Bombardier has issued a recall for a number of 2008 and 2009 Can Am Spyder Roadsters for a problem related to high steering effort under certain conditions when the vehicle is drifting. The description is a little vague and “appropriate components” will be replaced. I wonder what that means. I also wonder how much of this is related to riders getting accustomed to a new type of vehicle. Whatever the case, there is a recall to deal with it. Details below.
Manufacturer: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
Models affected: 2008-2009 Can-Am Spyder Roadsters
NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V162000
Potential Units Affected: 9932
Problem: Bombardier is recalling 9,932 model year 2008-2009 Can-Am Spyder Roadsters. A condition may exist where the operator of an involved vehicle may need to exert a force greater than expected to initiate the turning of the steering handlebar off center in order to correct vehicle drift from a straight line path. This higher than expected steering control input torque may cause a steering angle overshoot and an unexpected deviation of the vehicle from the operator’s intended path. If this occurs, it can lead to a temporary out of lane excursion of the vehicle which increases the possibility of a crash with other traffic and or a drive off the road.
Corrective Action: Dealers will inspect and replace/repair the appropriate components free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact Bombardier at 1-888.272.9222.
James Duane says
Meh. 14k miles on mine in rain, snow, and through Deals Gap and no problems. Probably a CYA recall. Dealers are already backed up with the unusually high amount of recalls from other bike manufacturers.
Ramjet-SS says
Wrong Phone Number
michael says
Replace the drivers,problem solved. Require 2 month training period for people who have A. Never ridden a motorcycle.
B. People who Have ridden a motorcycle.
C. People who have never driven a vehicle like this before.
Craig says
I have just turned over 10K on mine. I have been riding it every day since July 08. My steering went out at 8500 miles. Believe me, you notice a difference immediately. BRP Replaced the whole Unit Free. I Have been riding on and off road for 40 yrs. I know when there is a problem. The one I had you couldnt mistake. It is my opinion Newbies would notice the problem as well. I was passing a Car on a two lane HWY at about 70MPH when I realized I was Fighting to get back into my own lane. I was just lucky I wasnt trying to thread a needle. LOL!!
Michael,,,You Own a Spyder? Do you wave?
Ron and Pauline says
14000 km on the spyder and 35 yrs riding experience, I don’t want to hear no bull about it being a transition thing, the bike has a steering issue end of discussion
SPYDERSI says
Ive got 30k on mine, havent experienced this yet but its going into the shop now for sure.
USRanger says
You got to respect the machine. The main problem for most people is they’re still trying to handle it like a motorcycle. It is not, it’s a snowmobile on wheels. I have owned more snowmobiles than bikes and I treat it like a snowmobile and we get along great.
JayRC says
If you havenet ridden a Spyder, dont comment on this. I have 20 years experience on everything with a motor, so this isnt a “transistion or training” problem. This is a very dangerous problem and needs to be taken seriously. I popped my Spyder up on two wheels at 85mph with a passenger because of this problem. Dangerous situation…
Mike says
i’ve had my spyder since Chrismas and my steering has locked up twice, once going into a curve and i kept going straight, had to jerk the steering wheel to free it up, second occurance was on same day on a straight way coming home from work, had to jerk steering wheel to free it up again. it scares the sh!! out of you, both occurances were back in april, haven’t had any problems since then, i ride mostly on weekends now. i got recall notice in the mail last week. i was going to take it in to my dealer for recall today but it’s supposed to rain all day so it looks like i have to wait till next weekend. agree with jayRC, very dangerous!
Mike says
since my post on 8.01.09, i have put off getting recall on my bike done on steering, my steering locked up at 70mph on I-95 in Pooler Ga (three lanes) on the way home today, i was in right lane on a small curve to the right, steering locked up and i began to run off into the emergency lane, i let off the throttle and slowly applied the brake, about five foot into the emergency lane the steering freed up, i was down to 50 or so,
i would have been flying down a grassy hill into a fence and trees if the steering had not freed up when it did, i looked in my left mirror and slowly got back on the highway, this is serious, i’m finallly taking mine to dealer tomorrow morning for recall, if you have one under the recall, don’t wait! if i would have been in the left or center lane, i probably would not be writing this right now..
anitra says
My ’09 sypder phantom is making some weird whining/sqealing noise on what seems to be around the front tire areas when I am going between 10-20 mph. can anyone help?
Mike says
update, no problems yet since recall was done two weeks ago.
