Can-Am SPYDER F3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
12,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 37 complaints (45.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Power Train: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Equipment: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 32 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 12; 2023: 5; 2024: 7; 2025: 6; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10983890 · 2017-05-07 (May 7, 2017)
ON SATURDAY MAY 6, 2017 I TEST DROVE A 2016 CAN AM SPYDER F3. IT WAS A CLEAR, BUT CHILLY AND WINDY DAY IN NORTH EAST GEORGIA. I HAD PREARRANGED A TEST RIDE WITH MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS IN BUFORD, GA. THE MACHINE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED, BUT HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE ISSUE: WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT-MOST LANE IN I 85 NORTH, ON CRUISE CONTROL AND TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 69 MPH, THE TRAFFIC WELL AHEAD OF ME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BEGAN TO COAST THE MACHINE. I THEN NOTICED THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361362 · 2020-09-27 (September 27, 2020)
PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO DISENGAGE AFTER BEING PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. RESET AND DISENGAGED AFTER A THREE HOUR PERIOD. THIS THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURS. MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO AND NOW THE SECOND MODULE IS FAILING.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11467522 · 2022-06-04 (June 4, 2022)
Gear shift paddle will not respond when manually down shifting. Sometimes, I have to pull hard on the lever 3 or 4 times to get it to down shift. Sometimes it simply won’t manually change gears. This is very dangerous, especially on corners, when you need to slow down quickly then accelerate again. I end up “coasting” around corners in too high a gear and have to brake hard to slow down enough to safely maneuver. There’s not enough torque in the high gear to accelerate out. I could easily lose control if I weren’t an experienced rider. It actu…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11467522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11488634 · 2022-10-10 (October 10, 2022)
Shifting / stalling problems: 2018 F3L SE6 **Problem has occurred using each of my 2 Spyder keys Problem definition: At times, bike stalls while driving...begins shaking and remains in last gear prior to the stall. Gear shown in Display does not change from gear it was last in when bike stalled out. Orange exclamation point ! (Vehicle Malfunction) appears on lower left corner of Display and the last gear the bike was in prior to stalling still appears on Display. The gray banner, Transmission Fault also flashed quickly on Display for 2 of…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11488634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11481666 · 2022-08-28 (August 28, 2022)
Parking brake will not release. This has happened multiple times. Sept 2021, I had to manually disengage parking brake to get the bike to move. I drove it without a parking break until I could get it in to the dealer. Dealership claimed it was a low battery issue and reattached the parking brake. Aug 2022, same issue waiting for the dealership to come pick up my bike for repair because I it not drivable.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11481667 · 2022-08-28 (August 28, 2022)
Aug 22 Parking brake will not release AGAIN. This has happened multiple times. This is a known issue and has been reported multiple times. This needs to be address/fixed by BRP! Sept 2021, I had to manually disengage parking brake to get the bike to move. I drove it without a parking break until I could get it in to the dealer. Dealership claimed it was a low battery issue and reattached the parking brake. Aug 2022, same issue waiting for the dealership to come pick up my bike for repair because I it not drivable.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481667 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2027 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 0; 2021: 0; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1; 2027: 1