Honda/Garmin has not provided updates to the integrated navigation system since 2014. As a result, on numerous occasions, the navigation system has given the wrong information to the rider. My motorcycle is a 2006, but I know this problem exists through at least the 2009 model year. Contacted Garmin for updated navigation data. They said there will be none because Honda would not pay Garmin to create updated navigation data for the GPS. The navigation system is now unsafe because can give wrong directions. There are hundreds of Goldwings with built-in GPS that are unsafe. Honda should be required updates or reimburse owners for their purchase of an external GPS.
The worst 2006 Honda GL1800 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Steering5
- Transmission5
- Brakes4
- Suspension4
- Tires3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering5
- Transmission5
- Brakes4
- Suspension4
- Tires3
- Wheels2
- Electrical1
- Fuel system1
Recalls 5
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 17V031000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 16V347000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 15V700000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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 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.
Recall number 11V567000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the federal safety agency's (the federal safety agency) vehicle safety hotline.
- Risk
- The language in the owner's manuals is not in accordance with the current mandatory requirements.
- Remedy
- Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct the federal safety agency vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "reporting safety defects" section of the owner's manual. The recall began on august 2, 2006. Owners may contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009, acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238 or honda motorcycles at 1‑866‑784‑1870.
Recall number 06V270000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2006 Honda GL1800
Defect investigations
Southern Honda Powersports
the federal safety agency opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a motor vehicle or equipment manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with federal motor vehicle safety standards.In turn, a dealer may not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed.(see 49 U.S.C. 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. 573.11)the federal safety agency issued an information request to Southern Honda on May 14, 2012 to which they responded on July 6, 2012.the federal safety agency?s inquiry led it to believe that Southern Honda had failed to complete the requirements of five recalls that required inspections and/or repairs of motorcycles prior to their sale or delivery.the federal safety agency believes that 329 motorcycles affected by recalls had not been inspected and/or repaired prior to their sale and delivery between 2007 and 2012.The agency is unaware of any deaths or injuries involving these vehicles.the federal safety agency concluded that it had a potential civil penalty claim against Southern Honda for violations of the Safety Act.Southern Honda denied any violations of the Safety Act.In order to settle this matter, Southern Honda agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $125,000, to be paid in five annual installments.This AQ is closed.
AQ12001
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 Honda GL1800 21
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Honda is launching a safety recall of 2012-2015 GL1800/a and 2013-2015 GL1800B/bd motorcycles, and is...
- Dealer message - on december 11, several sections of s/b GL1800 #23 were revised to include information...
- Newsletter - the repair procedure for the secondary master cylinder (SMC) recall is very involved, so make...
- Dealer message
- Honda is launching a safety recall of 2012-2015 GL1800/a and 2013-2015 GL1800/b/bd motorcycles, and is...
- Dealer message - the service bulletin in support of the safety recall of 2001-2015 GL1800/a and GL1800B/bd...
- Honda is launching a safety recall of 2001-2015 GL1800/a and GL1800B/bd motorcycles
- Honda is launching a safety recall on model year 2001 through 2015 GL1800/a and GL1800B/bd motorcycles to...
- Technician newsletter - navi map update cards, oil filter installation
- Dealer message
What 2006 Honda GL1800 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
A Shinko SE890 size 180-60-16 prematurely started coming apart at 3850 miles. My wife and I were riding 2 up on a Honda Goldwing. Pressure of the tire was checked the day we went for this 480 mile ride. The temperature was 90 degrees and the road was very good. When we neared the end of the ride, the motorcycle started shaking violently. I kept control, and the others who were riding with me helped me figure out what just happened. The tire was coming apart and there was a big bulge on the left side. The tire was not over any rough road. Granted it was hot, and we had 390 lbs on the bike, which is not overloaded. The pressure was at 44 lbs, which was probaly due to the heat. Chapparal tire in San Bernadino Ca recieved pictures and commentary. Initially they said They would warrant the tire, then 2 days later said it was because of a road hazard. I know I hit nothing with the tire. I wanted money back not another Shink tire. These tires are not well made and on a motorcycle very dangerous
Brake recall service was performed in may. A complete brake fluid replacement and bleed don. A brake shudder problem has been evident since purchase new and an abnormal number of tires have failed due to blistering of the tread and in one case the tread separated from the tire. I have long contended this is due to a braking engineering problem. Road bike 400 miles after recall service and returned to dealer. He then stated that my rear brakes pads were completely gone and the rear rotor marred. The brake pads had less than 3000 miles on them. After replacing the rotor and brake pads I was called and told the caliper was dragging and honda in torrance had been contacted , they asked that the mechanic take the caliper apart and he stated it seemed normal but was not. Shop installed a new caliper and now waiting for next brake problem. I believe that the fire and shudder problem is caused primarily from rear brake caliper dragging and overheating the wheel and tire assembly.. I have been lucky that my tires blister and fail and that I was able to avoid an accident with the tread separation. This is not one brand of tire ..happened on metzeler, avon and 3 dunlop e3 all at correct tire pressures.this problem is evident in all driving conditions
I applied the brakes in a normal not a panic situation. The brakes apparently locked up and left a 22' skid mark on the black top road. Weather and road conditions were perfect and I am a very experienced goldwing rider having ridden approximately 200,000 miles. I was riding with my wife on board and pulling my escapade trailer as I have done for approximately 70,000 miles for 20 years. My wife and I were ejected from the bike and sustained non life threatening injuries. We were transported to a hospital in fayetteville ar and were treated and released with road rash and I have cracked ribs and a broken finger. Our full face helmets and other protective gear and luck saved us from more serious or fatal injuries. I have thought long and hard about this accident and can find no explanation other than brake failure / lock up. In my 299,000 miles of goldwing riding I have never locked the brakes nor have I left a skid mark before this accident. Note honda issued a safety alert warning of potential brake problems but they have not recalled and said they will repair when they determine how to repair. My bike was insured and my wife and I have health insurance but I estimate my out of pocket medical costs at $5,000.
