Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
225–50K
050–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
37 reports with mileage · 4 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
41 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2023
Structure
Upon cruising down the highway about 60 MPH,my powered windshield support arm broke and the windshield fell back toward me in between the handle bars. Upon inspection,arm broke in half leaving the windshield unsupported. Our safety was put at risk because windshield was laying flat instead of upright for protection from winds an…
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Upon cruising down the highway about 60 MPH,my powered windshield support arm broke and the windshield fell back toward me in between the handle bars. Upon inspection,arm broke in half leaving the windshield unsupported. Our safety was put at risk because windshield was laying flat instead of upright for protection from winds and bugs or debris as designed. We had to prop it up with a coat to finish our ride. Doing research on Spyder owners forum,we discovered it is an ongoing problems with this support arm and we are not the lone incident. BRP should recall this for safety reasons. BRP sells a replacement unit for $800, totally unexceptable as this is a part that should not fail.no warning lights could predict this. Parts are available for inspection.
NHTSA ODI #11527282
27,880 miles · Feb 14, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System
SMELL FUEL VAPORS.
NHTSA ODI #11396160
7,200 miles · May 25, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion System
I HAVE A 2012 CAN AM SPYDER RT LIMITED WITH EXTREME HEAT ON MY RIGHT FOOT AND AROUND THE SEAT. ALSO HAVE OVERWHELMING GASOLINE FUMES AFTER PARKING THE BIKE. MAKING IT UNUSABLE AND NO FUN AND DANGEROUS TO RIDE. PURCHASED JULY 14 2017. 7,200 MILES. HAD CONTACT SEVERAL TIMES WITH LOCAL DEALER ABSOLUTELY NO HELP!
NHTSA ODI #11325830
5,895 miles · Feb 22, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
DYNAMIC POWER STEERING FAILURE AT 5,900 MILES. NO POWER STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #11310775
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
ON 7/11/2019 MY 2012 CANAM RT SE5 STARTED THROWING OUT VSS FAULT CODE, I TOOK IT HOME AND CONTACTED MY LOCAL CANAM SERVICE COMPANY. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN WHICH I DID THE NEXT DAY. ENROUTE TO THE SHOP IT BEGAN SHOWING ABS LIMP HOME MODE BUT WAS NOT IN LIMP HOME MODE. ONCE CONNECTED TO THE SHOP COMPUTER I WAS ADVISED THE BI…
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ON 7/11/2019 MY 2012 CANAM RT SE5 STARTED THROWING OUT VSS FAULT CODE, I TOOK IT HOME AND CONTACTED MY LOCAL CANAM SERVICE COMPANY. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN WHICH I DID THE NEXT DAY. ENROUTE TO THE SHOP IT BEGAN SHOWING ABS LIMP HOME MODE BUT WAS NOT IN LIMP HOME MODE. ONCE CONNECTED TO THE SHOP COMPUTER I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE WAS THROWING OUT NUMEROUS CODES AND FALSE CODES. THEN I WASXADVISED THIS BIKE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2013 IP TO AND INCLUDING REPLACING THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT 15000+ MILES. SINCE PURCHASING THW BIKE IT CONSTANTLY SHORTS THE HORN OUT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE VSS/ABS CODES THE SHOCK COMPRESSOR HAD STARTED COMING ON AND OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11232054
5,600 miles · Jul 14, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemFire
MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING TO HAWKS NEST STATE PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA, MY CAN-AM SPIDER CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE FUEL CAP AREA WE WERE COMING TO A STOP GOING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR TO 0. I FELT HEAT ON MY LEFT LEG LOOKED DOWN AND SAW FLAMES AND TOLD MY WIFE TO GET OFF THE BIKE AND WE GOT OFF AND THE BIKE, IT BURNED FOR A FEW MINU…
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MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING TO HAWKS NEST STATE PARK IN WEST VIRGINIA, MY CAN-AM SPIDER CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE FUEL CAP AREA WE WERE COMING TO A STOP GOING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR TO 0. I FELT HEAT ON MY LEFT LEG LOOKED DOWN AND SAW FLAMES AND TOLD MY WIFE TO GET OFF THE BIKE AND WE GOT OFF AND THE BIKE, IT BURNED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SOMEONE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. WE HAD FUELED UP ABOUT 35 MILES PRIOR TO THIS STOP. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS MOTORCYCLE BUT NOT MY SPECIFIC VIN #- WHY? I SEE THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2008 TO 2012 CAN-AM SPYDERS WITH VAPOR LEAK OR FUEL LINE LEAK RECALLS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAN-AM FOR THREE MONTHS I AM GRATEFUL WE ARE NOT HURT BUT THIS COULD'VE BEEN REALLY REALLY BAD THESE ARE KNOWN FOR CATCHING FIRE AS I AM LEARNING AND READING I AM FORTUNATE YES- PLEASE STOP THESE BIKES FROM BEING SOLD!! THE ROAD WAS HILLY 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD. SUNSHINE 85 DEGREES. RUINED OUR DAY AND BIKE!
NHTSA ODI #11231750
6,015 miles · Jun 10, 2019
Service Brakes
WHILE STOPPING AFTER 25 MILES. THE REAR BRAKES EMITTED A BURNING ODOR AND FAILED. THE REAR CALIPER AND ROTOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE NEW WITH ONLY 6500 TOTAL MILES ON VEHICLE. ROTORS BECOME WARPED AND DISCOLORED FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT OCCASIONALLY GLOWING ORANGE AT NIGHT. THESES BRAKES HA…
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WHILE STOPPING AFTER 25 MILES. THE REAR BRAKES EMITTED A BURNING ODOR AND FAILED. THE REAR CALIPER AND ROTOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE NEW WITH ONLY 6500 TOTAL MILES ON VEHICLE. ROTORS BECOME WARPED AND DISCOLORED FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT OCCASIONALLY GLOWING ORANGE AT NIGHT. THESES BRAKES HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WITH FACTORY PARTS AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPAIRS. TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES REQUESTING TO OPEN A CASE WITH BRP THAT IS QUICKLY IGNORED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE AND OBVIOUSLY HAS A FACTORY DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OR DEATH IS LIKELY TO RESULT.
NHTSA ODI #11219050
1,600 miles · Dec 10, 2018
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE IN FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE SECONDS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE IN FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE SECONDS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.
NHTSA ODI #11157300
100 miles · Nov 1, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes
JUST PURCHASED MY SPYDER RT ......NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AFTER A DRIVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I OPENED MY FUEL CAP AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS WAY HOTTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. ALSO REAR BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY, AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11144620
6,700 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
WHILE RIDING MY SPYDER THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE GETS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSES THE GAS TO BOIL AND THE ENGINE LETS OFF GAS VAPOR. THIS VAPOR IS RELEASED UNTIL THE BIKE COOLS. I HAVE WORRIES THAT THIS WILL IGNITE SO I MUST LEAVE THE SPYDER OUTSIDE OF MY GARAGE UNTIL THE SMELL DISSIPATES. .
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2012 CAN-AM Spyder Rt Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year