U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Can-Am SPYDER RT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

41 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

753 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 41 complaints (53.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	7	17.1%
Fuel system concerns	6	14.6%
Engine operation	2	4.9%
Steering behavior	2	4.9%
Transmission and shifting	1	2.4%
Electrical and battery issues	1	2.4%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine

Electrical System

Exterior Lighting

Service Brakes

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Engine And Engine Cooling

Steering

Fuel/Propulsion System: 22; Engine: 8; Electrical System: 7; Exterior Lighting: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (35). 4 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.

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2023

2013: 6; 2014: 16; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 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 10499920 · 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)

BRP OF CANADA MAKES & SELLS THEIR CAN-AM SPYDER THREE WHEELED TRIKE MOTORCYCLE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS WELL KNOWN BY THIS VEHICLE'S OWNERS THAT THIS TRIKE PRODUCES A LARGE AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH IS DIRECTED AT THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE FOOT REST AREA MAKING IT AN EXTREMELY HOT AREA ON SAID VEHICLE. SINCE THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE ONLY METHOD OF BRAKING THE VEHICLE RESIDES, I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND HAVE BEEN TRYING ( UNSUCCESSFULLY ) TO GET THE BRP CAN-AM PEOPLE TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS PERMANENTLY INJURED. THEY HAVE DECLINED MY …

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499920 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10510743 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80.

Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510743 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10626861 · 2014-08-20 (August 20, 2014)

THE BIKE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AND ALSO HAS A GAS SMELL AFTER RIDING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10630345 · 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)

OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL AFTER RIDING ON WARM/HOT DAYS. AFTER RIDING IN WARMER WEATHER THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL. THE SMELL WAS SO OVERWHELMING ONE DAY IN THE GARAGE MY WIFE THOUGHT I HAD DUMPED OR SPILLED FUEL IN THE GARAGE AS THE SMELL WAS EVEN COMING INTO THE HOUSE. THIS OBVIOUSLY SCARED MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ( I JUST LEFT IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK). I NORMALLY LEAVE THE SPYDER OUTSIDE TO COOL AFTER RIDING BECAUSE OF THE RAW FUEL SMELL VAPORS. I ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN RIDING AND I NEED TO STOP FOR FUEL THE REMAINDER OF THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TA…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10584165 · 2014-04-22 (April 22, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584165 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10906363 · 2016-09-14 (September 14, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10746275 · 2015-08-05 (August 5, 2015)

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR SPYDER ON HWY. #2 FROM SEDRO WOOLLY TO WINTHROP, WA. WE WERE TRAVELLING WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES WHICH WERE AHEAD OF US. THE ROAD IS VERY CURVY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND WE KEPT TO THE SPEED LIMITS POSTED. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND THE ROADS DRY. WE WERE TRAVELLING EAST AND HAVING AN ENJOYABLE TIME. HOWEVER AT MILE 144 WE CAME ACROSS ANOTHER CURVE IN THE ROAD AND THE SPYDER STEERING FROZE AND WOULD NOT TURN. IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC AND STRAIGHT INTO THE GUARD RAILING. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746275 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11310775 · 2020-02-22 (February 22, 2020)

DYNAMIC POWER STEERING FAILURE AT 5,900 MILES. NO POWER STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310775 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10632929 · 2014-09-13 (September 13, 2014)

PURCHASED FROM DEALER USED ON JULY 19 2014 WITH 2 MONTHS WARRANTY LEFT. 6100 MILES ON IT. AFTER A RIDE ON AUGUST 31, FOUND A FLUID LEAK. CHECKED AND NO OIL AND LITTLE TRANSMISSION FLUID. TOOK TO DEALER. 10 DAYS LATER [XXX] AT DEALER CALLED. SAID THE CLUTCH COVER IS WARPED FROM IMPROPER FACTORY INSTALLATION. APPARENTLY CLUTCH COVER ALSO COVERS OIL PUMP. SAID THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE BUT NO RECALLS. PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR FOR 4 MONTHS. DID NOTICE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING DURING RIDE. THANK GOODNESS TRANSMISSION DID NOT GO OUT WHILE RIDING. DEALE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632929 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11232054 · 2019-07-15 (July 15, 2019)

ON 7/11/2019 MY 2012 CANAM RT SE5 STARTED THROWING OUT VSS FAULT CODE, I TOOK IT HOME AND CONTACTED MY LOCAL CANAM SERVICE COMPANY. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN WHICH I DID THE NEXT DAY. ENROUTE TO THE SHOP IT BEGAN SHOWING ABS LIMP HOME MODE BUT WAS NOT IN LIMP HOME MODE. ONCE CONNECTED TO THE SHOP COMPUTER I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE WAS THROWING OUT NUMEROUS CODES AND FALSE CODES. THEN I WASXADVISED THIS BIKE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2013 IP TO AND INCLUDING REPLACING THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT 15000+ MILES. SINCE PURCHAS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11232054 at NHTSA ↗