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.
2002 Honda GL1800 engine complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 115, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
Motorcycle temperature climbed into the red/ fluid leak. Mr. While riding the motorcycle, the consumer noticed the temperature gauge had raised, the consumer was able to pull over and discovered 1/2 of fluid coming from the top of the radiator, after 10 minutes the motorcycle was restarted and the temperature gauge went down.
Motorcycle overheats, forcing driver to pull over in traffic, most usually, heavy traffic conditions.
Motorcycle consistently overheats when driving at 10-15 MPH for 3-5 minutes. This appears to be caused by a cooling fan which blows air forward instead of backward. When the cooling fan forward air speed equals the ambient front-to-back airflow speed, there is a net zero airflow over the radiator which causes the motorcycle to overheat. This overheating could cause injury if the overheating causes coolant to escape through the vent tube which would expel coolant directly in front of the rear tire.
When stuck in slow moving traffic going into the city the coolant temp gauge went deep into the red. With nowhere safe to pull off the road I was forced to proceed with the fear of the engine boiling over. After looking online at the gl1800 web sites it appears that this is caused by faulty manufacturing. Honda designed the radiator fans to blow the air foward up to a speed of 15 MPH. Any faster than that they are designed to shut off and allow the ambient air to push through the radiators in the normal direction. Apparently this was done to try to keep some heat off of the rider at low speeds. However, when you are in travelling 10mph in warm conditions the 10mph incoming air is fighting against the air from the fans. This causes little or no air going across the radiator fins, thus causing the overheating condition. If the bike is stopped on the shoulder, the fans will push the air foward and allow the bike to slowly cool down. There is not always a shoulder to pull onto, and if the bike overheats the coolant overflow from the radiators is aimed directly in front of the rear wheel. A situation that can certainly cause loss of control and possible serious injury or death. The fans need to be mounted on the other side of the radiators so they can pull the air through. In the direction that nature intended. Will it take someone getting killed for them to remedy this. I certainly hope not, but so far they are in denial that this is a problem. I feel that this vehicle is unsafe to ride. I am not willing to risk me and my wifes life. This vehicle was bought with pleasure in mind. If nothing is done to alleviate this I will have honda buy the bike back from me with new jerseys tough lemon law.
Bike will over heat when stuck in traffic for as little time as 5 minutes. Coolant does get blown out of bike and it does go on back of tire. This is a serious safety hazzard. Dt
This is becoming an on going problem with this motorcycle. Dt
Have had an overheating problem science day 1. Have not been able to get a response from honda or dealer bought from. This is a very dangerous situation with a motorcycle! Dt
Despite maintaining recommended pressure, the front tire became so cupped with wear in 3000 miles that it induced a severe vibration to the motorcycle. Turning was especially hazardous. Dealer said this occurred on all the gl-1800 motorcycles and recommended a different brand. Dt
Overheats when traveling @ 10 - 20 miles per hour, in hot weather. Dt
No summary. Dt
Bike overheated in stop and go freeway rush hour driving. Air temp was about 85. Coolant temp gradually rose over about 2 miles. Brief periods of 30 MPH speed were not enough to cool bike down. Temp guage was nudging the red zone. Not wishing to test the system or to have a coolant boil over situation, pulled off the freeway for half hour. By then traffic had returned to normal flow and bike operated normally. Dt
Engine overheats if vehicle speed is maintained at 12-14mph for 8 mintes or longer such as in heavy traffic congestion or road construction. Dt
I feel this engine over heated for no reason it was only 80 deg. Dt
This motorcycle has a constant and continual history of overheating. I have taken it to honda dealers and they all say there is awareness of the overheating problem but honda has elected to do nothing to correct the problem. I was told by my local honda dealer, pelham powersports, to continue to ride the motorcycle and don't be concerned with the problem. I feel it is a big problem and honda should do something to correct the problem or refund my purchase money. Dt
Engine temp gauge has shown overheating on 6 or 7 occasions. Coolant loss on 3 occasions all times over heating occured speeds were less than 25 MPH. Dt
Time motorcycle overheated at slow speed in bumper to bumper traffic. It overheated another time in bumper to bumper traffic and I was forced to split lanes and accelerate to drop the temperature. Dt
Bike overheats in slow traffic. Not something a brand new $18,000 motorcycle should do. Dt
At speeds of 5-20 in slow traffic or slow mountain roads it over heats, loses fluid reported to honda not sure whether honda wrote down information since they claim it is not over heating. With a closed system I should not have to refill with antifreeze solution, since buy the motorcycle I've had to fill it twice. The first 1 pint and two weeks ago 1/2 pint. The first time was last on a light ride it over heated on me, I was with a group driving slow to see lights, I don't know how long it was in the red before I noticed it. Dt
Red line overheating has contacted honda and the dealer with no help from either. Dt
Numerous times the engine has overheated at 15 MPH. It is sometimes very dangerous when you can't get out of heavy traffic to prevent overheating. If you can't get out of heavy traffic the temperature continues to climb until it dumps coolant on the ground, which of course is very dangerous on a motorcycle. I have had this problem since I purchased the unit in july of 2001. I have had it repeat the overheating several times a day up to several weeks in a row. It is time they do something to make the motorcycle safer to ride. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated by myself and many other owners who are faced with this same problem. Thank you. Dt
No summary.
Temperature gauge moves into red zone when driving slowly in stop and go traffic. Dealer says honda says ignore the gauge, its not overheating until your coolant boils over. Problem is overflowing coolant will spill out directly in the path of the rear tire causing lose of traction and control. Mr
All these motorcycles overheat at slow speed. Someone will have an accident due to rear tire slipping on spilled coolant. Mr
Overheats at less than 20 MPH in heavy traffic, coolant boils over and drops in front of rear tire. Could create slippery condition, and puts driver and passenger at risk of being hit by other vehicles while at the side of the road waiting for the vehicle to cool off. Mr
Motorcycle overheat, dealer repair on several occasion consumer states the problem is recurring. Regional manufacturer has been notified, the manufacturer has not attempted to fix the problem, coolant spews on tires causing slick and dangerous driving conditions. Nlm *nlm
Temperature gauge has a tendency to go into the red while being driven. The owner was instructed by honda motor company to pull off the road and check the anti-freeze, fans are running, etc., the problem also exsisted with the 2001 models but was modified. Honda motor company is telling him that they can not do anything at this time. Nlm
Motorcycle over heats and coolant spilt onto rear tire. Mr
My 2002 gold wing will over-heat at low speeds. The service manager at wild west honda said you must ride over 30 MPH !!! Sometimes that is not possible. There seems to be a problem with the cooling system design, from honda? Thank you, [xxx]. *ak redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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