'TRANSFORMER' PASSENGER FLOORBOARD SETS, PART NUMBER 7005 FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, TO PRESENT. THE FLOORBOARD MOUNT MAY CRACK AND BREAK FREE FROM THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT SECURE THE MOUNT TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Remedy: KURYAKYN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE REPLACEMENT MOUNT KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KURYAKYN AT 1-866-296-4728.
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2010, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMBINED BRAKING SYSTEM'S SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO DRAG.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
How other years compare
Check your exact GL1800 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Honda GL1800 reliable?
NHTSA has 31 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Honda GL1800. The most complained-about area is fuel/propulsion system (35% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2012 Honda GL1800 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 4,700 miles or less.
Does the 2012 Honda GL1800 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.