# 2001 HONDA GL1800A — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
> NHTSA complaint `550420` · 2005-08-19 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HONDA
- **Model:** GL1800A
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
- **Miles at failure:** 43,800
- **Speed:** 70 mph
## Narrative
THE ANTI-DRIVE SYSTEM IS MAL-FUNCTIONING & HYDRAULICALLY LOCKING THE LEFT FRONT FORK SHOCK. THIS IS ALLOWS THE SHOCK TO OVER PRESSURE & FAIL THE SEALING LIP SEAL. THE OIL THEN IS PUMPED OUT DURING THE SHOCK OPERATION & THE OIL IS COVERING THE FRONT BRAKES & TIRES. THIS CREATES A LOSS OF TRACTION FROM THE OIL COVERED TIRES & LIMITED BRAKING DUE TO THE OIL CONTAMINATED BRAKES.  PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TWO EXACTLY THE SAME LEFT FRONT SHOCK SEAL FAILURES.  #1 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED & LAID DOWN ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING.  #2 FAILURE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD THE BRAKES COVER WITH OIL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, & I NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE & HAD TO USE "DOWN SHIFTING" TO AID IN THE STOPPING.    HONDA IS ONLY REPLACING THE LIP SEAL, NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS, & GIVING THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MYSELF WITH REDUCED BRAKING.  ALSO, HONDA IS NOT LOOKING INTO THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF THESE FAILURES.
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*