AI Damage2008 CAN-AM Spyder RS: common problems
Owners of the 2008 CAN-AM Spyder RS filed 37 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 37
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 59% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- Steering: 22 complaints (59% of all).
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (16% of all).
- Engine: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electronic stability control: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 37 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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 ([address], tampa, fl; [phone]) and informed the contact that the failure was related to nhtsa campaign…
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.
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.
Excessive heat coming from the body panel area causing the fuel in the gas tank to boil.
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.
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.
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…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,176 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Spyder RS has 9 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 37, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 CAN-AM Spyder RS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, fuel system, engine. Total complaints: 37. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (43%), smoke, burning smell, fire (19%), warning lights, check engine (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 CAN-AM Spyder RS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 CAN-AM Spyder RS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.