Honda has issued a recall for the 2018-2019 CBR1000RR Fireblade, the 2018-2020 CBR600RR and the 2018-2020 GL1800 Goldwing. The fuel pump impeller may not be cast to specifications and may deform, causing the engine to lose fuel and stall.
On August 5, 2019, Honda received a quality report on the issue of four motorcycles in the United States that would not start after being removed from the crate and made ready to drive by the dealer, and an investigation was immediately launched.
Honda analyzed the issue and initially concluded in the period January/February 2020 that the fuel pumps installed during the first 40 days of production would not experience any issues and continued to monitor the matter.
On June 25, 2020, Honda concluded that certain engines produced in Japan would not experience the issue, due to the fact that the fuel pumps were installed within the first 40 days of production.
However, more than three years later, on October 18, 2023, Honda received a quality report about the same issues on engines equipped with a fuel pump that had been produced within 40 days, and investigated the matter further.
Honda Powersports division contacted the Honda Automobile division to discuss and analyze the fuel pump module issues. On January 25, 2024, Honda decided to roll out a recall in Japan, and on February 8, the recall was expanded to other countries.
What is going on? Research by supplier DENSO has shown that the plastic impeller in the fuel pump is not molded properly, resulting in the material having a (too) low density. If the surface of a lower density impeller is exposed to solvent drying for extended periods of time during production, surface cracks can develop.
These cracks can lead to excessive fuel absorption, resulting in impeller deformation, possibly causing the impeller to seize in the housing and causing the fuel pump to malfunction. That translates to an immediate loss of power, problems starting or the engine stalling.
Research has shown that the fuel pump in question is installed in three models: the 2018-2019 CBR1000RR, the 2018-2020 CBR600RR (which was not available in Europe) and the 2018-2020 GL1800 Goldwing. Owners of the affected motorcycles will be informed by Honda and asked to contact the Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the engine and replace the fuel pump if necessary.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.