2009 Can-Am Spyder GS

Routine

Owners filed 14 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
010
Vehicle Speed Control1
101
Unknown or Other1
010
Service Brakes1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Electrical System1
011

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline12V581000
Filed Dec 12, 20129,600 vehiclesBombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Defect. Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Can-Am Spyder GS and model year 2010 Can-AM Spyder RS vehicles. Fuel vapors may exit the fuel vapor canister vent hose in the enclosed engine compartment.

Risk. Fuel vapors in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire and personal injury.

Remedy. BRP will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vapor canister vent hose and replace and re-route it, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 26, 2012. Owners may contact BRP AT 1-888-638-5397.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap12V582000
Filed Dec 12, 201233,700 vehiclesBombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Defect. Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Can-Am Spyder GS, RS, and RT series vehicles. The fuel cap may not fit onto the fuel tank filler neck, preventing it from sealing properly.

Risk. If the fuel cap does not seal properly, it may leak fuel vapors. Fuel vapors in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire and personal injury.

Remedy. BRP will notify owners and send them a replacement fuel cap, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in mid-January 2013. Owners may contact BRP AT 1-888-638-5397.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Jun 15, 20183,500 milesMA

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED

Service Brakes
Filed May 28, 201722,000 milesWI

PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN IT BLOWS THE FUSE FOR THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS

Steering
Filed Sep 12, 201511,000 milesFL

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.

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Oct 1, 201415,000 milesFL

I REFUELED MY MOTORCYCLE, AS I WAS LEAVING I NOTICED MY LEGS GET HOT. I DID NOT PAY IT MUCH MIND UNTIL THERE WAS AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF PAIN THEN I LOOKED DOWN AND I SEEN THAT MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ON FIRE. I THEN PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AND BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET TREATED FOR MY BURNS. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ELECTRONICS WERE FRIED, THE PLASTICS WERE MELTED AND IT STUNK OF GASOLINE. I ALSO TAKEN PICTURES OF THE BURNS TO MY LEG AND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 7, 20102,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE OWNER BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL BUT SHE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER EVEN THOUGH HER VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Steering
Filed May 26, 20104,674 milesWV

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.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 2010512 milesOH

WHILE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 15MPH, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT FINALLY GAVE OUT VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET STOPPED. VEHICLE WITH DRIVER JUMPED A CURB WENT OUT OF CONTROL HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THROTTLE WAS CHECK AND APPEARED TO BE OPERATION OK. SUSPECT THE VEHICLE SOFTWARE AS CAUSE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND REPORTEDLY CHECKED OUT OK. COMPUTER WAS DOWN LOADED AND SHOWED HIGH RPM AND ACCELERATION UP TO THE MOMENT OF IMPACT. *TR

Steering
Filed Apr 20, 20106,800 miles00

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. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2010900 milesLA

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, SPYDER DRIFTED TOWARD TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO CORRECT DRIFT, BUT STEERING WAS LOCKED. HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CORRECT DRIFT, THEN STEERING BROKE LOOSE AND SHARPLY JERKED TO THE LEFT. NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO ENTER THE ONCOMING LANE. THIS CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND SCHEDULED A STEERING UPDATE WITH DEALER. AFTER THE DEALER INSTALLED THE UPDATE, ON THE WAY HOME (APPROX. 50 MILE TRIP) THE SAME THING BEGAN TO OCCUR, ONLY WORST. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, IT WAS BEGINNING TO BE SO SEVERE THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO JUST STAY IN MY LANE OF TRAFFIC. CALLED THE DEALER WHEN I GOT HOME AND WAS INFORMED TO JUST BRING IT BACK AGAIN. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS BEGINNING TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR CAUSE A FATALITY. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 31, 20094,120 milesFL

WHILE OPERATING MY 2009 CAN AM SPYDER, THE POWER STEERING UNIT LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO VEER ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN A 1 HOUR PERIOD AND THEN 2 TIMES WHILE RIDING BACK HOME. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ON AUGUST 10TH BUT THE EFFECTS WERE NOT AS STRONG AND I ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 28, 200915 milesOH

WE PURCHASED A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER LAST MONTH. THE VEHICLE IS A SEMI AUTOMATIC MODEL ( SE-5) AS YOU COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO DOWN SHIFT. BUT DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THIS REMAINING IN A HIGHER GEAR SUCH AS 4TH OR 5TH. THE RESULT IS WHEN YOU GO TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE AND SOMETIMES JUST DIES. YOU THEN MUST TURN IT OFF WAIT 60 SECONDS THEN RE-START IT. IF YOU GO TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC THIS CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 22, 20093,283 milesOR

I HAVE A CAN-AM SPYDER SE5 WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR A CHECKUP, A REQUIRED. I HAD NO PREVIOUS STEERING PROBLEM. THEY, THE DEALER WAS TO COMPLY WITH YOUR UPDATES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER COMPLETED THE UPDATES. WHEN I STARTED THE BIKE UP THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A READING ACROSS THE SCREEN STATING TO CHECK "DP5". I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER OUT TO SEE THE PROBLEM. HE HAD HIS TECHNICIAN REDUE THE UNDATE PROCEDURE. THIS DIDN'T HELP THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL THE FACTORY ON THE 21ST AS HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING UNIT. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE OK TO DRIVE THE BIKE HOME (52 MILES). I DID SO BUT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AS IT HAS NO HYDRAULIC ASSIST. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS AS A PERSON WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME TRYING TO STEER AWAY FROM SOMETHING THAT SUDDENLY CAME OUT AT HIM OR DODGE A POT HOLE, ETC. *TR

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Aug 12, 20091,750 milesAL

ON AUG. 4, 2009 I TOOK MY CAM-AM SPYDER TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ADDRESSED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSTALLED THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. AS I WAS LEAVING ABOUT A HALF BLOCK FROM THE DEALER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. I TURN THE TRIKE AROUND AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER. WHEN I GOT OFF THE TRIKE I LOOKED TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND NOTICED THE TRIKE WAS IN FLAMES. I RAN INSIDE THE SHOP TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I THEN CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER(BRP) TO TELL THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO FILL OUT A ACCIDENT REPORT. I FILLED OUT THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK AND RETURNED IT TO THE MANUFACTURER (BRP). THEY TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO INVESTIGATE AND RETURNED A VERDICT. "THE FIRE WASN'T MY FAULT AND NEITHER THEIRS(BRP) BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE" SAID BRP REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Aug 4, 2009927 milesAR

I HAD SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 2009 CAN AM SPYDER FOR 2-3 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. ON 8/4/09 I HAD JUST PARKED THE SPYDER IN MY GARAGE AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT AROUND 5:15 PM. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY A 2 MILE DRIVE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE SPYDER I NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU ARE FACING THE FRONT OF IT. THE SMOKE LASTED ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS AND THEN DISSIPATED. POSSIBLE SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANYING THE SMOKE. *TR

14 of 14 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2009 — this page14230Routine
200831330Routine

Compare every Spyder GS year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 12, 2012. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.