2012 Can-Am Spyder Rt problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (18) · Engine (5) · Service Brakes (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Can-Am Spyder Rt model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
37 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap 2012-12-12 · campaign 12V582000 · 33,700 vehicles
Defect: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Can-Am Spyder GS, RS, and RT series vehicles. The fuel cap may not fit onto the fuel tank filler neck, preventing it from sealing properly.
Risk: If the fuel cap does not seal properly, it may leak fuel vapors. Fuel vapors in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire and personal injury.
Fix: BRP will notify owners and send them a replacement fuel cap, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in mid-January 2013. Owners may contact BRP AT 1-888-638-5397.
Service bulletins (33)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2025-05-15 · Service Bulletin 2016-7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
electric throttle actuator replacement the electric throttle actuator (eta) is now available for spare part. in case of any eta defect, it is not necessary anymore to replace the complete throttle body assembly.
Power Train 2024-03-18 · TST 140875 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revision of tst 140875 p0730 active fault fault code can be triggered if the unit has the wrong rear sprocket or a different wheel size. the cluster will stop displaying the gear indication and check engine light came on (limp home condition) and the gearbox won't shift.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2022-12-06 · TST 140654 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
missing or damaged scavenge pump components could lead to poor engine performance on 1330 engines.
Equipment 2021-03-15 · TST 138572 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the low fuel level light indicator stay always on after cluster replacement on my12 rt.
Parking Brake 2015-07-14 · D-94530 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
electric parking brake not holding when applied.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly 2015-06-26 · 112333 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service tip (tst): customer may complain of excessive heat felt in the engine compartment in certain riding conditions. the solution is to install the air scoop kit. note that this will not reduce heat felt on the rh foot by the radiator fan.
Showing the 6 most recent of 33 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-06-15 · Structure:body“upon cruising down the highway about 60 mph,my powered windshield support arm broke and the windshield fell back toward me in between the handle bars. upon inspection,arm broke in half leaving the windshield unsupported. our safety was put at risk because windshield was laying flat instead of upright for protection from winds and bugs or debris as …”
2020-05-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 7,200 mi“i have a 2012 can am spyder rt limited with extreme heat on my right foot and around the seat. also have overwhelming gasoline fumes after parking the bike. making it unusable and no fun and dangerous to ride. purchased july 14 2017. 7,200 miles. had contact several times with local dealer absolutely no help!…”
2020-02-22 · Steering · 5,895 mi“dynamic power steering failure at 5,900 miles. no power steering at slow speeds.…”
2019-07-15 · Service Brakes“on 7/11/2019 my 2012 canam rt se5 started throwing out vss fault code, i took it home and contacted my local canam service company. they asked me to bring it in which i did the next day. enroute to the shop it began showing abs limp home mode but was not in limp home mode. once connected to the shop computer i was advised the bike was throwing out …”
2019-07-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 5,600 mi · 🔥 fire“my wife and i were riding to hawks nest state park in west virginia, my can-am spider caught on fire around the fuel cap area we were coming to a stop going about 10 miles an hour to 0. i felt heat on my left leg looked down and saw flames and told my wife to get off the bike and we got off and the bike, it burned for a few minutes before someone p…”
2019-06-10 · Service Brakes · 6,015 mi“while stopping after 25 miles. the rear brakes emitted a burning odor and failed. the rear caliper and rotor have been replaced twice and rear brake pads replaced 4 times since new with only 6500 total miles on vehicle. rotors become warped and discolored from excessive heat occasionally glowing orange at night. theses brakes have failed several ti…”
2018-12-10 · Engine · 1,600 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owned a 2012 can-am spyder rt. while the vehicle was at an intersection, the contact noticed smoke in front of the motorcycle near the engine. the contact got off the motorcycle and it caught on fire seconds later. a police report was not filed. the fire department extinguished the fire. the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. the moto…”
2018-11-01 · Service Brakes · 100 mi“just purchased my spyder rt ......noticed a strong smell of fuel after a drive about 30 minutes. i opened my fuel cap and noticed that the fuel was way hotter than it should be. also rear brakes are very noisy, and found out this is a common problem.…”
2018-08-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 6,700 mi“while riding my spyder the heat from the engine gets so intense that it causes the gas to boil and the engine lets off gas vapor. this vapor is released until the bike cools. i have worries that this will ignite so i must leave the spyder outside of my garage until the smell dissipates. .…”
2018-06-21 · Exterior Lighting · 46,300 mi“when driving vehicle with factory trailer attached the light connection from trailer to vehicle failed. the lock on vehicle broke allowing the trailer cord to become disconnected. this means there are no lights, turn signal or brake lights on the trailer. this is impossible for the driver to determine until the driver stops and dismounts the ve…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.