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2003 Honda GL1800Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 101 owner complaints about the 2003 Honda GL1800, most often about the structure. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-700 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.

42
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.4× the GL1800 median · #2 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 54%Owner complaints1013 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage19kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 13, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Honda GL1800 has problems

101 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure540
Engine and engine cooling140
Steering81
Suspension61
Service brakes51
Power train51
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Tires30
Wheels20
6 other systems70

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2003 Honda GL1800 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

54%repaired · 2017 Q1

Foundation components: master cylinder

Recall 15V-700 · Oct 23, 2015 · 145,219 vehicles · 78,319 repaired

Risk. A rear brake that drags may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: master cylinder

Recall 11V-567 · Dec 1, 2011 · 126,000 vehicles

Risk. UNEXPECTED BRAKING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE REAR BRAKE DRAGGING MAY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure: frame and members

Recall 05V-027 · Jan 31, 2005 · 34,919 vehicles

Risk. THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 05V-010 · Jan 24, 2005 · 36,046 vehicles

Risk. IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Frame and members: underbody shields

Recall 03V-350 · Sep 26, 2003 · 8,196 vehicles

Risk. THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK, RESULTING IN REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE OR LOWER CROSS MEMBER SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.

Mileage at failure

When do structure problems start?

19kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 26 structure complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
17under 30k miles24under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other GL1800 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the GL1800 median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'12'13'14'15'16'18'19'20'21'22'23'24
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Honda GL1800, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Southern Honda PowersportsAQ12001 · closed May 13, 2013
    No recall
  2. MOTORCYCLE COOLANT SPRAY ONTO REAR TIREPE02077 · closed Mar 28, 2003
    No recall
  3. REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSEPE03039 · closed Oct 10, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-350
  4. FRAME CROSSMEMEBER WELD FAILURESRQ04009 · closed Feb 2, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-027
In owners' words

What GL1800 owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TOLD BY HONDA THE FRAME RECALL WAS DONE IN 2012. IN 2020 I INSPECTED THE FRAME AND THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE FRAME AGAIN WHERE THE RECALL STATED THEY WOULD BE. THE REPLACEMENT FRAME IS CRACKING. BOTH MAJOR CRACKS ARE AT THE WELDS AT THE REAR PASSENGER FOOT PEGS
Complaint 11354733 · Sep 13, 2020 · 90,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA GL1800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS LOCATED AT THE MID SECTION OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER…
Complaint 11339911 · Jul 17, 2020 · 138,000 miles
HONDA SAFETY RECALL SERVICE BULLETIN GL1800 #14 REVISED: SEPTEMBER 2008 STATES THAT MY MOTORCYCLE IS ONE OF THE AFFECTED UNITS FOR THE RECALL (I.E. THE FRAME WELDS NEED TO BE REINFORCED). THAT WORK HAS NEVER BEEN DONE. HOWEVER, THE RECORDS FOR DOING A VIN CHECK ONLY GO BACK 15 YEARS, AND A LOCAL…
Complaint 11233116 · Jul 18, 2019

Own a 2003 GL1800?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.