RoadVitals

2016 Can-Am Spyder RT Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Mar 6, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Can-Am Spyder RT, 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

  • Steering444.4%
  • Electrical222.2%
  • Powertrain (other)222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The power steering unit started to break up switching on and off making steering difficult.

NHTSA ID 11722608 · filed Mar 6, 2026

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS SO MUCH PLAY AND IT TURNS AT 65 MILES HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE 64 YOU CANNOT HOLD IT IN YOUR LANE [XXX] I HAD BOUGHT A CAN-AM SPYDER RT LIMITED SE6 2016 ON 4-12-2017 I HAD IT AROUND 15 DAYS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS UNSAFE TO RIDE I TAKING IT BACK TO THE SHOP ON 4-27-2017 THEY REPLACE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING I PICKED IT UP ON 5-11-2017. I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO CHECK IT OUT ON 5-17-2017 I HAD A OPERATION DOCTOR HAD ME IN BED UNTIL 9-17-2017 THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THE BIKE WASN'T FIX SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM ON 10-24-2017 THEY KEPT UNTIL 11-27-2017 THEY SAID THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT THEY ONLY DROVE IT 3 MILES I TOOK IT BACK ON THE SAME DAY 11-7-2017 THEY KEPT IT UNTIL 11-17-2017 NOW IT HAS SIX MILES ON IT. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW BIKE I TOLD HER IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SHE SAID IF I DIDN'T CARE SHE WOULD COME OVER AND PICK IT UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT THAT WAS ON 11-28-2017 I GOT IT BACK ON 2-20-2018 I TOLD HER FROM THE DAY ONE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH IT I WANTED ANOTHER BIKE SHE REFUSED SHE SAID WE'LL FIX THIS ONE IT WAS JUNK THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IS STILL JUNK ASK POWERSPORTS PH 614-759-9300 2450 PARK CRESCENT DR COLUMBUS OH 43232 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 11084492 · filed Apr 11, 2018

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2016 Can Am Spyder RT. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed to function as intended. The message DESS (Dynamically Enhanced Security System) was displayed. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the programmed key chip had failed and needed to be replaced. The repair was pending. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost for the repair. The failure mileage was 6,000.

NHTSA ID 11665734 · filed Jun 9, 2025

AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN GEAR WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED FROM THE ROAD CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE TO BOTH MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH MINIMAL SHOULDER AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIND 45 MPH CORNER. IF THE VEHICLE HAD A NEUTRAL RELEASE SWITCH, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN MOVED ONTO THE SHOULDER REMOVING THE OBSTACLE FROM THE PATH OF ONCOMING MOTORISTS. SINCE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED, I HAD TO STAND IN THE ROAD TO WARN MOTORISTS TO STOP. THE CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED BUT IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PATH OF OTHER MOTORISTS.

NHTSA ID 10986164 · filed May 17, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

2016 CAN-AM RT SPYDER: FRONT SPROCKET STRIPPED LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC THIS HAPPENED AT 1642 MILES (BRP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY). AT 5175 (3 MAY 2021) FRONT SPROCKET AGAIN LEFT ME IN TRAFFIC AND STRANDED AGAIN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH TIMES I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND HAS HAPPENED AFTER SLOWING AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. BOTH TIMES REQUIRED TOWING AND REPAIR A SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ID 11415023 · filed May 3, 2021

AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN GEAR WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED FROM THE ROAD CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE TO BOTH MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH MINIMAL SHOULDER AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIND 45 MPH CORNER. IF THE VEHICLE HAD A NEUTRAL RELEASE SWITCH, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN MOVED ONTO THE SHOULDER REMOVING THE OBSTACLE FROM THE PATH OF ONCOMING MOTORISTS. SINCE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED, I HAD TO STAND IN THE ROAD TO WARN MOTORISTS TO STOP. THE CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED BUT IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PATH OF OTHER MOTORISTS.

NHTSA ID 10986164 · filed May 17, 2017

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Brake failure led to catastrophic collision

NHTSA ID 11546940 · filed Sep 27, 2023

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

Data on this page last refreshed .