AI Damage2013 CAN-AM Spyder: common problems
Owners of the 2013 CAN-AM Spyder filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 54% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 27% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 14 complaints (54% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 7 complaints (27% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 35â40, the vehicle caught fire from the front of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to his residence.
Left Handle Bar Control Switch, when turning the left flasher signal on its want work ,when turning the right flasher on to change lane, after change lane want cut off, itâs a safety problem to look down to see if itâs off, had the light bulbs check they all work, they tell me itâs could be a manufacturers…
Brake cylinder get hot and may melt, high engine Compartment Temperature, engine cut off while driving on the highway, THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER OR THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RECALL.
2013 can-am spyder rt with 793 miles, drove yesterday 10-12-2020 in the evening, went about 1/2 mile and dark black smoke started coming out of the dual top ports I believe are air intakes. Stopped as it was thick smoke. Rode it home smoking. Temp range was in normal range.
While driving 55 mph, the power steering seized without warning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 400.
Must leave the unit outside until it cools off due fear of fire in the garage. There has been a recall for this problem with a may 2015 fix date, so far nothing. Brp says contact the dealer, the dealer says contact brp with a continued pass the buck attitude by all.
There is a terrible gas smell when I stop and when I get home from a ride I have to park the spyder outside so that the entire garage doesn't smell like gas. Also, when I'm riding I have to position my feet just right on the right side floorboard to keep from getting my foot or ankle burned from the heat being put out…
Strong gas smell after ride and bike is hot. Also heat around seat and left leg.can not put phone in compartment in front due to heat.
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 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Spyder has 8 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 26, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 CAN-AM Spyder?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (31%), fuel system, fuel smell (12%), overheating, coolant loss (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 CAN-AM Spyder?
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 2013 CAN-AM Spyder 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 2013 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.