2013 CAN-AM SPYDER Complaints

THIS COMPLAINT IS LIKE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE, OR ARE, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEAT ISSUE OF THE ENGINE AND BEING IGNORED. THE PROBLEM IS SO SEVERE THAT IT ACTUALLY BURNS THE INSIDE OF THE THIGH DURING OPERATION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH OTHER THREE WHEELED VEHICLES WITH TRIKE CONVERSIONS SUCH AS SUZUKI, HONDA, ETC. THE PLASTIC HOUSING OF THE CANAM 998 ENGINE HOLDS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHOUT AN ACCEPTABLE VENT OTHER THAN ALLOWING IT TO DIFFUSE RIGHT UP THROUGH YOUR LEGS. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT IT DIRECTS MUCH OF YOUR MIND AND DRIVING ATTENTION TOWARD ATTEMPTS TO RELIEVE THE PROBLEM FOR YOUR LEGS, PLUS THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES ON OTHER MODEL CANAM VEHICLES WHERE THE MACHINE EVENTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE. BRP, THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE CANAM IS PIECE-MEALING ATTENTION TO THE "RT" MODEL AND IGNORING LONG TERM CORRECTIVE MEASURES FOR ALL MODELS. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2013 CAN AM SPYDER RT NEW IN FEB 2014. OVER THE YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED THE BIKE, I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE HEAT UNDER THE SEAT ALONG WITH A GAS SMELL. I HAD TALKED WITH VENDOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HEARD VARIOUS OTHER EXPLANATIONS. I DID NOT GIVE IT TOO MUCH THOUGHT UNTIL I READ THE FORUMS AND SAW THIS WAS A COMMON SEVERE ISSUE. UNTIL RECENTLY THE CAN AM WAS KEPT IN AN OPEN AIR CARPORT, SO I NEVER NOTICED THE ODOR AFTER A RIDE. I HAD EXPERIENCED GAS FUMES AND SMELLS ON RIDES AND JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A DEAL WHEN THE VENDOR KEPT TELLING ME NOT TO OVER FILL THE TANK. I DON'T OVER FILL THE TANK AND STOP AFTER THE FIRST CLICK WHICH THEN CAUSES THE TANK NOT TO BECOME FULL AND HAVING TO STOP MORE OFTEN TO REFUEL ON LONG RIDES. WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUR NEW HOUSE WE NOW HAVE A TWO CAR GARAGE AND AFTER THE LAST FEW RIDES, I GAS UP BEFORE COMING HOME AND NOTICE A STRONG GAS ODOR AND LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN FOR AN HOUR OR UNTIL THE FUMES DISSIPATE. NOW READING OF THE MAJOR HEAT AND FUME ISSUES IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO ME AND CAUSES SOME CONCERN IF THE MANUFACTURE NEW OF THIS ISSUE WHEN THE UNIT WAS SOLD TO ME IN FEB 2014. I WILL HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION THE NEXT TIME ON A RIDE AND SEE IF THE GAS IS BOILING AS REPORTED ON OTHER UNITS. I HAVE READ ON THE FORUMS AND FACEBOOK A RECALL IS PENDING TO RESOLVE THE HEAT ISSUE WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL RESOLVE THE GAS FUME ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

BRP / CAN-AM REPLACED THE 2013 SPYDER ST-LIMITED HEAT SIDE-PANELS RECENTLY UNDER WARRANTY WITH NEW DESIGN 2014 HEAT SIDE-PANELS INSTALLED BY A CAN-AM DEALER ON 2 DECEMBER 2014 (A BRP CASE FILE WAS OPENED WITH A BRP CASE NUMBER PROVIDED ON 21 OCTOBER 2014 AND IS AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE). HOWEVER, THE SPYDER'S GAS TANK AND GASOLINE FUEL CONTINUES TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY HOT DURING & AFTER RIDING THE SPYDER. IN ADDITION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SIGNIFICANT FUEL VAPOR FUMES CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT AFTER OPERATING THE SPYDER. I'M MOST CONCERNED THE HOT GAS TANK, HOT GASOLINE FUEL, AND HEATED FUEL VAPOR FUMES ARE UNSAFE OR DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION, FIRE, AND INJURIES TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS CONCERN COMPLAINT TO BRP / CAN-AM AND REQUESTED RESOLUTION BUT HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THEM. --- "WHAT CAN BRP DO ABOUT OVER-HEATED GAS AND DANGEROUS FUEL FUMES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR 2013 SPYDER?" *TR

1. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE UPPER CALF AREAS OF THE RIDER IS EXCESVIE AND HAS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT BURN TO MY LEFT CALF. WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC THE HEAT EMITTED IS UNBEARABLE AND I HAVE TO MOVE MY FEET FROM THE FOOT PEGS TO AVOID BEING BURNED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DESIGNED TO DO THIS SO I AM FORCED INTO AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION NO MATTER WHAT WHEN STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. 2. THE VEHICLE EMITS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER A DRIVE AND THEN BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AS THE VAPORS SEEM SUFFIENT TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. BECAUSE OF THIS I LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN TO PROTECT MY FAMILY FROM AN EXPLOSION. *JS

MY SPYDER HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 6 MONTHS, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. STILL LEAKING. GAS FUMES SO BAD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER RIDING I CAN NOT CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR/. SMELLS OF GAS REALLY STRONG EVERY TIME I AM ON THE BIKE. GAS CAP SO HOT I CAN HARDLY TOUCH IT WHEN I NEED TO GET GAS. *TR

PURCHASED MY 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER ON 03/05/14, IN SPRINGFIELD, MI. MY HOME ADDRESS IS NEW IBERIA, LA. I DROVE THE BIKE BACK HOME. MY FIRST FUEL STOP I WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AND I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES EVERY TIME I FUEL UP. AT EVERY FUELING I HAVE TO USE GLOVES OR A RAG TO PUT OVER THE GAS CAP TO UNSCREW IT BECAUSE IT IS SO HOT. THEN WHEN I TRY TO UNSCREW THE CAP IT JUST RATCHETS WITH OUT UNSCREWING IT. I HAVE SPENT AT LEAST 30 TO 45 MINUTES TRYING TO UNSCREW THE CAP AND AFTER TANK COOLS OFF THE GAS CAP RELEASES, THEN YOU CAN FUEL UP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO PRY THE GAS CAP WITH A SCREW DRIVER TO REMOVE IT AND THEN YOU CAN HEAR THE FUEL BOILING IN THE TANK. I HAD 3 GAS CAPS FROM ANOTHER RECALL AND TRIED ALL 3 CAPS AND THEY DID THE SAME THING, JUST RATCHET AND NOT UNSCREW. WHILE TRAVELING I WAS IN PENSACOLA, FL AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE GAS CAP AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE AND THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP AFTER IT COOLED OFF. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO RE-FUEL AND THE CAP THEY JUST PUT ON WOULD NOT UNSCREW. THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014, I HAD TO REFUEL AND COULD NOT OPEN THE FUEL TANK AND HAD TO PRY IT OPEN WITH A SCREW DRIVER TO PUT FUEL TO GET HOME. WHILE DOING SO THE CAP WAS SO TIGHT THAT THE TOP PORTION BROKE OFF LEAVING THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE FUEL TANK NECK. IT GETS SO HOT MY RIGHT FOOT ACTUALLY BURNS FROM THE ENGINE HEAT. WHEN I WANT TO CRANK THE BIKE AFTER FUELING THE BIKE DOES NOT WANT TO CRANK. IT SPINS THE ENGINE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE IT CRANKS AND THEN IT RUNS SO BAD, MISSING ETC., AND DIES OUT 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE I CAN TRAVEL. THEN WHEN I GET TO PLACES I HAVE TO STOP THE BIKE ENGINE DIES OUT WHILE COASTING OR TAKING OFF, LEAVING YOU IN AN INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TECH IN PENSACOLA WHAT CAUSED THAT AND HE ADVISED CAN-AM HASN'T FIGURED OUT WHY THAT HAPPENS JUST YET. *TR

THE BIKE GETS VERY HOT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE EXAUST WRAPPED BUT IT IS STILL VERY HOT TO RIDE. *TR

