2008 Can-Am SPYDER RS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 37 complaints (59.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 22 | 59.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Steering: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 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: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 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 (32). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2009: 15; 2010: 6; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10257204 · 2009-02-02 (February 2, 2009)
ON 10/19/2008, WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON IH40 IN OKLAHOMA (ON A STRAIGHT-A-WAY), THE CAN AM SPYDER'S POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF MINUTES. THANKFULLY, IT WAS AN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. ON 11/15/2008, WHILE RIDING SOME "TWISTIES" IN NORTH TEXAS, THE SPYDER AGAIN EXHIBITED MULTIPLE STEERING MALFUNCTIONS... THIS TIME PULLING THE BIKE TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STEERING PROBLEMS, THE GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR ALSO SHOWED EITHER THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259893 · 2009-02-25 (February 25, 2009)
I HAVE A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER (NEW STREET DRIVEN 3 WHEELER) AND I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING FELT STUCK AND THE SPYDER STARTED DRIFTING LEFT. I TRIED TO GENTLY PULL THE STEERING RIGHT, BUT IT KEPT GOING. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STEERING FREE'D UP AND IT JERKED RIGHT. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WITH OTHER CARS! APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND EVEN ONE SPYDER OWNER CRASHED AND WAS FLOWN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES! HERE IS HIS STORY: HTTP://WWW.SPY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10259893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358300 · 2010-09-29 (September 29, 2010)
I HAD RIDDEN THE CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE STOPPING AT COSTCO AND FILLING IT UP. NO OVERFILL OR GAS SPILLED. I ROAD APPROX. 2 MILES HOME, PARKED, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE FOR APPROX. 3 OR 4 MINUTES. I RETURNED TO SPYDER STARTED IT & BACKED UP APPROX. 10 FEET, PULLED FORWARD, BACKED UP AGAIN, STARTED FORWARD OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED & STARTED FORWARD THERE WAS A SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY SEAT & CENTRAL PLASTIC PANEL. BEFORE I COULD REACT TO THAT I HAD MOVED FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421571 · 2011-08-26 (August 26, 2011)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291824 · 2009-11-11 (November 11, 2009)
2008 CAN-AN SPYDER MODEL SE5 POWER STEERING PROBLEMS :POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OR CATCHES AND EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE HANDLE BARS. WHEN THE BARS DO RELEASE THE EXTRA EFFORT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SWERVE MAKING OF A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ALSO MOTOR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING, BACK FIRES WHEN SLOWING AND QUITS AT RED LIGHTS ....EVEN THOUGH THE INCIDENT DATE IS STATED AS 10-17 THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM DATE OF PURCHASE,AND THERE HAVE BEEN 2 UPDATES DONE BY CAN-AM BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10291824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420756 · 2011-08-19 (August 19, 2011)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460508 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558649 · 2014-01-06 (January 6, 2014)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,588 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558649 at NHTSA ↗