NHTSA Investigation PE14025

Motorcycle Fires

This Preliminary Evaluation was opened after NHTSA became aware of two fires involving a MY 2011 and a MY 2013 Can-Am Spyder RT manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).Both occurred within days of each other in July, 2014.The first report (VOQ 10615679) involved a 2011 Spyder RT, converted for police work and operated by the Morgantown, WV police department burned while being operated on July 20, 2014.The second report (VOQ10617819) involved a 2013 Spyder RT that burned while being operated near the 29 Palms Marine base in the Mojave desert.After a comprehensive review of all information and test data collected during the investigation NHTSA staff met with BRP to discuss its findings.After careful consideration BRP decided to conduct a safety recall (15V095) to address operator burns from elevated vehicle surface temperatures, fuel boiling due to inadequate management of engine compartment heat, and excessive fuel vapor emissions due to the inability of the bikes evaporative emissions system to capture those vapors. We received the company's defect information report on February 13, 2015 and owners began receiving an interim recall notice on February 26th.The interim notice told owners that the recall remedy was in development and would be available in May, 2015.In addition, BRP agreed to, and has undertaken, the following actions:1.Re-notified owners subject to recalls 12V581 and 582 to increase the number who have the recall remedies installed; and 2.Improved its internal system (BossWeb) so that dealers may accurately determine whether a BRP street-legal product has had all relevant recalls completed.With BRP's recall, and its other actions, this PE is closed.For additional detailed information on this investigation, see the attached closing report.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following (ODI) numbers:10422389,10441182,10451964,10454644,10464103,10488563,10495091, 10499920,10534185,10538604,10542236,10544661,10544745,10545679, 10545719,10547665,10547672,10547761,10549949,10551480,10574592, 10576999,10579466,10582917,10587190,10587196,10587659,10593913, 10595183,10606604,10607045,10615679,10615793,10616468,10616523, 10616893,10617819,10618790,10620886,10620985,10621062,10621082, 10621271,10621881,10621966,10622101,10622114,10622350,10622356, 10622523,10622664,10625899,10626242,10626248,10626578,10626680, 10626861,10627017,10627095,10627236,10627336,10627768,10627778, 10628178,10628215,10628314,10629231,10629665,10630345,10630901, 10631241,10631265,10631290,10631419,10631703,10631868,10632763, 10638824,10649988,10650058,10650065,10650128,10650131,10650531, 10650634,10650686,10650717,10650745,10650747,10650802,10650812, 10650899,10651070,10651083,10651134,10651139,10651343,10651478, 10651558,10651858,10651917,10659906,10664024

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.