Eugene Bays says
Wheel Cyclender Starting To leak Brake fluid. Idont know if this is a recall problem or its just my spyder.
Eugene Bays says
Have a 2008 spyder ,Brake fluid leaking from right front wheel cyclender.is this a recall
Stan says
I just had the steering problem with my Spyder yesterday. Doing about 75mph on Interstate 16 coming back from Macon, GA. When it locked without warning it was all I could do to straighten it back out. I was about 100 miles from home and had it happen several more times before I made it. I will be taking it in this week. Don’t take the chance, get this taken care of.
James says
I know first hand about the steering problem, I have been riding this Spyder non-stop since November 2008 when I bought it new, (year round in Northern AZ).. Three weeks ago at 8500 miles, I was doing 80 mph passing a 18 wheeler on I-40 in a curve when the steering to the right locked up. I was headed for a big yellow arrow, I managed to get it to turn, when it did it jumped me 3 feet sideways almost under the 18 wheeler. I slowed and experimented and found that ir I turned slightly left, I could turn right. I made it to the next town and had it taken to the dealer. They replaced the steering unit and it now rides like a new one. I will however be very mindful of my steering. If you are new to Spyders, this is nothing to mess with, I have been riding for 35 years it is very very dangerous, if you own a Spyder and have not had it repaired to so Now! if you wait you may not be here. End of Story!!!
Scott says
Problems, problems, problems….. this thig is put together with hope and spit.
Had one.. was suckered into thinking it was a great thing. Dealers are spotty at best and the list is shrinking… i wonder why. Maybe they are tired of dealing with the POS’s as well. Sold it and got a HONDA NT700V… honda dealers are like trees… EVERYWHERE!
And NOT problems! 52mpg and SHAFT DRIVE… you do the math.
I would avoid the Spyder like the plague.
Francisco says
I was going on my way to Daytona bike week and I almost kill my self when my bike started pulling to the left side, had to jank on the handle bar because it locked on me when I got it to turn it got real loose lost control of it almost got under an 18 wheeler and my wife almost flew of the bike. I notice this problem a couple of months after I bough it and took it to the dealer, they kept it for a week and all they told me was that I had a bent left rim. never got on the highway again until last Saturday when I had the same problem again. I used to love my Spyder but now I do not trust it anymore. I strongly suggest that if Bombardier knew about this problem why keep selling it Putting peoples life at risk.
Mike from 8-1, 9-4, 9-28 posts says
I have had my spyder at dealer in Savannah for four weeks now, i was told their mechanic quit last week, new one supposedly started on Monday, called them today and again repair on my spyder is put off till next week for repair. They are very backed up per service manager. Has new mechanic ever seen a spyder in his life? Probably not! This is nuts. When i dropped it off, there were four other Spyders in line before mine to have steering replaced and park brake pedal recall done. Their steering locking up also. Same Dealer had my friend’s spyder for two months. My friend told me today that they changed the oil during steering repair. He removed all body panels for paint last night, checked the oil just for the heck of it, and it was a quart! low. I’m scared! I do all my own work and having work done by an untrained dealer is scary!
Mike from 8-1, 9-4, 9-28 posts says
Also, I forgot to mention, my steering had locked up with me and my son on it, slinging us into left lane. Thank God there was no oncoming traffic. I don’t think I’ll ever ride him on it again which is sad!
Jon says
I had a similar problem steering through turns in the first month on my Spyder. I thought the vehicle had a problem, but a friend of mine who is an ATV enthusiast helped me figure out that I was often inadvertently throttling up (and sometimes down) through turns, as you do have to extend your arms more than on a MC. It’s a gutsy throttle, so a little change in throttle can lead to a change in speed in a turn, and hence apparent over or under-steering. Some additional practice on turns at varying speeds in an empty parking lot (like the manual recommends!) solved my problem.
Granted, there may be a problem with the variable power steering on some 08s and 09s, which hopefully the recall will fix. The variable power steering gives you more or less help depending on your speed. It DOES NOT TURN THE WHEELS FOR YOU! As anyone who has ever actually sat on one and moved the handlebars with the power off knows, the front wheels are mechanically linked to the handlebars. Just like a car, the power steering will impact how much effort you have to exert, but not the direction of the wheels. A problem with the power steering might cause some unexpected under/over-steer, but there is no physical way it could lock up the steering or force you in the opposite direction.
People who claim that they went in the wrong direction are either:
1. Motorcyclists who lapsed and initiated a counter-steer.
2. Trolls making up pure BS.
This is a public forum with no gates. I’d be surprised if even half the posters here had ever actually sat on a Spyder.
