2009 Can-Am SPYDER RS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 13 complaints (76.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 10 | 76.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
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 | 10 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Steering: 10; Equipment: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (8). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10329868 · 2010-05-11 (May 11, 2010)
I PURCHASED A 2009 RS SPYDER ON 05/04/2010 AND I HAVE RODE IT 300 SCARY MILES. THIS MACHINE IS DANGEROUS TO RIDE,IT FOLLOWS EVERY SEAM IN THE RODE SURFACE ,JERKING THE MACHINE BACK AND FORTH. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD CONTROL OF THE DIRECTION THE BIKE WANTS TO TAKE. I'VE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES ALL MY LIFE AND KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BIKE,I'VE LOGGED MORE 500,000 MILES ON MOTORCYCLES AND THIS MACHINE IS SCARY TO RIDE. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY CONCERN AND HE CLAIMS THAT I WILL GET USE TO THE WAY THE MACHINE HANDLES. I DON'T THINK IT'S SEAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334496 · 2010-06-03 (June 3, 2010)
I HAVE A 2009 CAN AM SPYDER. THERE IS A STEERING PROBLEM WITH THE BIKE. I WILL BE DRIVING THE BIKE STRAIGHT AND IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN GO LEFT WITHOUT MY TURNING THE HANDLE BAR IN THAT DIRECTION. I HAVE TO THEN PULL THE BAR RIGHT, IT WILL CLICK AND THEN I WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT SIX TIMES NOW, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS RANDOM. THUS FAR I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT IT IS DANGEROUS AND BRP NEEDS TO BE WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, COMPENSATING THEM OR SOMETHING. NOTHING HAS BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345340 · 2010-07-26 (July 26, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN AM SPIDER SE 5 ROADSTER MOTORCYCLE (NA). THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE CAUSING THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN THE WIRE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356543 · 2010-09-20 (September 20, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN AM SPYDER RS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME LOCKED IN GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO RESPOND IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358433 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAM-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 09V162000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS SENDING OUT REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ONE VEHICLE AT A TIME. THE DEALER WOULD REPAIR ONE VEHICLE, RETURN THE PARTS TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEN RECEIVE PARTS FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 01/03/11
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362478 · 2010-10-26 (October 26, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V162000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE RECALL PART WAS ON A MASSIVE BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY RECALL DEFECT. THERE WAS NO FAILURE MILEAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10362478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399837 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN-AM SPIDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING) SEPTEMBER 2010 AND HAD BEEN TRYING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL SINCE THAT TIME. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND CONTINUALLY ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10399837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411083 · 2011-06-30 (June 30, 2011)
RIDING ON A TWO LANE RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE STEERING PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT AND TOOK ME INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. HAD A ONCOMING CAR BEEN COMING IN MY DIRECTION I WOULD HAVE HIT IT HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY A 30 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST AND I WAS TRYING TO COUNTER STEER BACK INTO MY LANE AND ALMOST FLIPPED WHEN THE STEERING RELEASED. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2008 CAN AM SPYDER. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED ACCORDING TO BRP, BUT IT IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS 2009 SPYDER WAS BOUGHT BAND NEW AND SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411083 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V582000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