NHTSA investigation update

[PrairieSpyder]

opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:

 

[flamingobabe]

http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/owners/safety/safety-recalls-vin-lookup.html

on facebook BRP guy posted this link ......follow this link to see if your Spyder is in a recall.....mine had no recalls.....really??? just curious if any spyder shows a recall

 

[Magdave]

http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/owners/safety/safety-recalls-vin-lookup.html

on facebook BRP guy posted this link ......follow this link to see if your Spyder is in a recall.....mine had no recalls.....really??? just curious if any spyder shows a recall

There have been no new recalls....yet :thumbup:

 

[DrewNJ]

Did someone say ebola?

Chris

No kidding...[emoji57]

 

[Dan McNally]

Well I for one still have my 2013 RT (bought new Mar 1, 14) - but have NEVER received a recall notice.

Until today (since reading the NHTSA letter) I have been oblivious to the amount of recalls there have been & I must to admit to being somewhat shocked!

I am left wondering if any of the recalls were applied automatically by the service dept. when the bike was in for its 4000 mile oil change. All of my riding since having the bike have been approx. 200 mile round trips or less (typically only local within state short trips), during the summer the tank was hot when refueling and the panels / under seat & hot air near foot peg were getting really hot though luckily no gas smell!

Now that the cooler temps are here I have noticed a drop in heat when refueling and riding.

Actually my wife and I are planning riding our Spyders (hers is the 2012 RT LTD) to Eureka Springs Arkansas (pig trail) tomorrow and back Sunday from KC.

Crossing my fingers my 2013 RT is not one that is ready to POP as you say!
(but I will be keeping a close watch on it when refueling)

You should not have been sent a recall letter.

U.S. Federal law prohibits a dealer from selling a recalled vehicle without first performing the recall work. S

Since the recall was released in September, 2013 and you did not buy your Spyder until March of 2014, it is most likely that the recall work had been completed before you bought it. It is very easy to tell . . . pop off the Tupperware on the right side and look at your master cylinder. If it is plain white plastic on top, the work was not done. If it is wrapped with insulation, it was done . . .

 

[TXSHOTGUN]

Bottom line I can recreate the fuel smell issue easily!
1) Have about 1/3 of your gas tank full.
2) Ride in stop and go traffic in 90F or above ambient temps for about 30 minutes.

Every time I have this combination the gas stink even while on the thing is pretty bad and there have been days I almost had to get off the thing as it was making me nauseous.

However, I have been doing what others suggested. Fill up the tank before going home.
YES when I pop the cap off the gas is boiling so much you can hear it just standing next to it.
But filling it up does calm down the issue so I can park in the garage without my wife freaking out but I have to ride it a few miles to let the evap can clear.
Still some gas smell but certainly not as bad as had I not filled it up.

As far as heat, either I am tolerant or not having an issue.
Yes with my NVB pegs the blow hole will burn you so it has to be blocked off to use those.
But on the stock pegs, I only have a little discomfort and can feel the heat but not enough to make me stop riding it.

But, this is good news for us users. I will take any fix that solves the stink and the fumes which is a fire danger in my opinion. I have been grounding myself to the frame before opening the gas cap and other precautions to not ignite the fumes!

Lets all hope for a quick resolution to this :thumbup:

Bob

Good Idea Bob about grounding to the frame before opening the gas lid, I hadn't done that but i will from now on. I am with you on the heat, i have ridden Harleys for yrs so that is not too much of a problem to me, but when my phone melts in the center console, its a tad bit too hot, IMHO!

 

[spacetiger]

Recall fix will be high if this makes it through the system... but can you imagine what the cost would be to BRP if there is/was a fire and fatality?

This company must not have a very good legal staff either.

 

[AZCowboy]

Recall fix will be high if this makes it through the system... but can you imagine what the cost would be to BRP if there is/was a fire and fatality?

This company must not have a very good legal staff either.

