107 of the
399 complaints filed about the Can-Am Spyder RT
are about the fuel system —
27% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
On [XXX] at approximately [XXX] I was riding my 2024 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited on [XXX] . Upon approaching the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] I began to slow down as the light was changing to red. At this time, people in vehicles in the the left lane began beeping their horn and pointing at me and the motorcycle. As I looked down I saw flames shooting up my left ankle and leg and rising up under the seat where the gas tank is located. I immediately pulled the motorcycle over to the shoulder of [XXX] and got off. A truck driver passing by gave me a fire extinguisher and I was able to put the fire out without any injuries. The fire went up under the seat and under the front cowling into the instrument panel. I had it towed to Maddie's Motor Sports on [XXX] in the Town of Spencerport, NY. They contacted Bombardier Recreational Products. Inc (BRP) who asked for photos from Maddie's as well as an accident/incident report to be completed by me. I did so and turned it in to Maddie's on August 5th. Shortly thereafter, the BRP representative - Bruno Bilodeau made a decision that it was an insurance issue and not a warranty issue despite the fact that he never physically inspected the motorcycle. This motorcycle had approximately 5100 miles on it at the time of the fire and was still under the manufacture's warranty (until July 2026). In addition I purchased multiple Extended Warranties to cover the motorcycle through the majority of the length of the loan. Calls and e-mails to BRP have gone unanswered. It is my position that BRP owes me a new motorcycle or they can fix mine. Mr. Bilodeau said the fire was caused by the filler cap not being secure and he could tell by a photo that was sent to him by Maddie's because he could see where fuel ran down the side of the gas tank. He's wrong - I made sure the cap was secure after fill up - it clicks when secure and I double check. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11682381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My wife RODE our 2018 Can Am Spyder 70 miles to have recall 24V728 completed on 4/23/25. Today is 6/24/25 and we still do not have vehicle back. Dealership pulled engine replaced output shaft put it back together and it will now not shift correctly. Dealership has been trying to figure out the problem and in contact with BRP. At first it was something about it not accepting updated programming, then it was something about an oil pressure sensor creating the issue, and now they say it is the HCM which I believe is hydraulic control module in the transmission. On May 7th in an email from BRP Customer Service this statement below was made by the customer service representative. "I have spoken with the dealership, and they have reassured me that the new issues you've mentioned are indeed linked to the recall. They are working diligently to resolve these matters and expect your unit to be repaired by the end of this week." It is now 6/24/25 and BRP is trying to walk back the statement made above by saying it is not related to recall simply because what they think the problem is, is not an inexpensive part. Fact of the matter is it was fully functional when my wife rode it down to dealership the work was done and now the transmission will not shift properly and what they think will fix the issue just happens to be inside the transmission the dealership just had torn apart. Based on other comments from other owners of this type of vehicle I am not the first one to have problems with this recall and I don't believe BRP has a dealer network entirely capable of doing the recall, and the BRP Customer Service rep has been of little help. I do have all the emails between myself and the BRP customer service rep if needed.
NHTSA complaint #11669004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle emits raw fuel fumes under pressure while driving and after parked for up to 45 minutes. Sometimes can her the fuel boiling in the fuel tank. If parked n a garage and any spark is near the vehicle will blow up. If parked outside the fumes are overpowering and if someone drops a cigarette nearby there will be an explosion.. I have contacted the local BRP Can A, dealer and they refuse to look at or repair due to liability concerns. I contacted BRP AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER 2 months ago and they have and continue to address the dangerous problem. The vehicle is a time bomb and I can not use the vehicle at all due to safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11537557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle releases fuel and fuel vapors into the atmosphere directly under and around the vehicle. The quantity being released is not safe in an enclosed space, is a fire risk, induces nausea, irritated skin, and the incident and effects of the incident last for a very long time. This is a brand new vehicle, and cannot be ridden or stored safely. This issue has existed since the odometers read 0.1 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11497679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the vehicle a clunking sound was heard and at the same time I experienced a loss of propulsion. The vehicle is currently in the process of being repaired as it was determined that the front drive sprocket main drive shaft had sheared. Fortunately I was able to pull off the highway at an intersection onto a much less congested street. There were not warning lights or indications that forewarned me of this event. The vehicle was towed as it was unable to proceed under its own power to the residence of the owner. After further evaluation the vehicle was taken to a dealership for diagnosis and repair. The VIN provided has no displayable records on Carfax.
