2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 AS...
Mileage: 10,000
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 AS...
Mileage: 10,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE POWER STEERING FUSE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED...
Mileage: 15,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. ONCE THE CONTACT BEGAN RIDING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING FAILED AND A CHECK DPS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DPS UNIT NEEDED ...
Mileage: 19,500
EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE BODY PANEL AREA CAUSING THE FUEL IN THE GAS TANK TO BOIL. *JS
Mileage: 15,000
DRIVING ON I 75 NORTHBOUND IN TROY, MI, THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 78 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE, CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION, NEARLY CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION, WHICH THE DRIVER BEHIND JUST AVOIDED HITTING ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY OTHER CAN AM SPIDER ALSO. T...
Mileage: 17,000
I PURCHASED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. AS I INVESTIGATED MORE INTO IT, I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR BIKE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A CERTIFIED CAN AM DEALER IN ST AUGUSTINE IN MAY 2013 FIRST COAST POWER SPORTS. THEY KEPT THE BIKE THE FIRST...
Mileage: 14,588
I PURCHASED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. AS I INVESTIGATED MORE INTO IT, I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR BIKE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A CERTIFIED CAN AM DEALER IN ST AUGUSTINE IN MAY 2013 FIRST COAST POWER SPORTS. THEY KEPT THE BIKE THE FIRST...
Mileage: 14,588
CAN AM SPYDER WAS BEING RIDDEN BY OWNERS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE GAS TANK HAD EXPLODED AND BIKE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES . THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED OF PROBLEMS WITH THE EVAPORATION CANISTER WHICH WE ...
Mileage: 7,100
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER DRIVING 5 MPH. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP; HOWEVER AN INSPECTION WAS NOT CONDUCTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROY...
Mileage: 12,000
IT APPEARS THE FOIL-FOAM HEAT SHIELD IGNITED FROM THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. *TR
Mileage: 10,450
CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL IN GEAR. BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BIKE COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED IT RUINED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 7,500
CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL IN GEAR. BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BIKE COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED IT RUINED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 7,500
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND ENTERED A RIGHT HAND CURVE. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSED ME TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE. LUCKY NOBODY COMING OTHER DIRECTION. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD A DEALER RECALL UPGRADE OF SOFTWARE AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED UNDER RECALL. *TR
Mileage: 10,130
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 WE...
Mileage: 17,500
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 WE...
Mileage: 17,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED MOMENTARILY WHEN IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO APPEARED ON THE SCENE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE VE...
Mileage: 9,000
BRP, DESPITE ISSUING SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT HIGH DRIVE BELT TENSION, WILL NOT REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE HIGH TENSION SPECIFIED IN MANUFACTURE AND SERVICE FOR THEIR CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER. TSB 2010-06 ADVISES REDUCED TENSION FROM 1400 NEWTONS TO 450 NEWTONS TO PROTECT AGAINST DAMAGE TO FRONT OUTPU...
Mileage: 6,500
BRP ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS SB-2009-01 IDENTIFYING FAILURE OF THE GEAR POSITION SENSORS ON SOME OF THEIR CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTERS. SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE INCLUDE "E" OR INCORRECT GEAR NUMBER INDICATED IN CLUSTER INDICATOR; INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING OPERATION; DIFFICULTY SHIFTING; "CHECK ENGINE" WARNI...
Mileage: 6,500
BRP HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR DYNAMIC POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACEMENT. DATE OF MY NOTICE WAS 9-7-2010. MY CAN AM ROADSTER IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AS BRP WILL NOT SEND OUT A REPLACEMENT PART UNTIL THEY REC'D THE OLD UNIT. THIS MAKES DEALER REPAIR DEFECTIVE ROADSTERS 1 AT A TIME. 6 MONTHS WITH A RECA...
Mileage: 1,965
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 09V162000 (STEERING); THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED FAILURE. THE VEHICLE DARTED ACROSS THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD A FRONT ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ...
Mileage: 38,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 CANAM SPYDER ROADSTER AND IT STARTED ON FIRE - I GOT OFF JUST IN TIME AND BLUE FLAMES WERE COMING UP FROM THE TANK/ SEAT AREA. THE BIKE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY VS. A BACK ROAD THIS COULD HAVE ENDED WITH INJURIES. THE SPYDER HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PERFEC...
Mileage: 9,000
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 F...
Mileage: 25,400
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS MOTORCYCLE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS DEFECTS AND FAILURES ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. THE POWER STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE GPS UNIT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READING AS IF THERE WAS A FULL TANK OR IF IT WAS EMPTY. THE DEALE...
Mileage: 1,781
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS MOTORCYCLE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS DEFECTS AND FAILURES ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. THE POWER STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE GPS UNIT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READING AS IF THERE WAS A FULL TANK OR IF IT WAS EMPTY. THE DEALE...
Mileage: 1,781
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAM AM SPIDER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE BARS HAD BEGAN TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A PART ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNIN...
Mileage: 500
CAN AM SPYDER EVERY NOW AND THEN WHILE GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE THE POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF AND COME BACK ON CAUSING AN OVER CORRECTION AND POSSIBLE UNINTENDED LANE CHANGE. *TR
Mileage: 6,000
2008 CAN-AN SPYDER MODEL SE5 POWER STEERING PROBLEMS :POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OR CATCHES AND EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE HANDLE BARS. WHEN THE BARS DO RELEASE THE EXTRA EFFORT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SWERVE MAKING OF A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ALSO MOTOR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING, BACK FIRES WHEN SLO...
