2013 Can-Am Spyder 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 2013 Can-Am Spyder, 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
- Engine1647.1%
- Fuel system926.5%
- Electrical38.8%
- Other / unspecified12.9%
- Steering12.9%
- Body & structure12.9%
- Transmission12.9%
- Brakes12.9%
- Exterior lighting12.9%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Can-Am RD Spyder. The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 35–40, the vehicle caught fire from the front of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another dealer, Team Powersports222 US-70, Garner, NC 27529, who informed him there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V095000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
Brake cylinder get hot and may melt, high engine Compartment Temperature, engine cut off while driving on the highway, THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER OR THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RECALL.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE PURCHASED OUR BIKE AUGUST OF 2013. WHEN WE PICKED IT UP WE DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT, WE CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT BEING HOT. THEY ACTED AS IF IT WAS NORMAL. WE TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR THE RECALL THAT BRP HAD REQUESTED. THEY DID THE RECALL BUT THE HEAT ISSUE REMAINED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CALL BRP AND SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE HEAT. WE WERE TOLD THAT BRP SAID IT WAS ONLY A HEAT ISSUE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. WE CHANGED DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE, THEY CONTACTED BRP AND I WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER. THEY INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO WRAP THE EXHAUST AND TO PUT HEAT SHIELDS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BIKE. NO MORE WILL BE DONE FOR THE HEAT ISSUE TO MY SPYDER. A MECHANIC PUT A GUN TO THE BIKE AFTER I GOT OFF, HE LIFTED THE SEAT AND THE HEAT REGISTERED 174 DEGREES AND YOU CAN HEAR THE GAS BUBBLING IN THE TANK. I DON'T WANT MY BIKE TO CATCH ON FIRE. BUT IT GETS SO HOT IT'S SCARY. *TR
THERE IS A TERRIBLE GAS SMELL WHEN I STOP AND WHEN I GET HOME FROM A RIDE I HAVE TO PARK THE SPYDER OUTSIDE SO THAT THE ENTIRE GARAGE DOESN'T SMELL LIKE GAS. ALSO, WHEN I'M RIDING I HAVE TO POSITION MY FEET JUST RIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE FLOORBOARD TO KEEP FROM GETTING MY FOOT OR ANKLE BURNED FROM THE HEAT BEING PUT OUT ON THAT SIDE. *TR
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Left Handle Bar Control Switch, when turning the left flasher signal on its want work ,when turning the right flasher on to change lane, after change lane want cut off, it’s a safety problem to look down to see if it’s off, had the light bulbs check they all work, they tell me it’s could be a manufacturers defect in the left handle bar control switch
2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT WITH 793 MILES, DROVE YESTERDAY 10-12-2020 IN THE EVENING, WENT ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND DARK BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DUAL TOP PORTS I BELIEVE ARE AIR INTAKES. STOPPED AS IT WAS THICK SMOKE. RODE IT HOME SMOKING. TEMP RANGE WAS IN NORMAL RANGE. THESE BIKES ON WEB RESEARCH, HAVE A HISTORY OF CATCHING FIRE. PUT AWAY IN GARAGE, CHECKED GAS, BRAKE, OIL LEVELS APPEARED NORMAL BUT I ONLY DROVE A TOTAL OF 1 MILE. CHECKED UNDER ENGINE THE NEXT DAY , NO STAINS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF THE BIKE, SERVICE WISE ALSO AND I ONLY DRIVE IT LOCALLY. I AM NOT RIDING THE BIKE TILL I GET IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY ISSUE IS WITH 2013 CANAM SPYDER. AFTER ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THE AREA AROUND THE DRIVERS LEGS ARE EXPOSED TO 208 DEGREES F. THIS DATA WAS COLLECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP INJACKSONVILLE. THE CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON MY WIFE'S LEGS. EVEN WHEN WARING THICK BLUE JEANS, EXTENDED RUN TIMES BURNT HER LEG TOO. THE COMPANY HAS APPARENTLY CORRECTED THIS ISSUE IN 2014. THEY HAVE RE ROUTED HOT AIR WITH DIFFERENT PANELS, REVERSING THE FAN AT SLOW SPEED AND STOP AND BETTER INSULATION. OBVIOUSLY, BRP KNOWS THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM. IT TOOK ME AND MY SERVICE TO BOTH FILE COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, BRP AS OF TODAY WILL EXCHANGE OUT MY PANELS TO THE NEW REDESIGNED PANEL. A $600 PER SIDE MODIFICATION. ALSO, BE WARE, AFTER A LONG RUN ADDING GAS IS SCARY, IT'S A VERY HOT ENVIRONMENT AND THE DRIVER IS SPURTING GAS ON IT? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 (NA) CAN-AM SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PANELS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE GET EXCESSIVELY HOT, TO THE POINT OF BURNING MY LEG. THE EXHAUST IS TOO CLOSE TO THE PANELS AND THE PANELS AND SCREWS GET HOT TO THE POINT YOU CANNOT TOUCH THEM WITHOUT BEING BURNED. AND CANNOT RIDE WITH YOUR LEGS AGAINST THE BODY. END UP SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME NOT TOUCHING THE PANELS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME ON THE ROAD. ALSO,THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF HEAT TRAPPED UNDER THE PANELS.*JB
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT S 991 SE5 CY 13. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PUSHED IT OFF THE ROADWAY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AMERICA'S MOTOR SPORTS (930 8TH AVENUE S, NASHVILLE, TN 37203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH EXPLODED AND DEBRIS ENTERED THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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
Brake cylinder get hot and may melt, high engine Compartment Temperature, engine cut off while driving on the highway, THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER OR THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RECALL.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE AND CONTINUED TO FLASH WHEN A TURN WAS COMPLETE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE DEACTIVATED MANUALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.
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 .