CAN-AM Complaints

THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED ON 12-15-2010. WHEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT IN TO RIDE NOW POWER SPORTS PHOENIX 17202 N. CAVE CREEK RD. PHOENIX, AZ. 85032. IT ALSO FLASHED ON THE DASH THAT THE DPS UNIT NEEDED CHECKED. ON 6-3-2014 THE MILEAGE ON THE UNIT WAS 12,000. THE DEALER NOTIFIED BRP THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED, CLAIM # 313909. BRP MANAGEMENT SAID THE CAN AM SPIDER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $ FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. AT $ PER HOUR FOR LABOR, THAT COULD AMOUNT TO A LARGE SUM. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING UNIT WAS WORKING FINE BUT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY ITSELF, DUE TO THE FACT IT WAS SEALED INSIDE THE DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT. THE WHOLE UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR A $ SENSOR. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF I CHOSE TO HAVE RIDE NOW SPORTS OF PHOENIX, AZ INSTALL THE NEW DPS UNIT, IT WOULD ONLY CARRY A 90 DAY WARRANTY. WHILE I WAS AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A CUSTOMER WITH A 2014 CAN AM SPIDER CAME IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON A NEWER MODEL. THIS REALLY DISCOURAGED ME TO INVEST IN A NEW UNIT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN RECTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE WARRANTY ENDED ACCORDING TO BRP ON 11-25-2013. I FEEL THIS IS NEGLIGENT ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT HANDLE THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. PLEASE HELP ME, (THE CONSUMER), IN HOLDING THESE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS THAT AFFECT THE SAFE OPERATION OF THEIR VEHICLES ON AMERICAN ROADS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION THIS MATTER SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. UPON STARTING UP THE MOTORCYCLE, A FAILURE OCCURED IN WHICH THE THE AIR BAG FOR THE SUSPENSION OVER INFLATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FILL TO CAPACITY WITHOUT WARNING AND OTHER COMPONENTS FAILED ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENSION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER APPROVED THE MODIFICATION, THERE NEEDED TO BE AN INSTALLATION OF A RELEASE VALVE. THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A RELEASE VALVE WAS NOT PART OF THE DESIGN FOR THIS MODEL AND WAS AWARE THAT THE SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO RECEIVE MORE AIR THAN NECESSARY WHICH CAUSED ADDITIONAL FAILURES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SPRING STOPPER, NEW VALVES, NEW LEVELING ARMS, THE SHOCKS, A CAP, NEW SPRINGS, A GUIDE SPRING, URETHANE CUSHION, ONE SHOCK, A FLANGE HEX SCREW, 2 SPACERS, 1 SHOCK ABSORBER, SCREW HEX FLANGES, 2 NUTS, 2 HEX FLANGES AND THE POSITION SENSOR. A TECHNICIAN ALSO TEST DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

EXCESS HEAT BUILD UP, THE ENGINE DOES NO OVER HEAT HOW EVER THE EXTREME HEAT IS EXPERIENCED UNDER THE SEAT. THE GAS TANK GETS HOT TO THE POINT THAT THE GAS CAN BE HEARD BOILING, GAS CAP SO HOT ONE HAS TO USE GLOVES TO REMOVE FOR FILLING. STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER RIDING AND WHEN PARKING. MUST LEAVE THE UNIT OUTSIDE UNTIL IT COOLS OFF DUE FEAR OF FIRE IN THE GARAGE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH A MAY 2015 FIX DATE, SO FAR NOTHING. BRP SAYS CONTACT THE DEALER, THE DEALER SAYS CONTACT BRP WITH A CONTINUED PASS THE BUCK ATTITUDE BY ALL. BRP SAYS IT DOES NOT KNOW OF A FIX FOR THE EXCESS HEAT ISSUE TO DATE. (MAY 6, 2015) AND NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE THAT NHTSA HAS SOME LIABILITY IN THIS ISSUE FOR LETTING IT GO ON FOR SO LONG AND NOT FORCING A FIX AND ALLOWING THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TO CONTINUE TO PLAGUE OWNERS OF THE 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT LIMITED. IT IS TIME FOR BRP TO EITHER REPLACE THE UNIT OR FIX IT SO THAT IS SAFE TO RIDE, AND FOR NHTSA TO TAKE AGGRESSIVE ACTION, HAVE THE UNITS REMOVED FROM THE ROAD OR REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING TO SLOW WHICH CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO OVERHEAT. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE), HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

