NHTSA Complaint #10204727 — 2002 HONDA GL1800

MY MOTORCYCLE WAS SUBJECT TO THE JUNE 2003 ENGINE COOLING CAMPAIGN WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. I HAD MY BIKE REPAIRED ON JULY 30, 2003 AT HONDA OF MILPITAS (R/O 94030949). SINCE THE CAMPAIGN REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE BIKE HAS HAD A SURGING PROBLEM AT 1500 RPM. WHEN RIDING, OR IF THE BIKE IS STATIONARY, WHEN I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO 1500 RPM, THE ENGINE SPEED DROPS TO 1000 RPM AND THEN JUMPS BACK TO 1500 RPM. THIS WILL GO ON FOR AS LONG AS I HOLD THE THROTTLE AT 1500 RPM. WHILE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN THE BIKE IS STATIONARY, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN RIDING. WHEN RIDING IN PARKING LOTS, IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, I FREQUENTLY RUN THE ENGINE AROUND 1500 RPM AND WHEN I HIT THAT RPM, THE ENGINE SPEED DROPS WITHOUT WARNING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE IN A SHARP TURN WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED. SINCE I CANNOT SAFELY WATCH THE TACHOMETER AND THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S VERY HARD TO DRIVE AROUND THAT ENGINE SPEED. NOT ONLY IS THIS BEHAVIOR ANNOYING WHILE RIDING, IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS AS I COULD BE INJURED IF THE BIKE FELL WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO HONDA OF MILPITAS IN JUNE 2004 TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS AN ECM MAPPING PROBLEM AND THAT AMERICAN HONDA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THEM ANY TIME TO TROUBLESHOOT AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM (R/O 94034826). *TR