Can-AM Spyder RSModel year report

2008 Can-AM Spyder RS Problems

Complaints: 37filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 9,000miles, 35 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS. The part named most often is steering, with 22 complaints (59% of the total), followed by fuel system (7) and engine (4). 35 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 9,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 8 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 10 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Steering: “Vehicle is a 2008 Can-Am spyder on 2/20/2009 while moving the vehicles steering locked completely. I was unable to move the steering either left or right. While trying to turn I felt a pop and the vehicle steering returned. This has happened before while sitting still but never when the vehicle was in motion.”

NHTSA complaint #10259898, filed 2009-02, 9,500 miles

Fuel system: “I was driving my 2008 canam spyder roadster and it started on fire - I got off just in time and blue flames were coming up from the tank/ seat area. The bike was a total loss and if I had been on the highway vs. A back road this could have ended with injuries. The spyder had been maintained perfectly.”

NHTSA complaint #10365063, filed 2010-11, 9,000 miles

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.”

NHTSA complaint #10604634, filed 2014-06, 17,000 miles

Electrical system: “I was riding my 2005 canam spyder motorcycle to work and about 2 blocks away while I was stopped at a stoplight I heard a pop and saw a small amount of smoke come up from under the cowling. I immediately rushed to my work parking lot (because there were no trees or anything flammable around) and went into work to get some water to extinguish the small flames I saw. By the time I got back outside the bike was engulfed and melting. …”

NHTSA complaint #10430025, filed 2011-10, 17,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 35 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 14,588 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (35 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 9,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 10 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

10200278Jan 5, 2016Engine cooling. Air scoop retrofit kits.
10186274Apr 12, 2014Electrical system. Trailer module may fail.
10129604Oct 25, 2013Engine. Technical Service Tip (TST) addressing that on some SE5 engines a high pitched or whining noise may be heard under specific RPM only. After investigation the cause of this noise is from a thrust…
10191376Oct 22, 2013Equipment. If a customer wants to change the radio pre-set channel number and is unable to do so, here is the reason this is happening.
10052086Jan 17, 2013Fuel system. Brp: on the can-am roadster, the fuel cap fails to seal properly, on fuel tank filler neck, causing fuel vapors and in presence of an ignition source, might result in a fire and needs replacing…
10051563Apr 10, 2012Other or unknown. Brp: the shift up and down paddle fails to work and adjustment is needed that might improve the situation on certain model motorcycles. Model spyder gs/rs. No model years listed.
10026725Oct 16, 2008Transmission and drivetrain. Brp motorcycle: transmission won't shift; get stuck in gear; check transmission fault scrolls; won't downshift; won't up-shift or change gears.
10026543Jan 11, 2008Brakes. Can-am service campaign: see document search button for owner letter.brp: a limited quantity of roadster spyder vehicles may have one or two defective brake fluid reservoir caps. Csc letter was…
10026521Jan 11, 2008Brakes. Can-am service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Brp: csc letter referring to brake fluid reservoir caps replacement for can-am roadster vehicles.
10026462Jan 11, 2008Brakes. Can-am service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Bombardier recreational products: a limited quantity of roadster spyder vehicles may have one or two defective brake fluid…

Other model years of the Can-AM Spyder RS

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2012	6	7,800	1	—	—	—	Not enough data
2011	5	6,500	1	—	—	—	Not enough data
2010	8	5,075	3	—	—	—	Not enough data
2009	13	2,000	1	—	—	—	Not enough data
2008	37	9,000	0	—	—	Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)	Stable

All Can-AM Spyder RS model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS have?

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 22 complaints (59% of the total), followed by fuel system with 7.

Has the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Can-AM Spyder RS reported?

Among the 35 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 9,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 14,588 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.