Tom says
I was going on my way to Laughlin on 4/24/10 from California and it almost kill me and my wife when my bike started pulling to the left side at 75MPH on I40, had to jank on the handle bar because it locked on me when I got the steering back control of it almost got hit by 18 wheeler was coming behind me and my wife almost flew of the bike. I thought I put too much air on the tires. I’m going to take the bike back to the dealer this Saturday and have it check out. A friend of my it happened to him 2X on freeway 91, I didn’t believe him. The dealer kept his bike for whole week but didn’t find any problem, now it happens to him again. If dealer keep saying nothing wrong with the bike then it times to talk to the Lawyer.
. I used to love my Spyder but now I do not trust it anymore. I strongly suggest that if Bombardier knew about this problem why keep selling it Putting peoples life at risk.
Patty and Stan says
I have 2008 limited edition spyder and love to ride it. BUT I have had problems with the brakes squeeling which we know to just spray due to the fact the brakes are harder than most due to the fact it is a high performance bike. Then I take it to a dealer in Kalispel, Montana (closest place from where we lived in Post Falls, Id) to have the recall for the brake done they fixed it and also the oil over spill we were having, got home and the brake worked for about a month then it never worked again I just did not use it again due to the fact it was about a 3 to 4 hour drive one way.
Then took it to a dealer in Carson City, Nevada to have the oil changed and other maintance work and the brakes checked again again nothing was done but they did not have a computer for the recall on the steering.
Now here in Boise, Id we have taken it to Eden, Id 300 round trip for us for the recall for steering and they told us Carson City, did the work but they found out it was never done and didi it. Also the brake failure light kept coming on they said they fixed it also I rode it half way home and the light came on again they called tow truck and back to the shop it went now they said it had 2 exhuast leeks and a gasget missing where the exhuast crosses over they said dont know it just was not there???
It is fixed now they said but due to the newness of the product it is just trial and error.
I have tried to reach can am and get only a recording now I am writing them and want my warranty extended for another year. I was told that there wre all kinds of places in Idaho to repair my spyder and quess what there are only 2 and they arent really prepared to do much on them….
mike says
in response to jon’s post on 4/11/10, my steering locking up was no BS! when you almost *&%$ing die from this, it’s pretty real! when coasting, the steering would lock up hard! and i would have to put excessive force on the handlebars to free them, it had nothing to do with countersteer. i just got my spyder back from dealer and replacement of steer unit and park brake recall was done, took six weeks to get my bike back, I spoke with BRP on the steering and they are very well aware of the problem with 08-09 steer units manufactured by Kongsberg Automotive. so many people have had problems that they ran out of the replacement steer units within first few months of recall, it’s no joke! and my ass has over 5000 miles on my spyder!
nmark03 says
I am trying to find out if the steering recall is on all 2009 Spyder’s I bought my 09′ in September. Please advise
marcel says
this happend to me i have an 08 can-am spyder i was on 55 going to work at 6 am doing bout 75 when i tried to pass a truck and all the sudden the sudden my steering locked on me i had to maintain the speed and started jerking it around until it got free that was a close one hope to take the bike in and have it fixed i cant afford to die i have bills to pay
Rellet O’Seil says
You ain’t heard nothing yet! I was zipping down the highway at about 80mph, with my son on the back and the brand new puppy we just bought in the trunk. Then I decided to pass the pickup truck in front of me. I went to move out to the left, but the Spyder lurched right! So I pushed the other way and it zoomed way too far to the left! I hit the engine kill switch and it started accelerating uncontrollably! I was zipping back and forth while speeding up and then I could feel one wheel lift off the ground, then two… then all three! I started climbing, and climbing, and climbing uncontrollably! It just kept going up higher and higher, and the harder I tried to push it down, the more we climbed! I think I eventually got up to about 3 or 4000 ft in the air while zooming all over the place! The only thing that saved us was the fact that I was low on gas when all this started, so I eventually ran out and slowly came back down to rest in a cornfield. Innovation and progress scare the crap out of me! From now on, I’m sticking to my brand new Harley with its good old 1950’s-era engineering.
Ty says
Hello Spyder fans. I own a 09 spyder and im going thru front
tires fast.Am I the only one
jim tait says
My Spyder nearly killed me today after the steering locked at over 80 mph while passing a truck.
I am an older biker with loads of experience but this caught me totally unaware.
Bombadier need to fix this problem before someone gets killed.
