2008 Can-Am Spyder RS: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 26, 2013 · Fuel system · 7,100 miles · KY · fire

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 fire dept. Had to extinguish the fire. We had all routine maintenance done on the bike and all recalls performed. We still have not been able to get brp to respond to our correspondence.

Filed Jul 11, 2012 · Engine · 12,000 miles · IL · fire

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.

Filed Oct 13, 2011 · Electrical, Fuel system · 17,500 miles · GA · fire

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. (the outer skin is mainly fiberglass) I have been on the web and have found numerous postings of fires on the motorcycles and also the watercraft and atv's this company manufactures.

Filed Aug 26, 2011 · Fuel system · 9,000 miles · NV · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 can-am spyder rs. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked momentarily when it engulfed into flames. The contact extinguished the flames, but the fire department also appeared on the scene. The contact also stated that the fire originated near the fuel tank. The vehicle was destroyed and was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 9,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2010 · Fuel system · 9,000 miles · CA · fire

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.

Filed Sep 29, 2010 · Electrical · 25,400 miles · CA · crash · fire · 1 injury

I had ridden the can am spyder roadster for approximately 30 minutes before stopping at costco and filling it up. No overfill or gas spilled. I road approx. 2 miles home, parked, and went into the house for approx. 3 or 4 minutes. I returned to spyder started it & backed up approx. 10 feet, pulled forward, backed up again, started forward out of my driveway. When I turned & started forward there was a smell electrical wire burning. I saw smoke coming from the front of my seat & central plastic panel. Before I could react to that I had moved forward maybe 10 or 15 feet. There was a whooshing sound & a large amount of smoke from the same area. It scared me enough that I panicked & tried stepping off the spyder as it was moving. I tripped and struck the driveway on my left arm, shoulder and head. I rolled over & looked to see what happened. The spyder had continued forward into the fence & tree at the side of my driveway. There was a lot of smoke and a small flame approx. A foot high at the front of the seat & center panel. When the spyder hit the tree the flame jumped to around 3 to 4 feet. The spyder had run over my garden hose and hit the water line so that I could not get to a hose or turn the water on. I was afraid the gas tank would explode any way so I called 911. By the time the fire department arrived the spyder was approximately 75 % burnt. The fireman in charged stated he felt the fire started on the right side. My can am spyder is the 8th one to burn up this way. On 09/28/2010 another 2008 can am spyder self-ignited while the ride was moving. He reported that his machine was also a total loss. Fire department station #21 incident #10-0107129 updated ivoq 10/26/10*jb

Filed May 18, 2009 · Engine, Fuel system · 36,500 miles · FL · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 bombardier bombardier products can-am spyder roadster. While pulling into the garage, the contact noticed smoke on the passenger side of the vehicle. He grabbed the clutch and pushed the vehicle out of the garage, where it caught fire in the driveway. The fire department arrived and filed a report. His home sustained heat damage. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were 36,500. Updated 05/26/09 *bf updated 05/29/09.