Model year record
2008 Can-Am Spyder Rs recalls & problems
The 2008 Can-Am Spyder Rs has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 37 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is steering (22 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Can-Am Spyder Rs.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 22 | 5,800 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 6 | 9,000 mi |
| Engine | 4 | 11,225 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 3 | 5,800 mi |
| Electrical system | 3 | 17,500 mi |
| Power trainDriveline | 3 | 6,500 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | — |
| Suspension | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING, WHICH CALLED FOR THE SOFTWARE CLUSTER CONSOLE TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE RECEIVED THE REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STEER THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE TAMPA BAY POWER SPORTS DEALER (13521 N FLORIDA AVENUE, TAMPA, FL; 813-968-7888) AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER…
- Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE POWER STEERING FUSE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, A CHECK DPS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DPS WAS RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ROTOR ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. IN 2010, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V162000 (STEERING).…
- Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER ROADSTER. ONCE THE CONTACT BEGAN RIDING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING FAILED AND A CHECK DPS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DPS UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500.
- Fuel/propulsion system
EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE BODY PANEL AREA CAUSING THE FUEL IN THE GAS TANK TO BOIL. *JS
- Engine
DRIVING ON I 75 NORTHBOUND IN TROY, MI, THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 78 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE, CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION, NEARLY CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION, WHICH THE DRIVER BEHIND JUST AVOIDED HITTING ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY OTHER CAN AM SPIDER ALSO. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A NORMAL THING, AND BOMBARDIER SAYS IT IS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN IN EXTREME HEAT. BUT 78 DEGREES IS NOT EXTREME HEAT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
- Service brakes
I PURCHASED A 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. AS I INVESTIGATED MORE INTO IT, I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR BIKE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A CERTIFIED CAN AM DEALER IN ST AUGUSTINE IN MAY 2013 FIRST COAST POWER SPORTS. THEY KEPT THE BIKE THE FIRST TIME 62 DAYS, WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME, I WAS ABLE TO USE FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE I HAD TO RETURN TO THE SHOP. WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO ME THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHEN THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE SHOP, I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE NEEDED THE BRAKES BLED AND IT WOULD COST $700. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BIKE WAS UNREPAIRABLE AND I NEEDED TO…
- Fuel system, gasolineFire
CAN AM SPYDER WAS BEING RIDDEN BY OWNERS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE GAS TANK HAD EXPLODED AND BIKE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES . THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED OF PROBLEMS WITH THE EVAPORATION CANISTER WHICH WE HAVE SINCE HEARD THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE BRP COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ISSUED A RECALL IN DECEMBER 2012. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED VERY EASILY HAD SOMEONE NOT SPOTTED THE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE SPYDER CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK AND ALERTED US TO GET OFF THE BIKE. WITHIN MINUTES THE BIKE WAS CONSUMED IN FLAMES AND THE…
- EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER DRIVING 5 MPH. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP; HOWEVER AN INSPECTION WAS NOT CONDUCTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.