Is the 2002 Honda GL1800 a bad year?
182 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 114, 11× a quiet GL1800 year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 11× the complaints of a quiet GL1800 year.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 GL1800 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 30 (16%) | 7k–65k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine and coolingSTANDS OUT | 96 (53%) | too few with a mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Engine | 28 (15%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 182 complaints: 2 mention a crash · 3 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 Honda GL1800: 7
The rear brakes of the affected motorcycles may drag after the brakes are released. 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.
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. The passenger floorboard may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in injury or a crash.
Under certain conditions, there is a possibility that the combined braking system's secondary master cylinder may cause the rear brake to drag. 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.
On some motorcycles, certain frame welds do not meet manufacturing specifications. High loads created when riding on rough road surfaces or through potholes can cause the affected welds to crack. The welded area could break, resulting in rear suspension collapse or lower cross member separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain motorcycles equipped with combined-brake systems have a proportioning control valve (PCV) that mechanically proportions brake force when the rear brake is applied. A seal in some pcvs is improperly shaped, and brake fluid leakage may occur. If the motorcycle continues to be used after a leak occurs, the rear brake would eventually become inoperative. A loss of rear brake force could increase the risk of a crash.
On some motorcycles, certain frame welds do not meet manufacturing specifications. High loads created when riding on rough road surfaces or through potholes can cause the affected welds to crack. The welded area could break, resulting in rear suspension collapse or lower cross member separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
On certain motorcycles, the bank angle sensors designed to shut off the fuel pump and the engine electrical power in the event the motorcycle falls over, were installed using the wrong size screws allowing the screws to eventually detach from their mounting point. If the sensor detaches, the engine will stop unexpectedly. Sudden loss of engine power, especially while turning, could cause a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 10
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Honda GL1800. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The repair procedure for the secondary master cylinder (Smc) recall is very involved, so make sure to read through the entire bulletin before hand so you can…
Honda is launching a safety recall on model year 2001 through 2015 GL1800/A and GL1800B/BD motorcycles to replace a potentially defective secondary master…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Southern Honda Powersports
Frame crossmemeber weld failures
Rear suspension collapse
Motorcycle coolant spray onto rear tire
Neighbouring years
2001 GL1800: 83 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2003 GL1800: 101 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda GL1800 year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · All GL1800 years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Honda GL1800 a bad year?
182 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 114, 11× a quiet GL1800 year. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 11× the complaints of a quiet GL1800 year.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda GL1800?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (30), engine and cooling (96), engine (28), tires (11), suspension (9).
How many recalls does the 2002 Honda GL1800 have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 15V-700), Equipment (NHTSA 11E054000), Brakes (NHTSA 11V-567), Body structure (NHTSA 05V-027) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.