VehicleVerdict

2008 Honda Gl1800 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 60 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 4.6 times the median Gl1800 year — the 2008 model ranks #4 of 23 Gl1800 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 12 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (11), transmission (9), and steering (8), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

60

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

12

Injuries

2

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other Gl1800 years?

See all Gl1800 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Honda Gl1800 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes1118%
Transmission915%
Steering813%
Tires & Wheels712%
Suspension610%
Lighting47%
Other35%
Fuel System23%
Electrical System23%
Airbags23%
Engine23%
Visibility & Wipers12%
Seats12%
Speed Control12%
Body & Structure12%

Does the 2008 Honda Gl1800 have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

17V031000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 882 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the operator 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 2017. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle Customer Support at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KE5.

16V347000AirbagsMay 24, 2016 · 2,701 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Honda GL1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured February 8, 2006, to May 14, 2009 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Honda GL 1800 (Gold Wing) motorcycles manufactured May 10, 2007, to May 14, 2009 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." Motorcycles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These motorcycles are equipped with an air bag inflator assembled as part of the air bag module, used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the rider resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag module containing the inflator, free of charge. Honda distributed an interim notification to owners on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KA8.

15V700000BrakesOctober 23, 2015 · 145,219 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A rear brake that drags may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, extended riding with the rear brake dragging could generate enough heat to result in a fire.

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.

11E054000OtherDecember 12, 2011 · 7,446 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR A CRASH.

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.

11V567000BrakesDecember 1, 2011 · 126,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 CATCH FIRE.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HONDA GOLDWING. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS, HANDS, AND A PUNCTURED LUNG, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 11, 2014 · crash

V6 TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING STUCK AND POPPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR TOOK TO MOTORCYCLE FACTORY WOODBRIDGE VA WHERE I BOUGHT IT THEY SAID NO PROBLEM LATER IT IS NOW COMPLETELY WASTED TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS WHAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND NEEDS WORK AT LEAST 4-5 K TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE HANDLEBARS VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · October 1, 2012

WHILE RIDING A NEW 2008 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE IN THE RAIN AT 30 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE , NOT ACCELERATING THE DUNLOP 250 REAR TIRE SLID OUT FROM UNDER ME CAUSING ME TO CRASH.. THE TIRE CAME STOCK ON A BRAND NEW BIKE PURCHASED SEPF 09,, I COMPLAINED TO HONDA AND THE DEALER REGARDING TRACTION…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · January 27, 2010 · crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA GL1800. THE FRONT END SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE SHIMMY. HONDA STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · March 1, 2008

2008 Honda Gl1800 — common questions

Is the 2008 Honda Gl1800 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 60 complaints put the 2008 model at #4 of 23 Gl1800 years. It is one of the Gl1800 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2008 Gl1800 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (11 complaints), transmission (9 complaints), steering (8 complaints).

Does the 2008 Honda Gl1800 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Honda Gl1800. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2008 Honda Gl1800 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Honda Gl1800 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Gl1800 years to avoid are 2002, 2003, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2018. The cleanest record among Gl1800 years belongs to 2011.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.