BRP Addressing Spyder Fire Concerns

[Firefly]

A BRP representative called me today after I had sent an email that I was concerned about the several Spyders that have started on fire. He said BRP takes all complaints very seriously and that these Spyder fires have got the attention of the very top people at BRP. He said that I should rest assured that the Spyder is very safe and will not just start on fire if I have not been over modifying the bike. As far as BRP is concerned they are keeping there eyes and ears open to this matter but are not going to issue any recall's for these Spyder fires. I told him that I too could smell gas fumes on occassion and he said to not fill the tank all the way full and if I could still smell gas fumes to take it into the dealer to check it for leaks. This BRP rep owns a Spyder himself and told me to enjoy my Roadster. So anyways BRP knows what going on and are monitoring the situation very closely as they should. I still have my doubts so I bought a fire extinguisher just in case.

Glad they called--- but I read what they said differently from what others have said. Seems to me they are already starting the finger-pointing at customer done mods - which is total BS. Do they really think that 7 Spyders had the same mods done? Or are they saying that 7 'possible' different kinds of mods caused them to burn?

Seems they are following corporate business policy 101 - deflect the blame. At least one of these Spyders had NO mods.

They wrote a note in one of my service orders when I took mine in for steering problems early this year --- that a loose ground wire under the seat was the most likely cause and that it was due to customer doing mods. I had never touched that ground as it isn't the main battery ground.

What they HAD done at the time was replaced my GPS sensor- which helped--- but obviously wasn't the entire problem. Lo and behold after a few accidents and 8 reports to the NHTSA --- an offical recall is done.

I'm telling ya---- BRP isn't going to admit to any design flaw or take any blame unless the NHTSA gets the reports from those who have had fires.

On that note--- I'm THRILLED to see that 2 other reports have been filed with the NHTSA about Spyder fires !!! :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

The NHTSA site now has the 2008 model year fire where he pushed it out of the garage, a 2009 model year that had the fire after the steering update was done, and another 2009 that had the smoke coming out.

THANK YOU owners for filing these reports! :yes::yes::yes:

The 'complaint search' part of their website just went down for maintenance-- so you cannot see the reports right now--- but I will be logging on tomorrow and making copies of them for my records.

 

[vtrider]

I think I'd like to stick a smoke alarm on it and then install an ejector that will pop me right off the seat once the fire starts!:2thumbs:

Seriously, glad someone called you back. :thumbup:

Now that would sure be different if I was another Spyder rider following you from behind! :yikes: WHERE DID SHE GO!

 

[Smylinacha]

Seems they are following corporate business policy 101 - deflect the blame.

:agree: I'll Amen that! I see it from 8-5, 5 days a week.

And also, people bringing their :spyder:in for the steering recall and having problems afterward, and engine lights going off, DPS going off, Limp Mode..... And they wanna know if we have an aftermarket pipe. And it seems to me that they blame customization on these problems. Maybe they didn't thing far ahead enough that people will be customizing these things. Who wants to run a stock bike? I'd want aftermarket stuff to my liking - like my Chad, like my risers, like my 2 bros pipe. And the people who swap out the lights. BRP needs a lesson in aftermarket parts.

 

[wildbill6565]

YES

Funny the BRP rep. told him NOT to fill tank to the brim then tells him his ran out of gas and he FILLED TO THE BRIM to get 6.6 gals in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun::hun:

 

[WaltH]

The BRP rep did not go into specifics about the mods so I have no idea if these fires have been related to the mods, obviously BRP thinks so.

I wonder what "over modifying" means. This sounds like a dodge to buy time. My fire started on the right side in the area of the fuel filter and carbon canister. There were no modifications any where near that part of the motorcycle. And as others have pointed out, some of the fires were on Spyders with no modifications. Corporations do not accept responsibility, only people do.

 

[Smylinacha]

Now that would sure be different if I was another Spyder rider following you from behind! :yikes: WHERE DID SHE GO!

Oh yeah, I forgot - I'd also get one of those jetpacks once the ejector ejected me.:thumbup:

 

[Zerocool]

Glad BRP is investigating.

When I added my heated grips last fall I took extra precaution to mitigate the risk of a spark on the wire splices. Meaning, all connections were soldered, then covered with shrinkable tubing to (a) prevent corrosion and (b) eliminate the risk of a spark.

I've seen friends bikes where they twisted the splices together and left them open near the fuel lines... I don't mind living dangerously, I just don't want to go BOOM!

 

[powerbyaj]

Contain removed for personal reasons...Have a great day.

Thats my life...it only happens to me...again...TOP 10%.
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[NancysToy]

BRP is not covering the fire that happen to my bike. Reason: used an after market clamp on the breather hose from the air cleaner to the head. BRP said thats what caused the fire...bull_h_T. The fire started in the center of bike behind rear head and it was electrical or fuel not oil. Whats the temp on a head pipe to start an oil fire that blazed in 20 seconds? Drips do not blaze.

There was no burned oil on header pipe so how BRP came up with that conclusion is amazing. No tech person from BRP looked at the bike only at pictures.

Under Federal warranty law, I believe they would have to prove this. They can't just wave it off with a simple comment. Second, was it actually BRP (the factory) or the dealer (BRP agent)? It is important to make the distinction. Fires are normally covered by your insurance, not the manufacturer, unless either you or the insurance company sues. You are probably going to have to get a lawyer (or six) involved sooner or later. I don't blame you for having a bad taste in you mouth, however. I would probably be every bit as angry.

 

[Firefly]

Fully understand you're upset with BRP - but this is first and foremost a claim you should be filing with your insurance agent. Should not matter even IF you had done a custom mod yourself that caused the fire-- that is what insurance is for.

Which Spyder fire was yours again???

 

[Spanky]

Originally Posted by powerbyaj
BRP is not covering the fire that happen to my bike. Reason: used an after market clamp on the breather hose from the air cleaner to the head. BRP said thats what caused the fire...bull_h_T.

That is just stupid but it does lend itself to BRP taking on some liability.

There are some stock air boxes out there that leak oil onto the exhaust pipes. Has This been a cause of any of these fires?

I wonder if my after market footpegs or windsheild would blamed if mine caught fire.

As far as the clamp, if it exceeds the OEM clamp spec then it cannot be blamed.:gaah: