RoadVitals

2012 Can-Am Spyder RT Engine Problems

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.
11
Latest May 25, 2020
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.
27%
of 41 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2012 Can-Am Spyder RT submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 May 25, 2020

I HAVE A 2012 CAN AM SPYDER RT LIMITED WITH EXTREME HEAT ON MY RIGHT FOOT AND AROUND THE SEAT. ALSO HAVE OVERWHELMING GASOLINE FUMES AFTER PARKING THE BIKE. MAKING IT UNUSABLE AND NO FUN AND DANGEROUS TO RIDE. PURCHASED JULY 14 2017. 7,200 MILES. HAD CONTACT SEVERAL TIMES WITH LOCAL DEALER ABSOLUTELY NO HELP!

NHTSA ID
11325830
Incident
Jul 14, 2017
Mileage
7,200 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE IN FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE SECONDS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

NHTSA ID
11157300
Incident
Dec 9, 2018
Mileage
1,600 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2018

PROBLEM SINCE NEW. AMAZING ABOUT OF HEAT GENERATED UNDER THE SEAT AND IN THE LEG AREA ON BOTH SIDES (ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT) FROM POOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT VENTING AND EXHAUST SYSTEM ISOLATION. VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES ON THE LEGS AND SEAT.

NHTSA ID
11091174
Incident
Dec 5, 2012
Mileage
50 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID
10906363
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Mileage
6,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON HOT DAYS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V095000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10700663
Incident
Jun 15, 2014
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2014

AFTER A RIDE, VEHICLE EMITS STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHICH FILLS GARAGE AREA AND, AT TIMES, PERMEATES INTO THE LIVING AREA. NEED TO ALLOW TO COOL DOWN IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE BRINGING INTO THE GARAGE TO LESSEN THE FUEL ODOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651343
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
700 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2014

I HAVE A SPYDER RT 2012 WITH GAS FUMES WHEN PARKED AND HEAT COMING FROM UNDER MY SEAT, MY BIKE HAS 35000 MILES, I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650812
Incident
Oct 28, 2014
Mileage
600 mi
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 20, 2014

THE BIKE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AND ALSO HAS A GAS SMELL AFTER RIDING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626861
Incident
Jun 29, 2012
Mileage
500 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 26, 2014

RIDING MOTORCYCLE RIGHT LEG GETS VERY VERY HOT ALMOST BURNING...NEED RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10616523
Incident
Jul 19, 2012
Mileage
49 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10584165
Incident
Nov 20, 2013
Mileage
400 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Feb 25, 2013

BRP OF CANADA MAKES & SELLS THEIR CAN-AM SPYDER THREE WHEELED TRIKE MOTORCYCLE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS WELL KNOWN BY THIS VEHICLE'S OWNERS THAT THIS TRIKE PRODUCES A LARGE AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH IS DIRECTED AT THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE FOOT REST AREA MAKING IT AN EXTREMELY HOT AREA ON SAID VEHICLE. SINCE THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE ONLY METHOD OF BRAKING THE VEHICLE RESIDES, I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND HAVE BEEN TRYING ( UNSUCCESSFULLY ) TO GET THE BRP CAN-AM PEOPLE TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS PERMANENTLY INJURED. THEY HAVE DECLINED MY EFFORTS AND REQUEST FOR A FIX TO THIS ISSUE IN A LETTER I RECEIVED. SPOKE WITH A MS. NATASHA 1-888-272-9222 AT BRP REGARDING MY CASE # [XXX] ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS AND RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HER DATED 30-JAN-2013 STATING THAT THE DEALERSHIP ( CENTRAL FLORIDA POWER SPORTS - KISSIMMEE FLORIDA ) HAS EXAMINED THE TRIKE AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES. I TOLD HER THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AS WELL AS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10499920
Incident
Jan 30, 2013
Mileage
600 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .