DESS Update

[SpyderAnn01]

I think the point Les is trying to make is that if this was a recall then it would not matter if you were under warranty or not. Maybe some of you with this issue need to file on the NHTSA site and see if they do anything about it. They may not consider this a safety issue but it may be worth a try.

And Joyce47 here is more positive spin, I've got 88,000 miles on my 2014 and I've never been stranded. Not even when I rode to Alaska with PW2013STL. Being stranded is not the norm.

 

[rcturner]

Still cheaper than not having a warranty..

Not true. In order to receive this great deal on a repair to fix a known issue he had to pay big bucks for the extended warranty and then pay $50.00 beyond that. That $50.00 probably actually exceeded BRPs cost on this item. This issue should be covered by the factory until ALL of the units out there that are having problems are fixed. Fixed means never having this or any related problem again for the reasonable life of the unit. Repeats of the original problem should not even require a phone call for authorization. It should be automatic.

 

[trikermutha]

Not true. In order to receive this great deal on a repair to fix a known issue he had to pay big bucks for the extended warranty and then pay $50.00 beyond that. That $50.00 probably actually exceeded BRPs cost on this item. This issue should be covered by the factory until ALL of the units out there that are having problems are fixed. Fixed means never having this or any related problem again for the reasonable life of the unit. Repeats of the original problem should not even require a phone call for authorization. It should be automatic.

Are you sure he paid big bucks for the extended warranty?? Mine came with the warranty and best for another year FREE..

Either way 50 bucks or what ever for piece of mind is money well spent in some cases. :yikes:

Maybe they should replace all MY modules..

Lets see what happens??

 

[BoilerAnimal]

I don't know what percentage of Spyders have suffered this ailment or the number that have been afflicted after the expiration of the factory warranty. There have been quite a few posts here about the DESS problem but nothing that gives a true indication of the frequency of this problem occurring.

That said, our daughter and S-I-L have a Toyota Rav4 that had a problem with the all wheel drive about six or seven months after the warranty was up. They were looking at a repair bill estimated at $3200. The dealership where they bought it said that there have been some problems with them but no recalls and that they would contact Toyota to see what they would do.

Toyota fixed their car for them just like it was still under warranty. Like I said, we don't know the numbers of Spyders affected versus the Toyotas with my daughter's problem. We don't know how the dealerships typically approach issues such as these or the kind of relationship each has with their respective companies.

But I DO know the kind of impression that Toyota made with me.

 

[jcthorne]

I don't know what percentage of Spyders have suffered this ailment or the number that have been afflicted after the expiration of the factory warranty. There have been quite a few posts here about the DESS problem but nothing that gives a true indication of the frequency of this problem occurring.

That said, our daughter and S-I-L have a Toyota Rav4 that had a problem with the all wheel drive about six or seven months after the warranty was up. They were looking at a repair bill estimated at $3200. The dealership where they bought it said that there have been some problems with them but no recalls and that they would contact Toyota to see what they would do.

Toyota fixed their car for them just like it was still under warranty. Like I said, we don't know the numbers of Spyders affected versus the Toyotas with my daughter's problem. We don't know how the dealerships typically approach issues such as these or the kind of relationship each has with their respective companies.

But I DO know the kind of impression that Toyota made with me.

In fairness, BRP has done a LOT of goodwill repairs after warranty expires as well. But they will not warrant the whole machine forever. That is simply not how this world works.

 

[jcthorne]

BRP is in bad need of real competition. Would improve the bike and the owner experience overall.

 

[murphybrown]

Stranded...hey if that happens just part of the

i just talked to a gentleman who has a 15 RTL . retired and they love to ride all
over. 25,000 miles and has replaced NOTHING. they have been to nc, spyderfest,
branson, ia, mn, all over. i saked him if he thought about getting stranded. nope.
they go and enjoy. now there is a positive spin ! irv

ADVENTURE of Spyder Ryding....just in case that does happen...I've got the great Roadside Good Sam.....yep I worry not a smidge about breaking down...all is Golden when I'm ryding...:thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

DESS - MODULE !!!!

The module retails for about $130. Can Am does not need to do anything to help. All said though, the DESS part numbers have changed so many times, this should be an area where Can Am steps up. Even the dealers have commented there should be a recall.

Had there not been fires and danger to riders, plus the NHTSA getting involved, most suspect Can Am never would have addressed the fire and fuel issues. The past is a good indicator of Can Am's future.

Technically they owe nothing after the warranty expires and like all owners it makes no sense, regardless of the vehicle to be brand loyal when other choices exist. No management team is perfect, but a smart team knows how to keep customers happy and generate long term revenue.

If what I have read recently that dealers are dropping the Can Am Spyder dealership is true. Often that is a telltale sign of things on the other side of the fence that we may not know details of. Could be the economy, but other things can be considered.

