CSR

CAN-AM · NHTSA safety record

2013 CAN-AM Spyder RT

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

102

Complaints

0

Crashes

4

Fires

16

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 CAN-AM Spyder RT have filed 102 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2013 and July 2018. The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system, named in 58 of them (57%). The typical failure was reported at 1,375 miles, the median across the 90 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ENGINE

15V095000 · February 19, 2015

The defect
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling all model year 2013 Can-Am Spyder RT motorcycles. Prolonged idling or slow speed riding in warmer temperatures may result very high temperatures in the engine compartment.
The risk
Very high temperatures in the engine compartment may increase the risk of skin burns or a vehicle fire.
The remedy
BRP has notified owners. Dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact BRP customer service at 1-888-272-9222.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. · up to 5,165 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

13V386000 · August 28, 2013

The defect
Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2013 Can-Am Spyder RT series and ST series motorcycles. The tandem brake master cylinder manifold inlet may melt allowing the brake fluid to leak out.
The risk
Brake fluid may leak onto a heat source, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
BRP will notify owners and dealers will install heat shields and a heat deflector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early September 2013. Owners may contact BRP at 1-888-638-5397.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. · up to 8,191 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Motorcycle Fires

PE14025

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened August 4, 2014 · closed May 22, 2015 · led to recall 15V095000

the gasoline fuel system

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 102.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 58 57%
ENGINE 42 41%
STRUCTURE 20 20%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12 12%
SEATS 9 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 4 4%
POWER TRAIN 3 3%
SUSPENSION 3 3%
AIR BAGS 1 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 66.

2013 2014 2018
2013 to 2018

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · 850 miles

BRP CANADA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON ALL CANADIAN SPYDER RT'S FOR HEAT RELATED MELTING OF THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER PLASTIC TOP WHICH COULD CAUSE FIRE. I JUST RETURNED FROM A 200 MILE TRIP TODAY ON MY 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT-LIMITED AND HEARD ABOUT THE CANADIAN RECALL. I HAD FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON MY THIGH, AND MY WIFE RECEIVED A FIRST DEGREE BURN ON HER RIGHT ANKLE DUE TO THE EXCESS HEAT UNDER THE SEAT AREA. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A HEAT ISSUES . I HAD TO USE A GLOVE TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP AS IT WILL BURN YOUR FINGERS AFTER RIDING FOR ANY DISTANCE. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR THE GAS BOILING IN THE TANK WHEN REFUELING. PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THESE CAN-AM SPYDERS. BRP SAYS IT IS

NHTSA complaint 10542161, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 25 miles

THE PANELS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE GET EXCESSIVELY HOT, TO THE POINT OF BURNING MY INNER RIGHT THIGH & RIGHT FOOT. 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. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS "NORMAL".

NHTSA complaint 10542236. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · 975 miles

THE RIGHT SIDE PANEL BY THE SEAT GETS EXCESSIVELY HOT TO THE POINT YOU CANNOT LAY YOUR HAND ON IT, THE SCREWS WILL CAUSE A BURN IF TOUCHED. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED A 1ST DEGREE BURN TO THE THIGH. THE GAS CAP GETS SO HOT IT WILL BURN YOUR FINGERS UNLESS YOU WEAR GLOVES AND THE GAS IN THE TANK GET NEAR BOILING FROM THE EXCESS HEAT. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, GASOLINE CAN BE COME EXPLOSIVE IF IT GET TOO HOT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BRP, ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT IS JUST CHARACTERISTIC. I HAVE RECEIVED A 1ST DEGREE BURN TWICE AND THE BOILING GASOLINE ISSUE JUST IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD HOPE THAT ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint 10544378, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 injured · 1,200 miles

