Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Aug 9, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
45%
of 29 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Can-Am Spyder RT submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming engine
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 9, 2023
This vehicle emits raw fuel fumes under pressure while driving and after parked for up to 45 minutes. Sometimes can her the fuel boiling in the fuel tank. If parked n a garage and any spark is near the vehicle will blow up. If parked outside the fumes are overpowering and if someone drops a cigarette nearby there will be an explosion.. I have contacted the local BRP Can A, dealer and they refuse to look at or repair due to liability concerns. I contacted BRP AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER 2 months ago and they have and continue to address the dangerous problem. The vehicle is a time bomb and I can not use the vehicle at all due to safety concerns.
NHTSA ID
11537557
Incident
May 20, 2023
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 29, 2017
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CAN-AM ROADSTER SPYDER RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE NEAR THE ENGINE AREA. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOW YARD. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,935.
NHTSA ID
11040912
Incident
Oct 6, 2017
Mileage
2,935 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 6, 2017
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CAN-AM ROADSTER SPYDER RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE NEAR THE ENGINE AREA. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOW YARD. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,935...UPDATED 11/06/17 *BF UPDATED 11/13/2017*JS
NHTSA ID
11032072
Incident
Oct 5, 2017
Mileage
2,935 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2014
1 injury reported
1. AFTER RIDING THE 2011 CAN AM SPYDER RTS/SE5 AND PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE, A STRONG FUEL SMELL ODOR LINGERS FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS BEFORE IT DISSIPATES. 2. WHILE RIDING THE 2011 CAN AM SPYDER RTS/SE5 IN CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AN EXTREME HEAT CAN BE FELT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AREA. THE HEAT IS SO BAD THAT IT HAS LEFT FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON THE INNER THIGH AND KNEE AREAS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10650735
Incident
Aug 5, 2011
Mileage
1,100 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2014
1 injury reported
AFTER RIDING THE 2011 CAN AM SPYDER RTS/SE5 AND PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE, A STRONG FUEL SMELL ODOR LINGERS FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS BEFORE IT DISSIPATES. WHILE RIDING THE 2011 CAN AM SPYDER RTS/SE5 IN CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AN EXTREME HEAT CAN BE FELT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AREA. THE HEAT IS SO BAD THAT IT HAS LEFT FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON THE INNER THIGH AND KNEE AREAS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10650704
Incident
Aug 9, 2011
Mileage
1,100 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2014
FUEL IN TANK BOILS. SPYDER CONSTANTLY SMELLS OF LEAKING FUEL WHILE RIDDING. FUEL DRIPS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN PARKED. BOTH DURING AND AFTER A RIDE. THE COMPLETE EMISSIONS SYSTEM WAS REPLACED(UNDER WARRANTY) AND ALL OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROBLEMS RETURNED WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES OR SO. ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT IS SO HIGH IT CAUSED PREMATURE DEGRADING OF FUEL LINES. WHICH RESULTED IN MULTIPLE FUEL LEAKS WHERE FUEL LINE CLAMPS ARE USED. NOTE: THESE LEAKS WERE ALL IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF EXHAUST HEADERS. WHEN RIDDEN IN HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT IS SO HIGH IT CAUSES BURNS TO YOUR THIGHS, WHEN WEARING PROPER RIDING APPAREL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10650686
Incident
May 11, 2012
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 10, 2014
AFTER PURCHASING OUR 2011 CAN-AM SPYDER RTS WE NOTICED THAT AFTER RIDING THAT THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE GARAGE COMING FROM THE SPYDER. CAN-AM ISSUED A RECALL FOR FAULTY GAS CAPS VENTING GAS FUMES. WE RECEIVED THE NEW UPDATED GAS CAP BUT STILL HAVE FUEL SMELL AFTER RIDING WHILE THE SPYDER IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. WHILE RIDING, THE HEAT COMING UP FROM THE BODY PANELS IS SO HOT THAT IT CAUSES 1ST DEGREE BURNS ON MY WIFE'S THIGHS AND CALVES. HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THAT, ITS NORMAL FOR THE SPYDER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10621271
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
500 mi
Engine
Filed May 17, 2014
VEHICLE OVER HEATS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC/ DASH CLUSTER SAYS LIMP HOME MODE BEEN IN DEALER SHIP SINCE 5/1/2014. *JS
NHTSA ID
10592199
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
6,011 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2013
THERE IS A STRONG SMELL COMING FROM UNDER SEAT. SMELLS LIKE BAD EGGS, TRYING TO PIN POINT SMELL, NO LUCK, NOT SURE IF ITS BURNING FUEL, DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE CAN AM ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10549343
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2012
Fire reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CAN-AM ROADSTER SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, FLAMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS LEGS AND ELBOWS, WHICH LATER BECAME INFECTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500.
NHTSA ID
10464103
Incident
Jun 16, 2012
Mileage
16,500 mi
Engine
Filed May 23, 2012
I HAVE HAD VARIOUS ENGINE CODES (6) WITH SUPPOSED REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE 4/18/11. LAST THURSDAY COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. AFTER FINISHING PASSING A SEMI ON THE HIGHWAY MY BIKE GAVE ENGINE LIGHT AND WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE SEMI. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT BEING VERY RESPONSIVE STILL TRYING A TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODIES ETC.. THIS BIKE IS UNSAFE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND I WILL NO LONGER RIDE MINE AS "FIXED". EITHER MINE AS A LEMON OR THE ARE ALL (TO QUOTE ) "UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED". PLEASE CONTACT ME AT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
NHTSA ID
10459382
Incident
May 17, 2012
Mileage
21,532 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Oct 12, 2011
VEHICLE HAS ENTERED LIMP HOME MODE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65MPH) WHICH SUDDENLY REDUCES SPEED TO 35MPH. VEHICLES FROM REAR HAVE NEARLY IMPACTED DUE TO RAPID LOSS IN SPEED. ALSO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY WHICH MAKES MAINTAINING CONTROL VERY DIFFICULT. VEHICLE NEARLY LEFT PAVED SURFACE DUE TO HIGH STEERING EFFORTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL WHICH CONTINUES WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING. FUEL VAPORS COULD CAUSE A FIRE DANGER. *KB
NHTSA ID
10429958
Incident
Apr 5, 2011
Mileage
100 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2011
1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE EXHAUST BECOMING EXTREMELY HOT, THE CONTACT BURNED HER LEG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS DIRECTLY AIMED AT THE LEG OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK AND EXCHANGE IT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10405506
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
238 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own