2013 Can-AM Spyder RT Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe intense heat building up under the body panels, along the right leg and foot, and around the seat, with the filler cap sometimes too hot to touch. Many of the same riders report a strong fuel smell after rides and fuel that seems to boil in the tank, and they say dealers frequently called the behaviour normal or within specifications. Complaints arrive mostly at very low mileage, and smaller groups describe heat damage to the brake master cylinder and stalling at low speed.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Heat build-up under panels and on the right leg

   • 67 complaints (66%)
   • median 1,200 mi at 1.6 yrs old (63 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2018

   Riders describe heat coming from under the body panels, from the front and sides of the seat, and from the right footboard, with hot air from the radiator fan blowing onto the right leg. Some report reddened or blistered skin on the thigh, calf or ankle after a ride, and panels, screws and the seat underside that are too hot to touch. Dealers are described as applying heat tape or replacing a heat shield in some cases, and elsewhere as telling owners the temperature was normal or within specifications. Mostly reported in the first few thousand miles, often in warm weather at low speed or while stopped, though some riders describe the same heat at highway speed.

   Recall 15V0950005 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a warm day, ride long enough to reach full operating temperature, including some slow traffic, then feel the right-side panels and the seat base. Ask whether heat tape, a heat shield or the engine-compartment recall work was ever carried out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 2013-09, 25 miles

   “This motorcycle continually has a very heavy fuel smell after riding. The heat generated by the engine is extreme and causes my right foot to be very hot. When I arrive at home I have to use a fan in the garage to get rid of the fuel smell. Brp/dealer claims this is normal. I am afraid that there will be a fire similar to the one that happened this past saturday, 26 july 2014 here in california.”

   NHTSA complaint #10616893, filed 2014-07, 11,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel boiling in the tank

   • 52 complaints (51%)
   • median 1,500 mi at 1.5 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2018

   Owners describe a strong raw fuel smell after a ride, audible bubbling or boiling in the tank, and a filler cap hot enough to need a glove. Some found fuel dripping from the overflow or purge line beneath the vehicle, and several were told the purge valve or evaporative canister was at fault. Dealers are reported as replacing the purge valve under warranty in some cases, and elsewhere as saying the smell was normal or that nothing was wrong. Reported from the first few hundred miles onward, typically after a ride in warm ambient temperatures and most noticeable when the vehicle is parked.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the filler cap and tank area for heat and pressure right after a test ride, look for weeping or drips at the overflow line on the right side, and ask whether purge valve or canister work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10587659, filed 2014-05, 1,200 miles

   “Vehicle gives off such a strong fuel odor after a ride, we now park the vehicle outside our enclosed garage for a few hours so the odor will not be overwhelming in our garage. Also, the vehicle's fuel tank is very hot to the touch when re-filling with gas. Vehicle was taken to an authorized bmp dealership about the strong fuel odor and they did not find anything wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #10650899, filed 2014-10, 2,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Heat-damaged brake master cylinder and fluid leaks

   • 10 complaints (10%)
   • median 850 mi at 1.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2016

   Complaints describe the plastic top of the tandem brake master cylinder melting or showing heat damage because of its position near the exhaust, with brake fluid leaking in some cases along with a brake warning light and a longer stopping distance. Owners also report melted wiring in the same area. Dealers are described as replacing the master cylinder and reservoir under the recall campaign, or replacing the affected parts after diagnosis. Reported from delivery mileage up to about 10,000 miles, usually after riding in warm weather.

   Recall 13V3860002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the brake master cylinder recall was completed, then look at the plastic reservoir top and surrounding wiring for melting, discoloration or fluid residue, and check the brake fluid level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10542161, filed 2013-09, 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 300 mile trip today on my 2013 Can-Am Spyder Rt-s and heard about the canadian recall. I checked the secondary master cylinder and discovered the plastic top piece had begun to melt. It is very close to the exhaust pipe. I have complained to the dealer that there was a heat issues and was told the heat was normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10538408, filed 2013-09, 2,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling and overheating at low speed and stops

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Riders describe the engine cutting out at traffic lights or during slow stop-and-go riding, sometimes with the temperature climbing and a strong fuel smell. Some units restarted after cooling, and owners report being told that riding too slowly was the reason for the overheating and that the engine control software was reprogrammed. A few describe hard starting and a rough, low idle once the engine was already warm. Mostly reported between a few hundred and roughly 8,000 miles, often in slow traffic and warm weather.

   Recall 15V0950001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test ride in slow traffic or stop-and-go conditions and watch the idle and temperature gauge; ask whether the engine-compartment recall and any engine control software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is my third complaint regarding this vehicle. In addition to the severe heat and gasoline odor problems which I described in earlier complaints, the vehicle has become very hard to start when the engine is warm. Normal idle RPM is 1,300 to 1,400. When this condition occurs - as it has on multiple occasions - the RPM does not exceed 500, and there is limited throttle response. The engine stalls, and there is an overpowering odor of gasoline emanating from the vehicle as if the throttle body is being flooded with gasoline. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10650266, filed 2014-10, 8,500 miles

   “To brp can am spyder 2013 can am Spyder Rt limited 9-29-2014 I have a brand new can am Spyder Rt limited stopped on me 2 times in first gear with 120 miles. Next this bike stopped on me again 11 times over the weekend. This bike shuts off at every light I stop at. Which is dangerous. I was almost rear ended at least 2 times .. I told my salesman that I have a strong gas smell in my garage .I took bike and dealership told me to leave overnight due to strong gas smell and shutting off. My bike was ready for pick up the next day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10701546, filed 2015-03, 500 miles

Buying note. Ask for the full recall and campaign history, since both the engine-compartment heat campaign and the brake master cylinder campaign apply to this model year. Ride it to full temperature, including some slow traffic, and check for fuel smell, a hot filler cap, drips underneath and heat damage around the brake reservoir before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.