2009 Can-Am SPYDER GS: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 927 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279404 at NHTSA ↗

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280195 at NHTSA ↗

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,283 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289316 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290075 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 4,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297704 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298215 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326677 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328297 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-12-12 (December 12, 2012)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2012-12-12 (December 12, 2012)

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.

Consequence: 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.