Front end wobbles at a low speed an at high speeds, makes the motorcycle very unsafe.
While slowing to a stop using both front and rear brakes, a violent shudder was noted from the rear brake causing the entire motorcycle to shake noticeably. The shudder has re-occurred on a number of occasions (approx 25). My gl1800 was taken to the dealership (nw honda-houston) for the rear brake recall and the issue was brought to the attention of the service writer and directly/personally to the attention of the mechanic performing the recall inspection. The mechanic test rode the motorcycle but stated he was unable to get a repeat of the shudder. While 2 up with my wife in north carolina, the shudder occurred during braking in heavy traffic causing us to almost impact the rear of a car stopped at a traffic light. When the shudder occurs, braking distance increases dramatically. Shudder occurs during rear brake activation and does not stop regardless of front brake activation. Shudder sometimes stops after releasing and re-applying the rear brake or shudder will return directly upon rear brake application.
I was accelerating in the entrance lane on the interstate. Auto and truck traffic was heavy and as I merged into the traffic lane the motorcycle shifted from 5th gear to fourth and back surprising me and causing me to quickly slow and take action to the right to avert being rear ended by a semi truck. The truck had nowhere to go as the lane to his side was occupied. I proceeded to gain speed and the motorcycle did the same shifting action every mile or so. I took the cycle to the dealer and was told it was not under warranty. I am at present having the transmission repaired at my cost. There were no warnings prior to this episode. The mechanic said there were several failed components in the transmission.
I bought this bike with only 8000 miles on it back in june of this year. At speeds below or around 30mph, the front end wobbles. Honda does not recognize this as a warranty issue, yet all the dealers tell me that it is a problem they have heard about from many goldwing owners. The dealer recommends alls balls tapered steering bearings for correction but I have to pay. I have the extended warranty plan and it is not covered. This is an ongoing issue with the steering on the goldwing and honda should be responsible to recall and fix this issue at their cost. I remember the gas tanks exploding on the ford pinto that should have been addressed by the ford motor company and was not. Lives were lost over a low cost replacement gasket that ford knew about but chose to ignore. This issue will cause goldwing owners to have accidents, which ultimately could cause loss of life. This needs to be addressed, now.
2006 honda gl1800 motorcycle, the transmission pops out of gear occasionally. It has been happening for about a year and more often now to almost once every tank of gas or 230 miles. Two days ago while entering a corner it dropped out of gear then into a lower gear and temporarily locked up the rear tire. The price to look into the transmission is between $3,500 and $4,000. If the problem isn't serious enough to be covered by manufactures warranty I have to pay. I was advised to drive it until it breaks. My concern is if the transmission breaks in a turn or while on the freeway it may take my wife and myself with it. Thanks in advance.
While riding at approximately 50 MPH in 5th gear proceeding normally I felt the transmission 'clunk' as though the transmission had slipped out of gear. Then a loud 'clunkety clunk' as the engine seems to now rev free, then a 'clunk' as the transmission 'fell' back into gear. At no time during this event, which took place over a period of 2-3 seconds were my fingers touching either the brake or clutch, nor was my foot touching the brake or shifter. The balls of my feet were planted on both footpegs during the entire event.
Compare the 2006 Honda GL1800
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Questions about the 2006 Honda GL1800
Is the 2006 Honda GL1800 reliable?
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 2006 Honda GL1800, 2.2 times a typical GL1800 model year.
What is the 2006 Honda GL1800 year score?
The 2006 Honda GL1800 scores 44 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Honda GL1800: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Honda GL1800?
Steering, with 5 complaints, typically around 1,800 miles. Next is transmission (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 Honda GL1800 have?
5 recalls, covering air bags, service brakes, hydraulic and equipment.
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