CAN-AM Spyder Complaints (2008)
72 consumer complaints on file.
- #10587205May 8, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK MY REAR LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. UPON INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FENDER SUPPORT HAD CUT INTO THE TAILLIGHT HARNESS CAUSING IT TO GROUND OUT. BOTH FENDER SUPPORTS HAD BEGUN TO SEPARATE TO THE POINT THAT THE REAR FENDER ITSELF WOULD EVENTUALLY COME OFF AND COMPLETELY SEVERING THE TAILLIGHT HARNESS. I TOOK PICTURES AND OPENED A CASE WITH THE DEALER. I WAS REJECTED FOR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY SAID I SHOULD PURCHASE PART # 219800246 WITH TWO NEW SUPPORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH I DID ALL AT MY COST AND LABOR. A WEBSITE SPYDERLOVERS.COM HAS CASES WHERE BRP HAD FIXED SOME BIKES WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT OF WARRANTY. OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MECHANICALLY INCLINED WENT AHEAD AND MADE THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES LETTING BRP OFF THE HOOK. I WAS TOLD BY BRP THAT MY BIKE WAS TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY. IF BRP FIXED ONE BIKE THEY SHOULD FIX THEM ALL AND/OR OFFER A RECALL. I SPENT $254 ON PARTS AND 1 1/2HRS. LABOR. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE FENDER SUPPORTS IN MY POSSESSION FOR INSPECTION AND PICTURES BEFORE THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE REAR FENDER SUPPORTS ON THESE BIKES ARE A HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. THAT IS WHY BRP CAME OUT WITH PART # 219800246 TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN FLAW ON THEIR BIKES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10558649January 6, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I PURCHASED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. AS I INVESTIGATED MORE INTO IT, I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR BIKE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A CERTIFIED CAN AM DEALER IN ST AUGUSTINE IN MAY 2013 FIRST COAST POWER SPORTS. THEY KEPT THE BIKE THE FIRST TIME 62 DAYS, WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME, I WAS ABLE TO USE FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE I HAD TO RETURN TO THE SHOP. WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHEN THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE SHOP, I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE NEEDED THE BRAKES BLED AND IT WOULD COST $700. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BIKE WAS UNREPAIRABLE AND I NEEDED TO GET A DIFFERENT BIKE BY THIS DEALER SHIP. THE BIKE WAS SUPPOSE TO RETURNED TO ME DURING THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND BUT THE DELIVERY DRIVER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I WAS ASSURED I WOULD RECEIVE THE BIKE WITHIN THE WEEK. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL A WEEK LATER FROM THE NEW SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THEY USED PARTS OFF MY BIKE TO REPAIR SOMEONE ELSES BIKE INSTEAD OF DELIVERING MY BIKE TO ME. SIX WEEKS LATER, I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY BIKE AS THEY ARE WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. I WAS TOLD THE PERSON WHO ORIGINALLY WORKED ON MY BIKE WAS NOT CERTIFIED TO WORK ON CAN AM PRODUCTS AND CAUSED MORE HARM THEN GOOD. I ATTEMPTED TO TALK WITH THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY AND HE REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH ME. BOB (THE SERVICE MANAGER) KEEPS ADVISING ME THERE IS NOT PART AND UNSURE HOW LONG THE DELAY IS GOING TO BE. THE SPYDER IS MY PRIMARY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE LOST SHIFT OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE REPAIR DELAYS. I AM UNSURE EXACTLY HOW MANY PARTS WERE REMOVED FROM MY BIKE OR HOW MANY USED PARTS WERE PLACED ON MY BIKE WHICH MAY LEAD TO THE REASON THE REPAIRS WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS COMPANY IS DEALING IN STOLEN PARTS FOR PROFIT.A *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10536107August 19, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE POWER STEERING WAS RESET UPON RESTARTING THE IGNITION. IN 2010, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512229May 15, 2013STEERING
BIKE WOULD VEER INTO OTHER LANES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IN OCTOBER 2010 I GOT A RECALL NOTICE. AFTER REPROGRAMMING MY COMPUTER, STEERING WORKED BUT DPS/ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CONSTANTLY. DEALER AGAIN REPEATEDLY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. THEY RESET CODES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. IN MARCH 2013 AGAIN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME IT NEEDS A NEW DPS COMPUTER FOR $1200 PLUS LABOR. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BRP TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR NEW COMPUTER. BRP CASE #4090722. I JUST GET THE RUN AROUND. TOO BUSY TO GET TO IT NOW. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. EXCUSES! IT IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 WEEKS LATER, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. MY BIKE HAS A TOTAL OF 4000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE I MIGHT GET KILLED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501621February 26, 2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAN AM SPYDER WAS BEING RIDDEN BY OWNERS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE GAS TANK HAD EXPLODED AND BIKE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES . THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED OF PROBLEMS WITH THE EVAPORATION CANISTER WHICH WE HAVE SINCE HEARD THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE BRP COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ISSUED A RECALL IN DECEMBER 2012. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED VERY EASILY HAD SOMEONE NOT SPOTTED THE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE SPYDER CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK AND ALERTED US TO GET OFF THE BIKE. WITHIN MINUTES THE BIKE WAS CONSUMED IN FLAMES AND THE FIRE DEPT. HAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WE HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE BIKE AND ALL RECALLS PERFORMED. WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET BRP TO RESPOND TO OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10477969September 29, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SINCE PURCHASING BRAND NEW IN 2008, THIS UNIT HAS HAD TERRIBLE GAS FUMES WHEN RIDING, AND A TERRIFIC BUILDUP OF RAW GAS FUMES IN THE GARAGE UPON PARKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE (NOW DEFUNCT) DEALER, VISITS TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, SEVERAL E-MAILS TO BRP IN CANADA, AND NO SOLUTIONS. NOBODY WANTS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND MOST OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT: GAS SMELL, CARBON MONOXIDE, LACK OF DEALER SUPPORT, AND NO SOLUTIONS. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT EVERY TIME WE RIDE OUR MOTORCYCLE, WE GET HEADACHES AND OUR CLOTHING STINKS LIKE GAS FUMES AND EXHAUST. THIS IS AN UNHEALTHY, DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHICH NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION. THIS MOTORCYCLES HAVE A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY CAN-AM (BRP). THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10465230July 11, 2012ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER DRIVING 5 MPH. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP; HOWEVER AN INSPECTION WAS NOT CONDUCTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464669July 9, 2012ENGINE