I've pretty much stopped commenting on this issue because :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: ....... However I can replace my Module in less than TWO minutes, by the side of the road, in the dark, without a flashlight,( actually with my eyes closed ), annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd .....without any tools.......I wish everyone the all the best, hope you never have to deal with this....................Mike :thumbup:

 

[TomB985]

I own a 2013 Ford F-150. We had a very mild and snowless winter. I am not sure I even used my rear window or side mirror defrosters until........... it's late February and we get some freezing rain. I turn on my side mirror defroster and, nothing, it doesn't work. I take the truck to my Ford dealer. The truck is two weeks out of warranty. The service manager says it is not the switch, it is the back window defroster grid that has gone bad and it's tied into the mirrors. I have to fix the back window to gain the use my mirror heaters. The cost for this is only around $800.00, and guess what, this is a known problem. So in the mind of many on this forum Ford should fix this, but they pretty much told me I was SOL.

I know this is a Spyder forum, but...

Call the 1-800 number for Ford customer service. Explain the situation to them, and they will likely offer to cover some of the repair.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

DESS - MODULE !!!!

Provided you are carrying spare with you. No spare, and you are not much better off.

.....:gaah:.... Thanks for pointing this out Paul, I don't know what I'd do without the support and great advice provided by the members on this site :clap::clap::clap::yes::yes::yes: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: you are :firstplace:......:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Mike

 

[robmorg]

I think the point Les is trying to make is that if this was a recall then it would not matter if you were under warranty or not. Maybe some of you with this issue need to file on the NHTSA site and see if they do anything about it. They may not consider this a safety issue but it may be worth a try.

And Joyce47 here is more positive spin, I've got 88,000 miles on my 2014 and I've never been stranded. Not even when I rode to Alaska with PW2013STL. Being stranded is not the norm.

:agree: with Ann (and Paul's subsequent post above). And I certainly see Les's point. It's not the $50 deductible that's the issue. How about those who don't have a BEST warranty extension? Even if the number of owners have not suffered the results of this defect is greater than those that have, it's not right for BRP to treat this D.E.S.S. issue as an "ordinary" part failure when it is a known defect with so many documented cases. IMO, BRP has an obligation to acknowledge and take ownership of the defective system.

Similarly, they also had an obligation to remediate the heat problems for all 998 RT owners, and not just the 2013 model year, which was admittedly the worst. IMO, the NHTSA should not have let them off the hook for earlier model years - especially in light of the documented fires on earlier models.

While I don't like to be critical of BRP, the facts are what they are... BRP is beginning to develop a history of denial for defective parts and systems. That's a troublesome sign when it comes to corporate ethics. I would think that they should step up and take proper responsibility, if for no other reason than to protect their own image and future sales.

 

[robmorg]

But it was not defective during the period of the warranty. It failed after the warranty expired. By your definition all products should be covered by the manufacturer forever. Sorry but it just does not work that way. I do not like paying for repairs any more than you do but that is the way it works.

JC, Your remarks above would seem, for some reason, to miss the point that the D.E.S.S defect is more than just an ordinary part failure. I grant you that they have no legal obligation (yet) to take care of it, but I'm not sure why you would be supporting their position not to take full ownership of an obvious manufacturing defect, given the amount of known cases on record, and their failure, here to date, in their attempts to rectify the issue for their customers.

 

[Bob Denman]

It's actually pretty simple: Buy one, if you like them, and don't; if you don't! :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Rob,
:lecturef_smilie: I NEVER used the word "need"...
If the bike provides you more pleasure than hassles: keep it! :thumbup:
If not: it's time to move on to something more.... "safe"!

 

[robmorg]

It's actually pretty simple: Buy one, if you like them, and don't; if you don't! :thumbup:

THERE you go. Nobody really NEEDs a Can Am Spyder. :thumbup:

...or do they?? :riding:

 

[robmorg]

Rob,
:lecturef_smilie: I NEVER used the word "need"...
If the bike provides you more pleasure than hassles: keep it! :thumbup:
If not: it's time to move on to something more.... "safe"!

No that was my word. I need mine :yikes:. Even though I don't have a dog in this D.E.S.S fight, as you know, I still think BRP should do the "right thing" with respect to the issue.

Besides... what would the folks here "move on" to??? Most of us have already "moved on" from two wheels to three.

 

[Bob Denman]

Besides... what would "move on" to??? I've already "moved on" from two wheels to three.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

So far, regardless of actual cost, it has been priceless to be able to have the wife ride as the passenger.

I do ask her often if she wants to trade up to a Miata

Priceless"?????????? Cost me another $30,000.0 because my wife went from a passenger to needing to drive all the time! Now we have two!:yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Priceless"?????????? Cost me another $30,000.0 because my wife went from a passenger to needing to drive all the time! Now we have two!:yikes:

 

[Rohaianan]

i am bringing this and other issues to any forum that i can voice it in.

I love my RT. It has not given me any issues, but i have started posting messages concerning these types of issues anywhere i can. I and almost everyone who has been in business is held responsible and given a chance to succeed or fail. I don't really care about BRP as a company either way. If they fail it's their own fault. It seems a lot of folks on here give BRP a pass. Why should we? Fine if a product is out of warranty a company doesn't have to do ANYTHING but they should be held to task for issues that go year after year without getting fixed. The only way is to let the FREE market make or kill the the business. This nonsense has to stop. Wake up people. And yes i will sell MY RT and make sure i let everyone know how much BRP sucks as a company. Another will take it's place sooner or later.