2012 Can-Am SPYDER RT: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10511491 · 2013-05-11 (May 11, 2013)
WHEN MANUALLY TURNING THE TURN SIGNALS OFF AFTER CHANGING TRAFFIC LANES, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WILL FLASH OR TURN ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BRAND NEW. SOMETIMES IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE TURN SIGNALS OFF BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU MASH THE BUTTON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL COMES ON. AT THE 4500 MILE CHECKUP I HEAD THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED AND IT WORKED FOR 5 MILES AND THEN STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN AND IS NOW DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS DOING BEFORE. I CARRIED IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SWITCH RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525252 · 2013-07-16 (July 16, 2013)
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH DOES NOT CANCEL PROPERLY (MANUALLY). WHEN SIGNALING A RIGHT TURN (FOR EXAMPLE), DEFINITIVELY PRESSING THE SWITCH TO CANCEL FREQUENTLY CAUSES THE LEFT SIGNAL TO FLASH. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE LEFT SIGNAL BEGINS TO FLASH AS IF IT WAS PRESSED TO SIGNAL A LEFT TURN. THE ISSUE CAN BE REPRODUCED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, SAFELY ENSURING THE SWITCH IS BEING PRESSED PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING, THIS RESULTS IN A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK AT THE DASH TO VERIFY THAT THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN PROPERLY CANCELED;…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548175 · 2013-10-16 (October 16, 2013)
WE HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES OUR SPYDER WOULD NOT START. WE WOULD BE RIDING FOR ONE TO THREE HOURS AND STOP THEN GET BACK ON TO RIDE AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER BEHIND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO US AND JUST THE LIGHT. WE CAN NOT TRUST. IT TO RIDE ANYMORE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAY THAT HAVE FIXED WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE PROBLEM BUT STILL NO LUCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549723 · 2013-10-27 (October 27, 2013)
THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE SPYDER WOULD NOT START. WE WOULD BE RIDING AND THEN STOP SOMEWHERE AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER A FEW TIME OF TRYING TO START IT, IT WOULD FINALLY START. OUR CONCERN OF COURSE IS WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE AT A STOP. IF IT DOES HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE AT A STOP, IT COULD CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549723 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 10616523 · 2014-07-26 (July 26, 2014)
RIDING MOTORCYCLE RIGHT LEG GETS VERY VERY HOT ALMOST BURNING...NEED RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616523 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 ↗