WHILE DRIVING MY CAN AM SPYDER SM5 ON THE FREEWAY ON 11/7/O9 IT PULL TO THE RIGHT INTO THE OTHER LANE IT FELT LIKE IT LOCK UP AND VERY HARD TO STRAIGHTENED WHEELS, IT HAPPEN ABOUT SIX TIMES IN FIVE MILE RADIUS. *TR
Mileage: 5,800
WHILE DRIVING MY CAN AM SPYDER SM5 ON THE FREEWAY ON 11/7/O9 IT PULL TO THE RIGHT INTO THE OTHER LANE IT FELT LIKE IT LOCK UP AND VERY HARD TO STRAIGHTENED WHEELS, IT HAPPEN ABOUT SIX TIMES IN FIVE MILE RADIUS. *TR
Mileage: 5,800
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON MY CAN-AM SPYDER, I NOTICED THAT THE BIKE HAD DRIFTED TOWARDS THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. NORMAL DRIFT, NO PULLING. TRIED TO CORRECT IT BUT THE HANDLEBARS WOULD NOT MOVE, THEY FELT AS IF THEY WERE LOCKED IN POSITION. AFTER 3 TRIES TO CORRECT BEFORE LEAVING THE ROAD...
Mileage: 300
STEERING PULLED TO RIGHT TWICE AFTER RIDING BACK FROM DEALER AFTER THEY PERFORMED 3 RECALLS. ONE WAS FOR STEERING ISSUES. *TR
Mileage: 2,400
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009 - WHILE RIDING COUNTRY ROADS IN NORTH TEXAS, THE SPYDER'S STEERING AGAIN BECAME DANGEROUS' IT PREVENTED A LEFT TURN (EVEN A SLIGHT TURN) TO THE LEFT. THERE SEEMED TO BE A 'CATCH' IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING MECHANISM'S WHICH NEEDED QUITE A BIT OF PRESSURE (APPROXIMATELY...
Mileage: 9,100
TODAY WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER, I NEEDED TO EXERT A FORCE GREATER THAN EXPECTED TO INITIATE THE TURNING OF STEERING THE HANDLEBAR OFF CENTER IN ORDER TO CORRECT VEHICLE DRIFT FROM A STRAIGHT LINE PATH. THIS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED STEERING CONTROL INPUT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED I...
Mileage: 7,250
I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE ON A STRAIGHT SINGLE LANE ROADWAY DOING ABOUT 50MPH WHEN , WITH NO WARNING , THE VEHICLE TOOK A TURN TO THE LEFT, CAUSING IT TO ENTER THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE. HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC IN THE OTHER LANE A HEAD ON COLLISION MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL....
Mileage: 340
I WAS RIDING MY 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT BEGAN DRIFTING INTO THE NEXT LANE ALL ON ITS OWN, WHEN I TRIED TO CORRECT BACK INTO MY LANE THE STEERING FELT STUCK AND WHEN I PULLED HARDER TO CORRECT IT THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY OVERCORRECT AN...
Mileage: 5,600
STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. AS I APPLIED MORE (SIGNIFICANTLY) FORCE TO CORRECT THE STEERING IT SUDDENLY JERKED AND STEERED IN THE DIRECTION I WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO GO. IT WOULD STEER IN QUICK JERKS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE OF THE ROAD. EVEN WHILE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LI...
Mileage: 4,900
BESIDES A NUMBER OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY CAN AM SPYDER THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, THE WORST EPISODE WAS WHEN MY POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENT. I WAS HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME WHEN IT WENT OUT ON ME TWICE. I WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE SPYDER PROCEEDED TO STEER TO TH...
Mileage: 9,700
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BOMBARDIER BOMBARDIER PRODUCTS CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE GRABBED THE CLUTCH AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN...
Mileage: 36,500
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BOMBARDIER BOMBARDIER PRODUCTS CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE GRABBED THE CLUTCH AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN...
Mileage: 36,500
2008 CAN-AM SPYDER POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENTLY TURNING 'ON' AND 'OFF' AND 'LOCKING UP' CAUSING DRIVER OF MOTORCYCLE TO FIGHT STEERING TO KEEP BIKE ON ROAD. THIS ONLY STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD AROUND 5,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MY OWN SPYDER, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS I HAVE SP...
Mileage: 5,000
VEHICLE IS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ON 2/20/2009 WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLES STEERING LOCKED COMPLETELY. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. WHILE TRYING TO TURN I FELT A "POP" AND THE VEHICLE STEERING RETURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE SITTING STILL BUT NEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WA...
Mileage: 9,500
I HAVE A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER (NEW STREET DRIVEN 3 WHEELER) AND I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING FELT STUCK AND THE SPYDER STARTED DRIFTING LEFT. I TRIED TO GENTLY PULL THE STEERING RIGHT, BUT IT KEPT GOING. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STEERING FREE'D UP AND IT JERKED RIGHT. THIS ...
ON 10/19/2008, WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON IH40 IN OKLAHOMA (ON A STRAIGHT-A-WAY), THE CAN AM SPYDER'S POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF MINUTES. THANKFULLY, IT WAS AN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. ON 11/15/2008, WHILE...
Mileage: 3,500
ON 10/19/2008, WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON IH40 IN OKLAHOMA (ON A STRAIGHT-A-WAY), THE CAN AM SPYDER'S POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF MINUTES. THANKFULLY, IT WAS AN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. ON 11/15/2008, WHILE...
Mileage: 3,500