NHTSA Complaint #750573 — 2001 HONDA GL1500

RADIATOR FANS BLOW FORWARD INTO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT SPEEDS BELOW 15 MPH AT WHICH TIME THEY TURN OFF AND ALLOW NATURAL AIRFLOW THROUGH. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, 10 TO 15 MPH, IN A CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY OVERHEATED WITH THE GAUGE IN THE RED ZONE. IN ORDER TO COOL OFF THE ENGINE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN AT OVER 30 MPH TO GAIN AIR FLOW OVER THE TWO RADIATORS. WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE HONDA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER I WAS INFORMED THAT HONDA'S STAND IS THAT THE 2001 GOLDWING GL-1800 IS NOT MENT TO BE OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS BY DESIGN. THE PROBLEM ORIGINATES WITH THE FANS OPERATING AGAINST NORMAL AIR FLOW IN THE SPEED RANGE BELOW 15 MPH. WITH THE FANS TRYING TO BLOW AIR FORWARD AND NORMAL AIR PUSHING AGAINST THEM THERE IS NO AIR FLOW OVER THE RADIATORS WHICH CAUSES THE COOLANT TO REACH THE RED ZONE OF 250 DEGREES IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK TO VENT COOLANT ONTO THE REAR TIRE DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE VENT AHEAD OF IT. COOLANT VENTING ONTO THE REAR TIRE CAN THEN CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.