I have not seen the NHTSA investigation update were can I find it? I was giving the USDOT information on problems I have had on my 2012 RT Limited. I heard some people hadn't any problems, some had some problems, I think I got them all. In two years I had at least 15 problems some of them major ones in the past two years. RJ:spyder2:

 

[03hdjill]

I and several others have submitted temp readings(with pictures) To both BRP and Bob Young the NHTSA investigator. so they can run but they can't hide. There are plenty of measurements others here have posted too and you know NHTSA has been pouring over the posts. They even include a screen shot of one of the posts here in the PDF. I and others have also posted pictures of the gas dripping from the EVAP hose. This whole mess includes ALL Spyders too not just 2013's. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am guessing Jan or Feb will be the conclusion of the investigation. If you have fuel smells after a ride it is last chance to file a complaint:thumbup:

I thought just about everyone was having the gas smell problem. Are you thinking we all should be filing complaints regarding the smell?

 

[DrewNJ]

I thought just about everyone was having the gas smell problem. Are you thinking we all should be filing complaints regarding the smell?

Why would you file a complaint if you don't have issues and only based on info your reading on an internet forum??

I've had no issues with my 12'. No issues with a real good friends 11' either. Actually, no complaints with my 12' at all. Its been one of the best, most reliable machines I've ever owned!

 

[robmorg]

I hope this does not turn out like it did for the Corvair, or like it did for the Geo Tracker. Both were fine cars--for what they were-- and both are off the market now. You can't buy a Citroen in the U.S., and can't get a street legal Polaris (off-road) either.

I enjoy joy my Spyder. I hope it does not become only a memory.

Dan,

:agree: I'm with you, but I'm not too concerned. We are all blaming BRP for not being proactive enough on this issue. But where they WERE proactive was in not allowing the problem to propagate into future models. One way you can look at this is that 2014 was the "test year" for the RT. Problem solved. 2015, with the introduction of the F3, was the "test year" for permanently resolving the issue for the rest of the line. I'm fairly sure that what we will see beginning in 2016 is all new models being based on the F3 frame. I'm not saying that everything will look like the 2015 F3. However I'm guessing that the forward high gas tank, the exhaust system changes, and the 1330 style engine housed in an un-cramped engine compartment, will follow through to all future models. Some models (if perhaps just the RT) will probably be a meld of the design features of the 2014/2015 RT and the F3.

Bottom line, the problem was stopped and not going forward. They took steps to insure the integrity of the continuation of the Can-Am line. Now what they've got to do is concentrate on fixing the affected models already on the street.

 

[robmorg]

I thought just about everyone was having the gas smell problem. Are you thinking we all should be filing complaints regarding the smell?

Jill,

That's not so, and this has been one of the most perplexing things about this issue. I have a 2013 RT that has exhibited the boiling gas on one, maybe two occasions in over 5000 miles. (None since wrapping the headers and shielding the fuel tank with reflective heat tape.) I have NEVER experienced canister overflow and leaking fuel. I HAVE experienced a LOT of excess heat coming up around the seat and have taken steps to curtail that problem. So there's no reason for me to file a complaint. Whatever improvements I get from the recall (or reimbursement for work already performed by my dealer) will be gravy for me - even if it is "much appreciated" gravy. I think perhaps that the diversity of owner experiences has been partially responsible for the seeming delay in action from BRP.

 

[snics]

http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/owners/safety/safety-recalls-vin-lookup.html

on facebook BRP guy posted this link ......follow this link to see if your Spyder is in a recall.....mine had no recalls.....really??? just curious if any spyder shows a recall

Only works for Spyder's sold in the US.....
Not very useful fir us Canadians.....

 

[flaggerphil]

This is great news they have to step up now what really get me is all the dealers from what i read when you ask them if this is a common problem they all say the same thing i never heard of this before yup OK lets hope justice will be served i am about ready to trade my 2013 because of the fuel smell been to the dealer 2 times on more time then i will file a lemon law this surelly will help anyone that wants file a lemon law on their bike

Punctuation is your friend.

