27 of the
60 complaints filed about the Can-Am Spyder GS
are about the steering —
45% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER GS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DPS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DPS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. *TR *AS *BF *AS 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11209121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER GS IN 2008. VIN [XXX] VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE 03/06/2008 BRP ISSUED A RECALL ON SEPT 7, 2010 FOR A DYNAMIC POWER STEERING (DPS) UNIT REPLACEMENT HTTPS://CAN-AM.BRP.COM/SPYDER/OWNERS/SAFETY/SAFETY-RECALLS/DYNAMIC-POWER-STEERING--DPS--UNIT-REPLACEMENT.HTML THE RECALL WAS DUE TO A FAULTY POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT, WHICH SEVERELY HAMPERED THE ABILITY TO TURN THE BIKE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOR SHARPER TURNS. I HAD THE DPS REPLACED IN 2011. THE UNIT HAS AGAIN FAILED, AND THE REPAIR SHOP (DEL AMO MOTORSPORTS IN REDONDO BEACH, CA...WHO DID THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT) HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE IS THE EXACT SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL. I FILED A CASE NUMBER WITH BRP, BRP CASE # 01010694, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY COVER THE REPLACEMENT AGAIN, AS THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. UPON FILING THE REQUEST, CAN-AM DID REJECT THE CLAIM AND SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AS A RECALL. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A REPAIR TO A REPAIR. THIS IS ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE RECALL, WHICH MEANS THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE RECALL CONDITIONS AGAIN. I AM NOT ASKING FOR CAN-AM TO COVER ALL OF THE WORK, SIMPLY COVER THE PART (THE DPS UNIT), WHICH COSTS OVER $1200 USD. AS A RECALLED PART THEY SHOULD HONOR THE PART FOR AN ACCEPTABLE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. IN THIS CASE, THE REPLACED DPS UNIT HAS ONLY LASTED FOR 2-3000 MILES, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. BRP SHOULD COVER ALL OF THE RECALL REPAIR, OR AT LEAST THE PART (THE NEW DPS UNIT), WHICH TOTALS OVER $1200 USD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11025222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIKE WENT IN (LIMP MODE) BECAUSE DYNAMICPOWER STEERING(DPS) UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CAN AM/BRP HAD A RECALL OF THE (DPS) UNITS ON SEPTEMBER 7,2010, HOWEVER IS NOW REFUSING TO REPAIR MY CAN-AM PURSUANT TO SAID RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10763317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT REQUIRED FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
NHTSA complaint #10760438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED ON 12-15-2010. WHEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT IN TO RIDE NOW POWER SPORTS PHOENIX 17202 N. CAVE CREEK RD. PHOENIX, AZ. 85032. IT ALSO FLASHED ON THE DASH THAT THE DPS UNIT NEEDED CHECKED. ON 6-3-2014 THE MILEAGE ON THE UNIT WAS 12,000. THE DEALER NOTIFIED BRP THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED, CLAIM # 313909. BRP MANAGEMENT SAID THE CAN AM SPIDER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $ FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. AT $ PER HOUR FOR LABOR, THAT COULD AMOUNT TO A LARGE SUM. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING UNIT WAS WORKING FINE BUT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY ITSELF, DUE TO THE FACT IT WAS SEALED INSIDE THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT. THE WHOLE UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR A $ SENSOR. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF I CHOSE TO HAVE RIDE NOW SPORTS OF PHOENIX, AZ INSTALL THE NEW DPS UNIT, IT WOULD ONLY CARRY A 90 DAY WARRANTY. WHILE I WAS AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A CUSTOMER WITH A 2014 CAN AM SPIDER CAME IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON A NEWER MODEL. THIS REALLY DISCOURAGED ME TO INVEST IN A NEW UNIT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN RECTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE WARRANTY ENDED ACCORDING TO BRP ON 11-25-2013. I FEEL THIS IS NEGLIGENT ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT HANDLE THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. PLEASE HELP ME, (THE CONSUMER), IN HOLDING THESE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS THAT AFFECT THE SAFE OPERATION OF THEIR VEHICLES ON AMERICAN ROADS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION THIS MATTER SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).?