Jim Tait
A concerned biker.
Jill says
My brother was killed this past May when his Spyder drove off the road and he hit a wall. I urge all of you owners out there who have not had your vehicles checked out to do so as soon as possible. Drive safe.
Cindy says
I have 4,900 miles on my 09 spyder. Just experienced steering issue addressed by recall. I did not experience lock up, but there was no power assist to the steering. Assist kicked back in at lower speeds causing over steer in direction the wheels are turned. My spyder’s check engine light came on with “check dps” message flashing across speedo. I rode mine home thru 65 miles of canyon. I spoke with BRP concerning how I should transport it 75 miles to my nearest dealer… Check this out, the customer relations rep stated I could ride it in!! That it was a voluntary recall.. I explained I had the actual failure the recall was addressing complete with message flashing! Having been an automotive service rep for 25 yrs I “Kindly” explained she really didn’t want to advise people to drive a motorized vehicle with steering failure.
To all the doubters, Yes this is a real issue not driver error.
Steve Wagner says
I have a 2010 RT and got a recall notice about this problem. While I have not felt unsafe with the bug, it has caught me off guard a couple of times. I do not experience locking, but going into a turn requires some fairly strong steering and then the steering loosens up and causes a slight-to-moderate swerve. This happens only above 50mph.
Can Am is playing this one by sending a single unit at a time to my dealership, so I have to wait for 3 people ahead of me to have their units replaced. Not really pleased about that. Overall, though, I love the machine!
R. Ong says
Riding home from the dealership after a major service, recall parts on back order, doing about 80 on the carpool lane, scared the begeezes out of me as when the 405 freeway curved to the left and the Spyder steering fought with me and wanted to keep going straight, a jerking release almost sent me to the divider and a correcting suspension dance ensued. Fighting happened over 5 times above approx 50mph. Gonna have her on a flatbed when the parts come in. When you feel the steering is rough at idle on a slight left to right, you have this problem too. It’s dangerous and “fun” is out the door. Get It Fixed ASAP!
Barb says
My spyder is headed to the shop today. I’m 56 and traided my honda 1300 vtx for the spyder because I was afraid of falling over and not being able to stop from dropping it. My streering has locked twice within 2 hours of riding it home from work. I’ve had it at a dealer twice with skipping and popping and thew gas smells are really strong smelling when the skipping is happening. The dealer did a dionostic check and found nothing. It has no power and the skipping and rough running is a real disappointment when riding in a group of my friends.
Kay says
I have an ’08 spyder and got it used. I had heard about the recall but never got a notice about it. A friend of mine who also has a spyder said that it was probably fixed before it was sold. So far so good. Having no problems and loving it.
bill says
The recall is not not taken seriously by riders, dealers, or by what the manufacturer has claimed. A brake failure, engine failure, or flat is not as grimmreaperish as having this episode. It happened to me a few times on Rt 80 with trucks about. Not fun at all. I would have preferred the steering assist to fail by not providng assist, not by making it feel like its locking up while in motion. When this first became a possibility to a probabilty, more immediate corrective effort was called for. Such a failure should disable the bike to be ridden. Yes, that means the roadster goes in to limp mode when what ever causes it (to important to tell the owners what that is) happens. The problem does not fix it self it waits for the next curve to surprise you. For such a simple linkage to bind in this way is someones grevious oversite. This should have been found corrected before branding a safer open riding texperience. If the steering assist is to blame it should fail by not resisting an input. The core premimum sophistication expected and sold as, makes you flabergasted by encountering this. So hurry and restore mine and RT riders confidence please.
keith from ohio says
Greetings fellow riders,
I have been riding since 1970, started in the dirt and have ridden most of the brands out there at various times. I own a BMW 1150RT and an 09 Spyder Roadster SM5. The spyder does take more effort to steer than a two wheeler, even on a good day with no dps probs. It does take a good deal of retraining your brain if you are used to countersteering and having a front brake. My spyder has around 4000 miles on it and just had the dps replaced under recall. It rides the same now as before but I never had any issues, just took it in after getting my recall notice from Bombardier. Yes, they are very slow at shipping new units to the dealers. Locally, about 2-3 new steering units per dealer per month. No issues with front tire wear so far, looks almost new. The back seems to be going much faster, but not down to the wear indicators yet. It is a new machine, only 3 yrs into production. They have made nearly 50 million engines, keep the faith. The bikes’ shortcomings will be fixed, hope it includes a 6 speed gearbox, they need it desperately!