2002 Honda GL1800: engine overheating

Filed Jul 8, 2009 · Engine · 19,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 honda gl1800 motorcycle. While traveling 14 MPH, the motorcycle would overheat and shut off. The dealer stated that the ECM was failing. The estimated repair cost was $1,000. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that no compensation would be provided because the motorcycle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 19,000 and current mileage was 21,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2006 · Engine · WA

Gl1800 2002 overheating at low speed. Paid $1,000.00 plus for service bulletin fix and it did nothing to help the problem.

Filed Jul 14, 2004 · Engine · 8,000 miles · OK

The motorcycle overheats in stop and go traffic. Consumer has to pull of the road and turn the motorcycle off to let the engine cool off. Dealership indicated the switch that turns the fans on are not working properly, they are faulty, and don't come on when they are suppose to because of a factory defect.

Filed Jun 17, 2004 · Body, Engine · KY

Vehicle's front end wobbles between 35 and 40 MPH.* mr when the dealer was notified they stated that the front end wobbled because of the tires used. However they did not pay to have tires replaced on bike because they claimed that the consumer should have left the originals on. The consumer feels that the bike is unsafe to ride and it could cause an accident if not repaired. (when the cruise was set and if the vehicle was going 40 MPH without a firm grip on the handle bars, the vehicle would shake) *cb the bike also had an overheating problem. The consumer was told that was how the bike was designed.*jb

Filed Feb 26, 2004 · Engine · 400 miles · CA

My 2002 honda gl1800 has been into the dealer 6 times for repair of engine overheating. I have had the engine overheating recall work conducted twice on the bike. The first repair under the recall actually actually acerbated the overheating problem. The second recall repair only slightly improved the bike over its original delivered state. American honda refuses to do any further repairs that could rectify the problem. It appears that some of the gl1800 motorcycles have this inherent defect and others do not. Honda apparent refuses to acknowledge that some people have an overheating problem which is not rectified by their ECM recall. The overheating makes the vehicle undrivable in heavy, congested traffic at low speeds. Honda says to pull over to the side of the road when it overheats. Sitting on the shoulder of the l.a. Freeway on a motorcycle adjacent to congested traffic and screaching auto and truck brakes is unnerving and quite unsafe. American honda's v.p of the motorcycle division, ray blank, has refused to respond to my two complaint letters appealing for honda to correct the overheating problem. The recall repair that honda is utilizing doesn't work and corret the defect for many gl1800 owners. I ask the federal safety agency for assistance.

Filed Dec 1, 2003 · Body, Tires · 2,000 miles · FL

Problems with tire equipment on 2002 honda goldwing.*mr the consumer added a cb radio and antenna at a cost of $800.00 dollars and another seat for $900.00. This was to accommodate the consumer's height of 6'5", since the motorcycle is for maximum height of 5'10". Midway through their first trip, the consumer noticed the front tire had begun to wear unevenly and developed a "cupped" pattern on the edge of the tire. After the trip, consumer pointed this out to the mechanic. He stated this was a normal pattern. At 7,400 miles, consumer replaced the front tire. Motorcycle couldn't be safely ridden due to cupping. Upon communicating with other goldwing owners via internet, consumer was advised to replace the tire with metzler tire and add a superbrace forkbrace (a reinforcing member of the front end). Problem disappeared as a result. Later, consumer learned the bike would overheat when driven slowly for 10-15 min. And honda was aware of the failure. Bike was taken in and modified under honda's "product improvement campaign". The heads were flow tested, computer module was installed and wire harness was replaced. Consumer noted it would overheat just not as quickly. Next, consumer learned of cracking in the lower cross member of the frame and honda had given new motorcycles with apologies.

Filed Nov 28, 2003 · Engine · MN

Various problems with 2002 honda goldwing motorcycle.*mr consumer's wife burned the leg on the exhaust due to a poor location of the exhaust. She sustained 2nd degree burns. They decided to sell the bike for safety reasons. Other problems include: wobbly handlebar, the repeated cupping of the front tire, overheating, and the breaking of swing arm frames without notice.

Filed Oct 11, 2003 · Engine · 9,000 miles · CA

Engine overheating - I purchased the bike in july of 2002. I experienced overheating almost immediately. I took it to an authorized dealer in temecula california and had it checked out. They kept it for approximately one week and determined that there was no problem. I then contacted the honda cooperation and was told to take it back in. I did. Again nothing. I am not overseas and have been here since oct 2002. I haven't ridden the bike and won't ride again as I am in the marine corps stationed abroad until 2005. I finally discovered this site and realized that there are many, many others having the self-same problems as I am having. I haven't ridden it enough to determine if there is anything else wrong with it as others have. I have not received any recall notices or anything. Honda has my address stateside and overseas as I do receive my bill here. What is being done to remedy these matters/concerns of us who have paid in excess of $15,000.00? When one spends his/her hard earned money on "toys," we expect much better than this.

Filed Aug 13, 2003 · Body, Engine · LA

Honda gl1800 gold wing motorcycle frame failure. *mr frame failures occurred while the motorcycle was in motion. The engine dropped to the highway and the steering was dangerously affected. Honda had been secretly replacing these. The engine also overheated and caused coolant to spill on the highway just ahead of the rear tire. *scc

Filed Aug 12, 2003 · Engine · 4,500 miles · AR

I recently purchased a new 2002 honda gl1800 motorcycle, and now have 4500 miles showing on the odometer. This motorcycle is experiencing the same overheating condition that has been well documented with the federal safety agency. Most recently, it overheated while stuck in traffic on the interstate with an ambient temperature of about 89 degrees. Honda has recently begun a campaign to replace the engine control module and inspect/replace the heads and radiators. Questions are being raised on many of the gl1800 web sites as to the effectiveness of replacing the ECM. There are some owners who have seen poor results from the ECM replacement and some have reported performance and gas mileage reductions with the new ECM. Some owners state that this service campaign may just mask the effects of high temperature by recalibrating the temperature guage. As stated in previous complaints, this is a major safety hazard to have the motorcycle overheat in heavy traffic. Please add this complaint to the gl1800 overheating population and continue to monitor honda's actions to ensure proper corrective actions are implemted to resolve the issue completely.

Filed Aug 6, 2003 · Body, Engine · 2,590 miles · OR

My 2002 gl1800a has a cracked weld on the frame under the seat area and is not safe to ride. The motorcycle also overheats in slow traffic on warm days, causing me to have to pull over and let it cool down.

Filed Feb 16, 2003 · Engine · 440 miles · FL

Motorcycle overheats, forcing driver to pull over in traffic, most usually, heavy traffic conditions.