 

[03hdjill]

Why would you file a complaint if you don't have issues and only based on info your reading on an internet forum??

I've had no issues with my 12'. No issues with a real good friends 11' either. Actually, no complaints with my 12' at all. Its been one of the best, most reliable machines I've ever owned!

Drew, That is not what I said. I have always had the gas smell with my ST Limited and my husband has always had it with his 2012 RTS. ( two different models, two different years) From talking with many other people, the smell seemed to be something most people have had. I was just asking if the other person felt that everyone should be filing complaints.

 

[flaggerphil]

All this talk of fires and getting ready to pop makes you worry. I hope my 2012 LTD is in good shape. I don't want to ride in fear, and spending the kind of money for these machines, you shouldn't have to ride in fear. I hope BRP comes up with something good to relieve the owners and we can get back to enjoying these wonderful bikes and not worry, but just ride and have fun.:yes:

I think it depends on the person and the bike they have. Some bikes have been bad...most (I think) have not (I'm excluding 2013's here). I have a 2011 RT-AC and have never had serious problems with it. I've never had heat problems with it. The relatively minor problems I've had have been fixed by my dealer and BRP very quickly and efficiently.

I'm not saying others haven't had problems and I don't bash those that do (though I've said a thing or two to people who have problems and complain instead of trying to get them fixed...but that's another thread). But I haven't and have been very happy with my RT.

I never ride in fear.

 

[03hdjill]

Jill,

That's not so, and this has been one of the most perplexing things about this issue. I have a 2013 RT that has exhibited the boiling gas on one, maybe two occasions in over 5000 miles. (None since wrapping the headers and shielding the fuel tank with reflective heat tape.) I have NEVER experienced canister overflow and leaking fuel. I HAVE experienced a LOT of excess heat coming up around the seat and have taken steps to curtail that problem. So there's no reason for me to file a complaint. Whatever improvements I get from the recall (or reimbursement for work already performed by my dealer) will be gravy for me - even if it is "much appreciated" gravy. I think perhaps that the diversity of owner experiences has been partially responsible for the seeming delay in action from BRP.

Rob,
My ST Limited did not have the heat around the seat until the recall work was completed. After that, the heat was extreme. I took photos of the readings and gave them to my dealer. I also had the boiling gas. BRP replaced the panels. I noticed right away after that, that the heat was not gone. It was moved from the seat area down to the lower panel near my calf. (and the heat has always been on the left side) I told my dealer, but nothing was ever done. They said that they would talk to BRP, but they could not come up with a remedy. I now just position my leg away from the bike.

Don't get me wrong, I love my bike. I have 13,000 miles on it and ride every chance I get. It is hot,though...and it smells like gas.

 

[Magdave]

Drew, That is not what I said. I have always had the gas smell with my ST Limited and my husband has always had it with his 2012 RTS. ( two different models, two different years) From talking with many other people, the smell seemed to be something most people have had. I was just asking if the other person felt that everyone should be filing complaints.

Short answer is if you have had fuel smell and were afraid to close the garage door after a ride YES. If you read the document BRP and their dealers have told NHTSA other bikes drip fuel and have fuel smells after a ride. NHTSA told them to tell them which ones. I have owned 5- 2 wheelers and none of them have done what my 2013 does. I never had gas dripping on my garage floor. They are asking BRP for their CARB documents any bike that spews fumes like the 2013 does after an hour ride could not possibly pass CARB regulations nor EPA for that matter. The purpose of the evap system is to PREVENT gas fumes from venting to atmosphere . If the amount of fumes overwhelms the canister the system is a failure. If the canister were cool a lot less (if not all) fumes would condense in it rather than vent through it. The canister location is bad (it gets HOT) as well as the size of it IMHO.

 

[DrewNJ]

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[Dragonrider]

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