2008 CAN-AM Spyder Rs

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING, WHICH CALLED FOR THE SOFTWARE CLUSTER CONSOLE TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE RECEIVED THE REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STEER THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE TAMPA BAY POWER SPORTS DEALER (13521 N FLORIDA AVENUE, TAMPA, FL; 813-968-7888) AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL AND WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED REPAIRED AND WOULD NOT RECEIVE A SECOND REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

I WAS RIDING MY 2005 CANAM SPYDER MOTORCYCLE TO WORK AND ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AWAY WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT I HEARD A POP AND SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COME UP FROM UNDER THE COWLING. I IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO MY WORK PARKING LOT (BECAUSE THERE WERE NO TREES OR ANYTHING FLAMMABLE AROUND) AND WENT INTO WORK TO GET SOME WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE SMALL FLAMES I SAW. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OUTSIDE THE BIKE WAS ENGULFED AND MELTING. (THE OUTER SKIN IS MAINLY FIBERGLASS) I HAVE BEEN ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTINGS OF FIRES ON THE MOTORCYCLES AND ALSO THE WATERCRAFT AND ATV'S THIS COMPANY MANUFACTURES. *TR

I HAD RIDDEN THE CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE STOPPING AT COSTCO AND FILLING IT UP. NO OVERFILL OR GAS SPILLED. I ROAD APPROX. 2 MILES HOME, PARKED, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE FOR APPROX. 3 OR 4 MINUTES. I RETURNED TO SPYDER STARTED IT & BACKED UP APPROX. 10 FEET, PULLED FORWARD, BACKED UP AGAIN, STARTED FORWARD OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED & STARTED FORWARD THERE WAS A SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY SEAT & CENTRAL PLASTIC PANEL. BEFORE I COULD REACT TO THAT I HAD MOVED FORWARD MAYBE 10 OR 15 FEET. THERE WAS A WHOOSHING SOUND & A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE SAME AREA. IT SCARED ME ENOUGH THAT I PANICKED & TRIED STEPPING OFF THE SPYDER AS IT WAS MOVING. I TRIPPED AND STRUCK THE DRIVEWAY ON MY LEFT ARM, SHOULDER AND HEAD. I ROLLED OVER & LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE SPYDER HAD CONTINUED FORWARD INTO THE FENCE & TREE AT THE SIDE OF MY DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND A SMALL FLAME APPROX. A FOOT HIGH AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT & CENTER PANEL. WHEN THE SPYDER HIT THE TREE THE FLAME JUMPED TO AROUND 3 TO 4 FEET. THE SPYDER HAD RUN OVER MY GARDEN HOSE AND HIT THE WATER LINE SO THAT I COULD NOT GET TO A HOSE OR TURN THE WATER ON. I WAS AFRAID THE GAS TANK WOULD EXPLODE ANY WAY SO I CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE SPYDER WAS APPROXIMATELY 75 % BURNT. THE FIREMAN IN CHARGED STATED HE FELT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MY CAN AM SPYDER IS THE 8TH ONE TO BURN UP THIS WAY. ON 09/28/2010 ANOTHER 2008 CAN AM SPYDER SELF-IGNITED WHILE THE RIDE WAS MOVING. HE REPORTED THAT HIS MACHINE WAS ALSO A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION #21 INCIDENT #10-0107129 UPDATED IVOQ 10/26/10*JB *TR