2013 Can-Am Spyder RT: gas smell in the cabin

Filed Mar 31, 2015 · Fuel system · 9,000 miles · CA

On 26 march 2015 I rode home after work of approximately 30 miles. The outside air temperature this day was approximately 85 degrees as a high that day. Upon arriving home, I left my 2013 can am spyder rt se-5 out side the garage as directed by the interim recall notice. I got off my spyder and noticed a strange sound coming from under the seat. I removed my helmet and lifted the seat. The sound was coming from the gas tank. I removed the gas cap and could see gas boiling in the tank. I have noticed strong gas smells and reported that early, but never have I had gas boiling in the tank. I put the gas cap back on and put my helmet in the garage. I reopened the gas cap it was still boiling and was going to film this, but was fearful something might happen. I contacted my dealer who returned my call the next day. He related they had experienced that before during the summer months. They said it was still safe to ride and take the appropriate precautions and we would have to see how the recall design dissipates the heat. I contacted a second dealer who related they contacted brp and no one has reported or dealt with issues like this? They recommended I transport the unit to them approximately 3 hours away. I called a third dealer and was advised of the pending recall. Boiling gas is scary in my book, since when you are riding the spyder you are riding virtually on top of the gas tank. This is a bit discouraging for the amount of money to purchase this unit.

Filed Mar 27, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 700 miles · IL · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2013 can-am spyder rt. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was a burning fuel odor as well as excessive heat coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times. The technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v095000 (engine) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 700.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 500 miles · TX

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. I was told the canister was ok and the loud fuel smell should be gone .I was advised that all recalls for this model have be done. I was told dealer did a gas treatment and was advised bike is a 2013 model which had gas sitting in tank for a long time . I was ask if I top off gas and I told the dealer no! I read all the booklet and watch video pertaining to this bike along with signing up for spyderlover.com. . I know all bike have break in periods, but this is totally unacceptable and surely not safe. I was informed to just ride my bike and to rev the engine when it seems like it's going to shut off. Now with 500 miles the fuel smell is even stronger and I have lost count on how many times it shuts off in 1st gear at a light or just sitting in the garage. I call the dealer again. They informed me that after 1,000 to 1,500 miles these issues should go away after the 600 service. Now, . The reason for this letter is that this bike is not safe because of the strong fuel smell and I don't want to be rear ended due to bike shutting off at every light. I am addressing this issue to prevent the issue of a possible accident or a fire. Now with 1,300 miles and serviced at the dealer the gas smell has gotten worse. Im trying to prevent a fire or bad accident from happening. Spyder website have several complaints onthis issue with the gas.

Filed Mar 17, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 500 miles · NC

Vehicle is extremely hot. Right foot gets unbearable heat. Gas fumes present at every stop. Gas fumes fill garage when bike is hot and parked. Can am refuses to discuss the danger of gas fumes which are extremely dangerous in a closed environment.this safety issue must be addressed as individual owners are powerless to get can am to respond to this dangerous situation. Please help

Filed Feb 23, 2015 · Engine · 5,000 miles · CA

I bought my 2013 can am spyder rt new in feb 2014. Over the year that I have owned the bike, I have noticed excessive heat under the seat along with a gas smell. I had talked with vendor on several occasions and heard various other explanations. I did not give it too much thought until I read the forums and saw this was a common severe issue. Until recently the can am was kept in an open air carport, so I never noticed the odor after a ride. I had experienced gas fumes and smells on rides and just didn't think it was a deal when the vendor kept telling me not to over fill the tank. I don't over fill the tank and stop after the first click which then causes the tank not to become full and having to stop more often to refuel on long rides. When we moved into our new house we now have a two car garage and after the last few rides, I gas up before coming home and notice a strong gas odor and leave the garage door open for an hour or until the fumes dissipate. Now reading of the major heat and fume issues is extremely scary to me and causes some concern if the manufacture new of this issue when the unit was sold to me in feb 2014. I will have to pay attention the next time on a ride and see if the gas is boiling as reported on other units. I have read on the forums and facebook a recall is pending to resolve the heat issue which hopefully will resolve the gas fume issue as well.

Filed Dec 12, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

My spyder has been leaking oil since the day I bought it new. I have owned it for 6 months, has been in the shop several times. Still leaking. Gas fumes so bad coming from the engine after riding I can not close the garage door for at least an hour/. Smells of gas really strong every time I am on the bike. Gas cap so hot I can hardly touch it when I need to get gas.

Filed Nov 2, 2014 · Fuel system · 150 miles · LA · 1 injury

Purchased my 2013 can-am spyder on 03/05/14, in springfield, mi. My home address is new iberia, la. I drove the bike back home. My first fuel stop I was overwhelmed by the strong smell of gasoline and I can smell gas fumes every time I fuel up. At every fueling I have to use gloves or a rag to put over the gas cap to unscrew it because it is so hot. Then when I try to unscrew the cap it just ratchets with out unscrewing it. I have spent at least 30 to 45 minutes trying to unscrew the cap and after tank cools off the gas cap releases, then you can fuel up. On several occasions I have had to pry the gas cap with a screw driver to remove it and then you can hear the fuel boiling in the tank. I had 3 gas caps from another recall and tried all 3 caps and they did the same thing, just ratchet and not unscrew. While traveling I was in pensacola, fl and could not remove the gas cap and went to the dealership there and they replaced the gas cap after it cooled off. The next day I had to re-fuel and the cap they just put on would not unscrew. Thursday october 30, 2014, I had to refuel and could not open the fuel tank and had to pry it open with a screw driver to put fuel to get home. While doing so the cap was so tight that the top portion broke off leaving the bottom portion in the fuel tank neck. It gets so hot my right foot actually burns from the engine heat. When I want to crank the bike after fueling the bike does not want to crank. It spins the engine for a long time before it cranks and then it runs so bad, missing etc., and dies out 2 or 3 times before I can travel. Then when I get to places I have to stop the bike engine dies out while coasting or taking off, leaving you in an intersection with no power. I asked the dealership tech in pensacola what caused that and he advised can-am hasn't figured out why that happens just yet.

