2008 Can-Am SPYDER RS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10259898 · 2009-02-25 (February 25, 2009)
VEHICLE IS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ON 2/20/2009 WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLES STEERING LOCKED COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. WHILE TRYING TO TURN I FELT A "POP" AND THE VEHICLE STEERING RETURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE SITTING STILL BUT NEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260871 · 2009-03-05 (March 5, 2009)
2008 CAN-AM SPYDER POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENTLY TURNING 'ON' AND 'OFF' AND 'LOCKING UP' CAUSING DRIVER OF MOTORCYCLE TO FIGHT STEERING TO KEEP BIKE ON ROAD. THIS ONLY STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD AROUND 5,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MY OWN SPYDER, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS. THERE HAS BEEN 1 DEATH IN TEXAS THAT MAY BE DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN 1 SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE RIDER HAS STATED THIS STEERING PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269056 · 2009-05-18 (May 18, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BOMBARDIER BOMBARDIER PRODUCTS CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE GRABBED THE CLUTCH AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. HIS HOME SUSTAINED HEAT DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,500. UPDATED 05/26/09 *BF UPDATED 05/29/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289182 · 2009-10-20 (October 20, 2009)
BESIDES A NUMBER OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAN AM SPYDER THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, THE WORST EPISODE WAS WHEN MY POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENT. I WAS HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME WHEN IT WENT OUT ON ME TWICE. I WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE SPYDER PROCEEDED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT ALL ON IT'S OWN AND IT TOOK A BIT OF MUSCLE TO STEER IT BACK TO CENTER TO AVOID HITTING A TREE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. A DAY LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED. A BRP TECH LOOKED AT IT (WITHOUT TEST DRIVIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289201 · 2009-10-21 (October 21, 2009)
STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. AS I APPLIED MORE (SIGNIFICANTLY) FORCE TO CORRECT THE STEERING IT SUDDENLY JERKED AND STEERED IN THE DIRECTION I WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO GO. IT WOULD STEER IN QUICK JERKS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE OF THE ROAD. EVEN WHILE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IT FELT LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO STEER LEFT ON ITS OWN. I HAD TO HOLD A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE HANDLE BARS TO KEEP IT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT ONE POINT I ALMOST RAN INTO A CAR ON MY RIGHT AS THE ROAD WAS CURVING AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289638 · 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
I WAS RIDING MY 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT BEGAN DRIFTING INTO THE NEXT LANE ALL ON ITS OWN, WHEN I TRIED TO CORRECT BACK INTO MY LANE THE STEERING FELT STUCK AND WHEN I PULLED HARDER TO CORRECT IT THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY OVERCORRECT AND SHOOT OVER INTO THE LANE ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND AS I SLOWED TO MERGE ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE FRONT WHEELS STARTED TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT ALL BY THEMSELVES AND CLICKING AND POPPING. I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289638 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.