THERE IS EXTREME HEAT UNDER THE SEAT. I HAVE RECEIVED 1ST DEGREE BURNS ON MY RIGHT ANKLE AND RIGHT THIGH. THE GAS CAP GETS SO HOT ONE MUST USE GLOVES TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP WHEN PURCHASING FUEL. I CAN HEAR THE GAS BOILING OR BUBBLING IN THE TANK AFTER RIDING FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THE RAW GAS SMELL IS SO STRONG WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE IT MAKES ONES EYES BURN. I HAD THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CHECK THE GAS VAPOR CONCENTRATION IN THE GARAGE AFTER RIDING AND FOUND IT WAS CLOSE TO BEING STRONG ENOUGH CONCENTRATION TO CAUSE A EXPLOSIVE SITUATION IF THE RIGHT SPARK WAS INTRODUCED, WAS CAUTIONED NOT PARK IN THE GARAGE UNTIL THE UNIT COOLED OFF, BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS A SERIOUS

NHTSA complaint 10587659, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

27,000 miles

EXCESS HEAT HAS MELTED THE BRAKE LINE TWICE, MASTER CYL. MELTED, BRAKS GET SOFT AND INHIBIT STOPPING POWER, ELECTRICAL WIRINGIS DEGRADING FROM EXCESS HEAT, GAS TANL GET SO HOT THE GAS STARTS TO BOIL, PANELS ARE MELTING AND WARPING FROM EXCESS HEAT. THE UNIT HAS BEEN DECLARED UN SAFE TO RIDE. BRP REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES, ALL RECALLS AND UPGRADES HAVE BEEN DONE AND THE PROBLEM IS JUST GETTING WORST, BRP, WILL NOT FIX ONLY OFFERS TO HIDE THE COMETIC DAMAGE

NHTSA complaint 11114334. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

17,000 miles

CAN"T STOP AN OIL LEAK. AFRAID IT MIGHT GET HOT AND CATCH ON FIRE!!! *DT

NHTSA complaint 11103643. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 7,900 miles

WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MOTION, DURING A CLEAR DAY ON JULY 16 2016. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE SUFFERED A BLOWN REAR TIRE LEAVING A LARGE CENTER STRIP OF BLENDED STEEL AND RUBBER SHAPED AS A WIDE BELT THAT EXTENDED PAST THE REAR OF THE BIKE. SEE THE MULTIPLE PHOTOS ATTACHED IN (EXHIBIT P). WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE HALT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE ROTATION OF THE WHEEL USING THE STATED BELT BEAT THE PLASTIC REAR END OF THE VEHICLE TO A TOTAL DISMEMBERMENT OF CRUCIAL PARTS. WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEING RIPPED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, THE ATTACHED PASSENGER'S PLASTIC SEAT MOUNT WAS ALSO DESTROYED. FINELY AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BROUGHT DOWN TO A STOP TO THE

NHTSA complaint 11074024, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 7,900 miles

SEE THE ATTACH NHTSA_COMPLAINT.PDF THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. CAN AM SPYDER SERIAL/VIN # [XXX], MODEL # 000B9DC00. I HAVE PUT THAT I WAS GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR, NOT SURE OF THE NUMBER AS THIS IS A BIKE. MY GOAL IS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC. HOWEVER THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY IS 75 MPH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA complaint 11051430. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire · 10,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING BENEATH THE VEHICLE. FUMES OF SMOKE WERE SEEN BENEATH THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V386000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WERE MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint 10891582. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FEBRUARY 26, 2015. IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT BRP DEALERSHIP, WHICH I DID IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND TO CALL BACK IN APRIL I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN IN APRIL, WAS TOLD THE STATES WITH THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURE WAS FIRST CALL BACK IN A MONTH. I CALL IN MAY, WAS TOLD AGAIN, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED BACK IN JUNE WAS TOLD THE TOOL TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MEANWHILE IN OHIO THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE HERE, AND THIS STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I CONTACTED BRP IN CANADA, NO RESPONSE. THIS CAN AM WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN 2014,

NHTSA complaint 10726706, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the CAN-AM Spyder RT

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 12 2
2016 9 1 1
2012 41 1
2011 29 2
2010 24 4

Other 2013 CAN-AM models

Every CAN-AM on this site — 13 vehicles, 25 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst