CAN-AM Complaints

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED, IT BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2012 SPYDER RT IN JULY 2012. AFTER MY FIRST LONG RIDE ON MY SPYDER, I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, MY ENTIRE GARAGE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE FUMES, AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE MY HOUSE, AS WELL. THE FUEL ODOR PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED, DESPITE NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER IS SUPPOSED TO ABSORB VAPORS FROM THE FUEL TANK; HOWEVER, THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER ON MY SPYDER HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES SO FAR, DUE TO BEING FLOODED. I'VE EVEN SEEN LIQUID GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM THE OVERFLOW LINE ON THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER. IT IS APPARENT THAT TOO MUCH HEAT IS SOAKING INTO THE FUEL TANK FROM THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH GENERATES MORE FUEL VAPORS THAN THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER SYSTEM CAN HANDLE. I'VE TRIED TO MINIMIZE THE PRODUCTION OF FUEL VAPORS, BY FILLING THE FUEL TANK AT THE END OF A RIDE, SO THERE IS A LARGE VOLUME OF COOL FUEL TO ABSORB THE HEAT, ONCE THE SPYDER IS TURNED OFF. I'VE ALSO HAD THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM REMOVED, HAD A CERAMIC COATING APPLIED EXTERNALLY TO EACH COMPONENT, AND REINSTALLED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THESE MEASURES HAVE HELPED SOMEWHAT, BUT AS SOON AS I GET STUCK IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER FLOODS AGAIN, AND I CAN SMELL THE FUEL VAPORS AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 71 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT TENSION BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2014 CAN AM SPIDER ##

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

THE BACKREST, WHICH HOLDS THE PASSENGER FROM FALLING OFF THE REAR OF THIS 3 WHEELED MOTORCYCLE, IS MANUFACTURED FROM MATERIALS NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE STRESS PLACED UPON IT, AND HAS BROKEN ON ONE SIDE. IF THE REMAINING SIDE FAILS THE PASSENGER CAN BE THROUGH FROM THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS PRODUCT IS ENGINEERED AND MANUFACTURED IN A MANOR IN WHICH SOMEONE WILL BE CATASTROPHICALLY INJURED OR THE END RESULT WILL BE DEATH IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN DETAIL WITH THE REPRESENTING DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS (BRP) BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION, AND BOTH HAVE DECLINED STATING THE FAILING ASSEMBLY IS ?OUT OF WARRANTY? THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. THE WRITER CAN PROVIDE PICTURES AND A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THIS FAILURE AT MY RESIDENCE. *TR

ON MANY OCCASIONS MOSTLY DURING OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OVER 75 DEGREES, AFTER THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE THE HEAT THAT COMES OUT FROM BETWEEN THE SEAT AREA AND THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IS AT TIMES UNBEARABLE. MANY TIMES I'VE HAD TO EITHER SIT BACK ALMOST TO PASSENGER SITTING AREA OR KEEP STANDING UP ENOUGH TO INCREASE AIR FLOW. TO DATE I HAVE NOT MODIFIED THE BIKE AND HAVE BEEN MONITORING FORUMS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. *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