600 MILE SERVICE COMPLAINED TO DEALER OF EXTREME FUEL SMELL AFTER RIDES. WAS TOLD THAT THE PURGE VALVE WAS BAD AND THEY REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. RODE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SMELL WAS THE SAME. WHEN I CHECKED UNDER THE ROADSTER I FOUND FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ROADSTER. I CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO TOP OFF THE FUEL TANK BEFORE PUTTING VEHICLE IN GARAGE. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. 4600 MILE SERVICE AGAIN COMPLAINED OF EXTREME FUEL SMELL AFTER RIDES. ASKED DEALER ABOUT HOT HOT RIGHT FOOT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THIS WAS NORMAL AND THE ROADSTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. 9200 MILE SERVICE COMPLAINED OF EXTREME FUEL SMELL AND HEAT ON RIGHT FOOT, NO HEAT LEFT HAND GRIP, AND INTERMITTENT HEAT ON RIGHT HAND GRIP, WARPED RIGHT HAND CENTER BODY PANEL. WHEN SERVICE WAS COMPLETE I ASKED ABOUT NO HEAT ON HAND GRIPS. TECHNICIAN FOUND LOOSE CONNECTORS AT BOTH HAND GRIPS AND THAT THE CONNECTIONS COULD BE A PROBLEM IF THERE WERE GAS FUMES IN THE AREA. BODY PANEL ORDERED AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE PANEL WAS BENT FROM FACTORY NOT HEAT. TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT AGREE AND BOTH SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR

HAVE OWNED RT LIMITED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR WITH HEAT ISSUES. WHILE RETURNING FROM EVENT IN NORTH CAROLINA BIKE RAN FINE IN THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. AS SOON AS RETURNED TO THE SOUTH, ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN HOT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF AS WELL AS BIKE CHUGGING AND RUNNING ROUGHLY. BIKE SHUTTING DOWN AND HAD TO LET COOL OFF BEFORE WOULD RESTART. HAVE HAD EXTREME HEAT ISSUES SINCE PURCHASING BIKE ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER MONTHS HERE IN HOUSTON AREA. HAVE HAD UPDATES DONE PER BRP RECOMMENDATIONS TO NO SUCCESS. BIKE IS NOT SAFE AND FEAR RIDING ANY LENGTH OF TIME OR PROLONGED DISTANCE. WHEN PARKED IN GARAGE AFTER RIDING FIND THERE IS A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE GARAGE. FOR THIS REASON USUALLY LEAVE BIKE IN YARD FOR UPTO 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO PUTTING GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE CONSUMING HOME. NOT SURE WHAT THIS REPORT WILL DO BUT FEEL LIKE SOMEONE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF HOW UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS THESE VEHICLES ARE. DEALERS ARE AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS WITH A 2013 ST LIMITED MODEL THAT WAS TRADED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AND EXTREME HEAT ISSUE MELTING PARTS. THOUGHT THE RT MODEL WOULD BE BETTER BUT FIND MYSELF IN SAME SITUATION. *TR

MILE 1067 COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM RIGHT FLOORBOARD AREA AND GAS FUMES TO MY DEALER, TOLD IT'S NORMAL. MILE 4582 2ND SERVICE DEALER INSTALLED HEAT SHIELD AT MASTER CYLINDER PER BRP FOR HEAT ISSUES, STILL EXCESSIVE HEAT, FUMES AND NOW BOILING GAS IN TANK. DEALER CONSIDER ALL NORMAL OPERATION. MILE 6386 SPYDERLOVERS.COM CHATS FOUND OUT ABOUT ECM NEEDED UPDATE FOR HEAT ISSUE CALLED DEALER AND CONFIRMED BRING IN. NO NOTIFICATION FROM BRP. CARRIED TO DEALER UPDATE INSTALLED, STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT ABOVE ISSUES. MILE 7988 REPLACED TRAILER MODULE BURNED OUT REPLACED, I BELIEVE DUE TO HEAT, SAME COMPLAINT AS ABOVE. NO ACTION TAKEN. MILE 11277 REPLACED TRAILER MODULE BURNED OUT REPLACED ,SAME COMPLAINTS AS BEFORE NO ACTION. MILE 12000 BOTH FRONT TIRES SEVERELY CUPPED BRP SAID NO ON WARRANTY TO MANY MILES, I REPLACED BUT THATS UNSATISFACTORY MILEAGE ON FRONTS. 8/25/14 E-MAIL BRP ABOUT HEAT ISSUES. 8/26/14 SENT ME CASE NUMBER. 10/24/14 MILE 13641 BRP OK'D REPLACING UPPER RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE COVERS TO ALLOW MORE AIR TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPLACED THEM. IN MY OPINION AFTER SIDE PANEL REPLACEMENT RIDING A FEW HOURS TEMP 88 DEGREES THAT THIS HELPED SOME WITH HEAT AT FLOORBOARD BUT WON'T HOLD UP WHEN 90 + DEGREES AND FUMES AND BOILING GAS STILL AN ISSUE. *TR