NHTSA complaint #11469969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is a safety issue with my 2021 CanAm RT Spyder. When riding up a grade in the mountains and the rpm's decrease, the motorcycle starts to buck, misfire and the the speed rapidly decreases. Downshifting to a lower gear does not alleviate the problem. My safety was jeopardized by the rapid reduction of speed in traffic putting me at risk of being hit from behind. I just completed a 3,800 mile journey and encountered the issue every time going up a grade that resulted in a drop of rpm's and speed. The vehicle has not been inspected, but I did discuss the issue with the dealership where I purchased the CanAm. They informed me it is a known issue and the motorcycle computer would resolve the problem as I continued to ride in the mountains. The issue was never eliminated. There were no warning messages.
NHTSA complaint #11431855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2012 CAN AM SPYDER RT LIMITED WITH EXTREME HEAT ON MY RIGHT FOOT AND AROUND THE SEAT. ALSO HAVE OVERWHELMING GASOLINE FUMES AFTER PARKING THE BIKE. MAKING IT UNUSABLE AND NO FUN AND DANGEROUS TO RIDE. PURCHASED JULY 14 2017. 7,200 MILES. HAD CONTACT SEVERAL TIMES WITH LOCAL DEALER ABSOLUTELY NO HELP!
NHTSA complaint #11325830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POSSIBLE DPS FUME CANISTER CONCERN ON RECALL. FUEL CAP SEEMS TO ALLOW WATER INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK? WHICH THEN CAUSES THE BIKE TO SPUTTER AND NOT WANT TO "BREATH." WHEN THE BIKE IS WARMING UP, IT'S SPITTING AND SPUTTERING, DOES NOT WANT TO IDLE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #11235018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING TO HAWKS NEST STATE PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA, MY CAN-AM SPIDER CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE FUEL CAP AREA WE WERE COMING TO A STOP GOING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR TO 0. I FELT HEAT ON MY LEFT LEG LOOKED DOWN AND SAW FLAMES AND TOLD MY WIFE TO GET OFF THE BIKE AND WE GOT OFF AND THE BIKE, IT BURNED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SOMEONE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. WE HAD FUELED UP ABOUT 35 MILES PRIOR TO THIS STOP. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS MOTORCYCLE BUT NOT MY SPECIFIC VIN #- WHY? I SEE THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2008 TO 2012 CAN-AM SPYDERS WITH VAPOR LEAK OR FUEL LINE LEAK RECALLS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAN-AM FOR THREE MONTHS I AM GRATEFUL WE ARE NOT HURT BUT THIS COULD'VE BEEN REALLY REALLY BAD THESE ARE KNOWN FOR CATCHING FIRE AS I AM LEARNING AND READING I AM FORTUNATE YES- PLEASE STOP THESE BIKES FROM BEING SOLD!! THE ROAD WAS HILLY 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD. SUNSHINE 85 DEGREES. RUINED OUR DAY AND BIKE!
NHTSA complaint #11231750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST PURCHASED MY SPYDER RT ......NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AFTER A DRIVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I OPENED MY FUEL CAP AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS WAY HOTTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. ALSO REAR BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY, AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11144620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING MY SPYDER THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE GETS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSES THE GAS TO BOIL AND THE ENGINE LETS OFF GAS VAPOR. THIS VAPOR IS RELEASED UNTIL THE BIKE COOLS. I HAVE WORRIES THAT THIS WILL IGNITE SO I MUST LEAVE THE SPYDER OUTSIDE OF MY GARAGE UNTIL THE SMELL DISSIPATES. .
NHTSA complaint #11123141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXCESS HEAT HAS MELTED THE BRAKE LINE TWICE, MASTER CYL. MELTED, BRAKS GET SOFT AND INHIBIT STOPPING POWER, ELECTRICAL WIRINGIS DEGRADING FROM EXCESS HEAT, GAS TANL GET SO HOT THE GAS STARTS TO BOIL, PANELS ARE MELTING AND WARPING FROM EXCESS HEAT. THE UNIT HAS BEEN DECLARED UN SAFE TO RIDE. BRP REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES, ALL RECALLS AND UPGRADES HAVE BEEN DONE AND THE PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING WORST, BRP, WILL NOT FIX ONLY OFFERS TO HIDE THE COMETIC DAMAGE
NHTSA complaint #11114334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEM SINCE NEW. WHEN PARKING IN MY GARAGE OR ANY LOCATION, HUGE AMOUNT OF FUEL ODER / VAPOR IN THE GARAGE. NEED TO ALWAYS VENT THE GARAGE FOR HOURS!!