NHTSA complaint #10721267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #10627539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10536107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10512229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10372797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THREE WHEELED CYCLE STEERING LOCKED/BINDED AT ABOUT 45 MPH. OPERATOR LOST CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THE STEERING "BINDED" WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10334527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON MAY 26, 2010, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE SUDDENLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOWLY APPLY THE BRAKES TO GAIN CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED FOR RECALL 09V162000 (STEERING) IN AUGUST 2009 BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER, WHEN CONTACTED, ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,674.
NHTSA complaint #10332370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE - 2008 BRP CAN AM SPYDER. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AFTER DARK THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING (DPS) SEIZED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE UNIT WITH THE NORMAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE HANDGRIPS. WHEN ENOUGH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE HANDLE BAR TO OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE EXCESSIVE OVER STEERING RESULTED. THE OVER STEERING CAUSED ME TO DRIVE INTO THE OPPOSING LANE AND ALTERNATELY ON TO THE SHOULDER. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT THE STEERING FROM LOCKING UP IN ANY ONE POSITION WAS TO CONTINUOUSLY MOVE THE HANDLEBAR FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ' RIGHT TO LEFT. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. I KNOW THAT BRP IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY REMEDY THAT PROTECTS THE OWNERS FROM SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. BRP'S APPROACH IS TO PROVIDE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO THE DPS UNITS WHICH MY SPYDER HAD INSTALLED SEPT. 2009. ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF FORUMS; MANY SPYDER OWNERS HAVE HAD DPS FAILURES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10328708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING LOCK ON CAN AM SPYDER WHILE DRIVING. STEERING LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD TO BE PUSHED QUITE HARD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THUS CAUSING THE IMMEDIATE JERKING OF THE WHEELS, WHILE MOVING. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS LED TO A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10326677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 CAN-AM SPYDER DISPLAYED DPS AND VSS ERRORS. RESET ERROR BY TURNING OFF AND LETTING SET FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN DROVE FOR 40 MILES ON HIGHWAY. UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH THE BIKE'S STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WANTED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ONLY. IT COULD NOT BE STEERED EVEN WITH GREAT FORCE APPLIED TO THE HANDLE BAR. AFTER ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS THE ABILITY TO STEER KICKED BACK IN. THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN 6-7 TIMES IN THE NEXT 1.5 MILES. BIKE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CAN-AM DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. THEY REPLACED THE DPS MODULE WHICH AFTER ONLY 60 MILES IS STILL WORKING FINE.
NHTSA complaint #10322756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING ALONG ON A LONG SWEEPING LEFT TURN THE STEERING LOCKED AND I NEEDED TO PHYSICALLY FORCE IT TO UNLOCK. I SINCE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND I'M AWAITING FOR A STEERING PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10322914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DYNAMIC POWER STEERING (DPS) UNIT FAILURE ON MY 2008 CAN AM SPYDER. DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 12000 MILE SERVICE JUST BEFORE THE 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. UP UNTIL THEN I HAD NO SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT DPS UNIT FROM BRP.
NHTSA complaint #10313660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOLLOWING RECALL SERVICE WORK RELATING TO THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOOTHER POWER STEERING ACCOMPANIED BY A SMALL "BUMP" OR "HICCUP" WHEN STEERING WHICH APPEARS TO BE A PRELUDE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. FOLLOWING AN 18 MILE TRIP AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE UNIT BEGAN TO DISPLAY CODES INDICATING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM AND THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING (DPS) INCLUDING "VSS FAULT", "CHECK ENGINE", AND "DPS FAULT". I WAS FORCED TO "LIMP" MY UNIT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER TESTING AND REPAIR. PRIOR TO THE RECALL I HAD NO CODES OR ENGINE ISSUES. THE UNIT HAS APPROXIMATELY 22,700 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10313310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WENT TO ADJUST MY POSITION WITHIN MY LANE BUT THE HANDLEBARS HAD TO BE FORCED TO THE LEFT (STEERING SEEMS TO BE LOCKING UP). THIS OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND REQUIRES ABNORMAL FORCE TO CORRECT OR HAVING TO BRAKE TO A STOP SO AS NOT TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A CAN-AM DEALERSHIP FOR A POWER STEERING RECALL ALONG WITH AN ECM UPDATE RECALL AND A DPS UPDATE PER MANUFACTURER. THE RECALLS AND UPDATES WERE DONE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #10311061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.