WE WERE PART OF A NATIONAL BIKE CLUB RIDE TO A BEACH RESORT ACCOMPANIED BY APPROXIMATELY 300 RIDERS. WHEN WE DEPARTED ABOUT 7 AM, TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE LOW 70'S. THE ROUTE WAS MOSTLY DOWNHILL AND WE MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE SPEED OF ABOUT 50, 60 MPH. AFTER JUST OVER ONE HOUR WE ARRIVED AT THE RESORT WHERE WE ALL MOVED TO A LARGE GRAVEL PARKING AREA NEAR THE BEACH. WITHIN SECONDS AFTER I SHUT DOWN AND DISMOUNTED, GREY SMOKE STARTED SEEPING UP BETWEEN THE BODY PANELS WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO BLACK SMOKE SMELLING STRONGLY OF BURNING INSULATION. IN LESS THAN A MINUTE FIRE BROKE OUT FROM THE FRONT TOP VENTS AND BURNED THROUGH THE UPPER PLASTIC BODY PANELS EXTENDING MORE THAN 3 FEET INTO THE AIR. A FAST THINKING MEMBER RUSHED UP WITH A CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND STARTED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE THAT BY THEN FLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE BIKE AN THREATENED BIKES PARKED NEARBY. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITHIN 2 OR 3 MINUTES WITH NO DAMAGE TO OTHER PROPERTY OR ANY INJURIES. AT NO TIME DURING THE RIDE OR AT ANY OTHER TIME, EVEN WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES WERE OVER 80 DID THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTER MORE THAN NORMAL. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE YEAR & MODEL WARNING OF POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, UPON CLOSE INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL LINES WAS BURNED, AND WAS LEAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2013 CAN AM SPYDER RT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL RECEIVED REGARDING ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE BIKE TO BE REPAIRED. *JB UPDATED 12/17/15 *JB

ON 26 MARCH 2015 I RODE HOME AFTER WORK OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE THIS DAY WAS APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES AS A HIGH THAT DAY. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I LEFT MY 2013 CAN AM SPYDER RT SE-5 OUT SIDE THE GARAGE AS DIRECTED BY THE INTERIM RECALL NOTICE. I GOT OFF MY SPYDER AND NOTICED A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. I REMOVED MY HELMET AND LIFTED THE SEAT. THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK. I REMOVED THE GAS CAP AND COULD SEE GAS BOILING IN THE TANK. I HAVE NOTICED STRONG GAS SMELLS AND REPORTED THAT EARLY, BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD GAS BOILING IN THE TANK. I PUT THE GAS CAP BACK ON AND PUT MY HELMET IN THE GARAGE. I REOPENED THE GAS CAP IT WAS STILL BOILING AND WAS GOING TO FILM THIS, BUT WAS FEARFUL SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN. I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO RETURNED MY CALL THE NEXT DAY. HE RELATED THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THEY SAID IT WAS STILL SAFE TO RIDE AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE HOW THE RECALL DESIGN DISSIPATES THE HEAT. I CONTACTED A SECOND DEALER WHO RELATED THEY CONTACTED BRP AND NO ONE HAS REPORTED OR DEALT WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS? THEY RECOMMENDED I TRANSPORT THE UNIT TO THEM APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS AWAY. I CALLED A THIRD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED OF THE PENDING RECALL. BOILING GAS IS SCARY IN MY BOOK, SINCE WHEN YOU ARE RIDING THE SPYDER YOU ARE RIDING VIRTUALLY ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THIS IS A BIT DISCOURAGING FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS UNIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL MID MAY 2015. THIS WAS AN UNREASONABLE TIMEFRAME BECAUSE THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NO INTERIM REPAIR TO APPROVE FOR THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING FUEL ODOR AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.