NHTSA complaint #11091172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SMELL, LEAKS, EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION, AND POOR PERFORMANCE INCLUDING VEHICAL STALLLING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE FUEL ISSUE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FUEL ODOR IS INTOLERABLE AND CAUSES SEVERE HEADACHES AND NAUSEA WHILE DRIVING. OTHER PEOPLE NOTICE THAT I SMELL LIKE FUEL L AFTER RIDING MY CAN-AM. FOR THESE REASONS I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT WITHOUT RISK OF BEING OVERCOME BY THE FUEL VAPORS POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT A CAN-AM DEALER. THEY REPLACED SOME EMISSIONS HOSES THAT HAD CRACKED BUT IT TOOK SO MANY MONTHS TO FIND THE PROBLEM THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE EMISSIONS WARRANTEE. THE PERFORMANCE IMPROVED BUT STILL WON'T IDLE SMOOTH AND SURGES WHILE DRIVING. THEE IS ONLY 6,230 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. DOCUMENTED SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE AT TOUSLEY MOTORSPORTS INC, 1400 CO RD E EAST, VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN 55110. PHONE (651) 483-8296. PREVIOUS UNRESOLVED DIAGNOSTIC ATTEMPTS IN 2016, WERE AT DAKOTA MOTOR SPORTS, 628 CIRCLE DR, ABERDEEN, SD 57401. PHONE (605) 725-2887. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITHE THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER WHEN THE CALIPER FAILS TO RELEASE COMPLETELY AND DESTROYS BOTH THE BRAKE ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD REPEATEDLY. THE ROTOR BECOMES RED HOT WHILE DRIVING CREATING A FINITE RISK, FLYING METAL SHRAPNEL AND SERIOUS RISK FOR LOSS OF CONTROL EITHER WITH REAR WHEEL LOCK UP OR BRAKING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11023795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I STOP TO GET GAS ON A HOT DAY THE GAS IN THE GAS TANK IS BOILING I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION I HAVE NOTICED THIS BEFORE ON MY BIKE. THE BIKE HAD ONLY 1/4 TANK FULL AND HAD RODE FOR AT LEAST 50 MILES
NHTSA complaint #10859947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES AROUND THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE ABS AND THE EBD DEFAULT WERE DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10735184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER'S REMEDY WAS INCOMPLETE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE REPLACING THE BODY PANEL WITH NEW IMPROVED BODY PANELS AND AN UPGRADED FUEL SYSTEM KIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TEMPLATES TO USE TO CUT OUT PIECES OF THE BODY PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY AVAILABLE REPAIR FOR THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. .. .UPDATED 07/21/15
NHTSA complaint #10724817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED THIS SPYDER ON 6/25/2012 AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM ALL THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE. IF I PARK IT IN THE GARAGE THE FUMES ARE HORRIBLE AND I HAVE TO VENTILATE THE GARAGE FOR A WHILE. I HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE MY FIRST SERVICE WHICH WAS 7/23/2012 AND I WAS TOLD THE CANISTER THAT TAKES THE FUMES OFF THE CARBURETOR FILLS WITH FUEL AND BECAUSE I DON'T RUN THE MACHINE ABOVE 5000 RPMS ENOUGH THE FUEL LEAKS OUT ON THE FLOOR INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE. 5000 RPMS IN 4TH GEAR IS 58 MILES PER HOUR. 3 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT. 5000 RPMS IN 5TH GEAR IS 68 MILES PER HOUR WHICH IS 3 MILES AN HOUR OVER FREEWAY SPEEDS. I ASKED TO HAVE THE RPMS CHANGED LOWER SO IT WOULD EMPTY OUT EASIER AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD OPERATE TOO ROUGH. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT BRP AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE ANSWER I GOT WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM CONTACT BRP. I ALSO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WHEN I AM OPERATING IN TOWN BECAUSE THE MACHINE GETS VERY WARM AND YOU START DEALING WITH GAS FUMES FROM SOMETHING GETTING WAY TOO WARM. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE MACHINE AND I WAS TOLD TO PARK THE MACHINE OUTSIDE UNTIL IT COOLS INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE REAL ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10724443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.