IT APPEARS THE FOIL-FOAM HEAT SHIELD IGNITED FROM THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460841June 6, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
MY 2008 CAN AM SPYDER WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY NARROWLY MISSING MY CHILDREN AND IT FINALLY CAME TO REST IN MY NEIGHBORS FENCE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT HOLDING AND THE VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NO WARNING SYSTEM TO TELL YOU THE BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING. THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS THIS 1000 POUND VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460508June 4, 2012ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL IN GEAR. BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BIKE COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED IT RUINED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457437May 4, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MULTIPLE OCCASION DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. AS OF 5/1/12 BRP HAS FAILED TO RETURN MY EMAILS ALL REPAIRS INCLUDING TOWING HAS BEEN PAID OUT OF POCKET AND THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2013. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10454556April 9, 2012STEERING
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND ENTERED A RIGHT HAND CURVE. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSED ME TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE. LUCKY NOBODY COMING OTHER DIRECTION. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD A DEALER RECALL UPGRADE OF SOFTWARE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED UNDER RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430025October 13, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS RIDING MY 2005 CANAM SPYDER MOTORCYCLE TO WORK AND ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AWAY WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT I HEARD A POP AND SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COME UP FROM UNDER THE COWLING. I IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO MY WORK PARKING LOT (BECAUSE THERE WERE NO TREES OR ANYTHING FLAMMABLE AROUND) AND WENT INTO WORK TO GET SOME WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE SMALL FLAMES I SAW. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OUTSIDE THE BIKE WAS ENGULFED AND MELTING. (THE OUTER SKIN IS MAINLY FIBERGLASS) I HAVE BEEN ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTINGS OF FIRES ON THE MOTORCYCLES AND ALSO THE WATERCRAFT AND ATV'S THIS COMPANY MANUFACTURES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10421571August 26, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED MOMENTARILY WHEN IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO APPEARED ON THE SCENE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 9,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10420748August 19, 2011POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
BRP, DESPITE ISSUING SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT HIGH DRIVE BELT TENSION, WILL NOT REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE HIGH TENSION SPECIFIED IN MANUFACTURE AND SERVICE FOR THEIR CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER. TSB 2010-06 ADVISES REDUCED TENSION FROM 1400 NEWTONS TO 450 NEWTONS TO PROTECT AGAINST DAMAGE TO FRONT OUTPUT SHAFT AND REAR BEARING FAILURES. CONSEQUENTLY, COSTS TO REPAIR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THEIR ORIGINAL TENSION SPECIFICATION ARE ASSESSED TO THE OWNER. REPAIR COSTS ARE IN EXCESS OF $2,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10420756August 19, 2011POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
BRP ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS SB-2009-01 IDENTIFYING FAILURE OF THE GEAR POSITION SENSORS ON SOME OF THEIR CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTERS. SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE INCLUDE "E" OR INCORRECT GEAR NUMBER INDICATED IN CLUSTER INDICATOR; INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING OPERATION; DIFFICULTY SHIFTING; "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING SCROLL IN CLUSTER INDICATOR. PRESENTED TO AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, UNSUCCESSFUL REMEDY WAS RESET OF GEAR POSITION SENSOR. PRESENTED TO SAME DEALER AFTER EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE IN EXCESS OF $200. BRP FACTORY TECH AT BRP EVENT INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT WAS PROPER REMEDY. FAULTY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER INSTALLED GEAR POSITION SENSORS ARE REPLACED WITH NEW DESIGNED PART FROM BRP ONLY AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390266March 15, 2011STEERING
BRP HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACEMENT. DATE OF MY NOTICE WAS 9-7-2010. MY CAN AM ROADSTER IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AS BRP WILL NOT SEND OUT A REPLACEMENT PART UNTIL THEY REC'D THE OLD UNIT. THIS MAKES DEALER REPAIR DEFECTIVE ROADSTERS 1 AT A TIME. 6 MONTHS WITH A RECALL NOTICE AND I AM 8TH OF MY DEALERS LIST. HOW COME BRP DOESN'T RAMP UP PRODUCTION OF REPLACEMENT UNITS TO GET THEM OUT TO THE DEALERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372797December 23, 2010STEERING
CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING RECALL ON CAN-AM BOMBARDIER SPYDER CONCERNING THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT GETTING THE RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. THE POWER STEERING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10369077December 3, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 09V162000 (STEERING); THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED FAILURE. THE VEHICLE DARTED ACROSS THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD A FRONT ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ADDED NEW TIRES; THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW POWER STEERING BOX WAS INSTALLED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD OFFER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365063November 8, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 CANAM SPYDER ROADSTER AND IT STARTED ON FIRE - I GOT OFF JUST IN TIME AND BLUE FLAMES WERE COMING UP FROM THE TANK/ SEAT AREA. THE BIKE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY VS. A BACK ROAD THIS COULD HAVE ENDED WITH INJURIES. THE SPYDER HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0