Filed Oct 31, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 1,640 miles · WA

600 mile service complained to dealer of extreme fuel smell after rides. Was told that the purge valve was bad and they replaced it under warranty. Rode home and noticed that the fuel smell was the same. When I checked under the roadster I found fuel dripping from the bottom of the roadster. I called dealer and was told to top off the fuel tank before putting vehicle in garage. Dealer said that this was normal. 4600 mile service again complained of extreme fuel smell after rides. Asked dealer about hot hot right foot was told by dealer this was normal and the roadster was operating normally. 9200 mile service complained of extreme fuel smell and heat on right foot, no heat left hand grip, and intermittent heat on right hand grip, warped right hand center body panel. When service was complete I asked about no heat on hand grips. Technician found loose connectors at both hand grips and that the connections could be a problem if there were gas fumes in the area. Body panel ordered and replaced under warranty. Told by dealer that the panel was bent from factory not heat. Technician and service manager did not agree and both said it was caused by excessive heat.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 8,500 miles · TX

Have owned rt limited for less than one year with heat issues. While returning from event in north carolina bike ran fine in the cooler temperatures. As soon as returned to the south, engine began to run hot and check engine light on and off as well as bike chugging and running roughly. Bike shutting down and had to let cool off before would restart. Have had extreme heat issues since purchasing bike especially in hotter months here in houston area. Have had updates done per brp recommendations to no success. Bike is not safe and fear riding any length of time or prolonged distance. When parked in garage after riding find there is a strong gas smell in the garage. For this reason usually leave bike in yard for upto 30 minutes prior to putting garage for fear of fire consuming home. Not sure what this report will do but feel like someone should be made aware of how unsafe and potentially dangerous these vehicles are. Dealers are at a loss for what to do as I have experienced same problems with a 2013 st limited model that was traded due to brake failure and extreme heat issue melting parts. Thought the rt model would be better but find myself in same situation.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 200 miles · NC

Noticed bad fuel smell from day one of owning the spyder. Would leave outside while it cooled off or put a box fan on it to blow the vapors out of the garage. In august of 2013 I noticed the brake lights staying on, removed side panel to fined the wires melted and shorted together. I also noticed the plastic on the master cylinder showed signs of melting and of getting hot. I repaired the wires with high temperature electrical tape. I received a safety recall notice from brp in september for heat related problems. The dealer found the fuel evaporator canister almost burned through, it was replaced and covered it with tin foil heat shield. The dealer did not think the brake master cylinder was melted bad enough to warrant changing and covered it with tin foil heat shield. I had them to leave the wiring as I had already repaired it. The bad fuel smell continued with the new fuel evaporator canister and the fuel boils where you can hear it after a ride. If you look under the spyder after a ride you can see fuel vapors spewing and dripping from the vent line, and it will continue for maybe an hour or longer. It is sometimes hard to put fuel in because it makes the gas pump nozzle keep cutting off.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 9,150 miles · AL

I took a trip to georgia on october 24, , and on sunday morning, october 26, when I started the spyder to leave, it began to stall at idle, it cut off repeatedly, and idled rough. It wouldn't maintain the normal idle range of 1200-1300 RPM. I finally was able to drive it off, and as I rode, the idle was rough for a few miles, but after I got it on the freeway, it seemed okay. Once again, the heat issue and fuel smells became evident as I rode back to alabama, and the outside temperature rose. It seems that any outside temperatures above 70 degrees and the heat from the vehicle becomes worse with the resulting fuel smell and a lot of heat coming from the engine and fuel tank when going to fill up. I was a bit worried being so far from home, but I got back okay.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Fuel system · 100 miles · PA

I purchased a can am spyder rt 2013 on august 23, 2013. From day one I've had excessive fuel smells after rides,also gas boiling in fuel tank after rides. You can actually hear and see the gas boiling in the tank. There is excessive heat coming out from around the glove box area and also around the passenger right foot rest. Needless to say all this heat makes for an extremely uncomfortable ride. I have had all recalls and updates done to date. September 2013 told my dealer of excessive fuel smells while the bike was in having the heat shielding recall work performed. He said that he did not smell the fuel coming from the bike. I went back a week later to have work done to the air ride suspension that was broken upon receiving my new bike. While he was working on the bike repairing the air ride suspension he noticed the smell and replaced my evap.canister. This was after I had the recall done. He had to remove the recall work and replace my evap canister and then reinstall the recall wrapping. Today october 28, 2014 went for a ride fueled up on the way home.I rode home approximately 20 minutes. When I parked the bike I could hear the fuel boiling and could see it in the tank. Obviously all the updates and recalls are not helping. I also had handling issues with the bike from brand-new. That I had to have corrected with my own money spent.