2009 Can-Am Spyder Gs Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Can-Am Spyder Gs, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering746.7%
- Engine320.0%
- Electrical16.7%
- Brakes16.7%
- Exterior lighting16.7%
- Driver assistance16.7%
- Transmission16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING HAS FAILED
BIKE WENT IN (LIMP MODE) BECAUSE DYNAMICPOWER STEERING(DPS) UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CAN AM/BRP HAD A RECALL OF THE (DPS) UNITS ON SEPTEMBER 7,2010, HOWEVER IS NOW REFUSING TO REPAIR MY CAN-AM PURSUANT TO SAID RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I REFUELED MY MOTORCYCLE, AS I WAS LEAVING I NOTICED MY LEGS GET HOT. I DID NOT PAY IT MUCH MIND UNTIL THERE WAS AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF PAIN THEN I LOOKED DOWN AND I SEEN THAT MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ON FIRE. I THEN PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AND BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET TREATED FOR MY BURNS. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ELECTRONICS WERE FRIED, THE PLASTICS WERE MELTED AND IT STUNK OF GASOLINE. I ALSO TAKEN PICTURES OF THE BURNS TO MY LEG AND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE OWNER BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL BUT SHE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER EVEN THOUGH HER VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I REFUELED MY MOTORCYCLE, AS I WAS LEAVING I NOTICED MY LEGS GET HOT. I DID NOT PAY IT MUCH MIND UNTIL THERE WAS AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF PAIN THEN I LOOKED DOWN AND I SEEN THAT MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ON FIRE. I THEN PULLED OVER AND CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AND BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET TREATED FOR MY BURNS. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ELECTRONICS WERE FRIED, THE PLASTICS WERE MELTED AND IT STUNK OF GASOLINE. I ALSO TAKEN PICTURES OF THE BURNS TO MY LEG AND THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN IT BLOWS THE FUSE FOR THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN IT BLOWS THE FUSE FOR THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 15MPH, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT FINALLY GAVE OUT VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET STOPPED. VEHICLE WITH DRIVER JUMPED A CURB WENT OUT OF CONTROL HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THROTTLE WAS CHECK AND APPEARED TO BE OPERATION OK. SUSPECT THE VEHICLE SOFTWARE AS CAUSE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND REPORTEDLY CHECKED OUT OK. COMPUTER WAS DOWN LOADED AND SHOWED HIGH RPM AND ACCELERATION UP TO THE MOMENT OF IMPACT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE PURCHASED A 2009 CAN-AM SPYDER LAST MONTH. THE VEHICLE IS A SEMI AUTOMATIC MODEL ( SE-5) AS YOU COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO DOWN SHIFT. BUT DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THIS REMAINING IN A HIGHER GEAR SUCH AS 4TH OR 5TH. THE RESULT IS WHEN YOU GO TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE AND SOMETIMES JUST DIES. YOU THEN MUST TURN IT OFF WAIT 60 SECONDS THEN RE-START IT. IF YOU GO TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC THIS CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .