NHTSA complaint: 2008 CAN-AM SPYDER RS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD RIDDEN THE CAN AM SPYDER ROADSTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE STOPPING AT COSTCO AND FILLING IT UP. NO OVERFILL OR GAS SPILLED. I ROAD APPROX. 2 MILES HOME, PARKED, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE FOR APPROX. 3 OR 4 MINUTES. I RETURNED TO SPYDER STARTED IT & BACKED UP APPROX. 10 FEET, PULLED FORWARD, BACKED UP AGAIN, STARTED FORWARD OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED & STARTED FORWARD THERE WAS A SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY SEAT & CENTRAL PLASTIC PANEL. BEFORE I COULD REACT TO THAT I HAD MOVED FORWARD MAYBE 10 OR 15 FEET. THERE WAS A WHOOSHING SOUND & A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE SAME AREA. IT SCARED ME ENOUGH THAT I PANICKED & TRIED STEPPING OFF THE SPYDER AS IT WAS MOVING. I TRIPPED AND STRUCK THE DRIVEWAY ON MY LEFT ARM, SHOULDER AND HEAD. I ROLLED OVER & LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE SPYDER HAD CONTINUED FORWARD INTO THE FENCE & TREE AT THE SIDE OF MY DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND A SMALL FLAME APPROX. A FOOT HIGH AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT & CENTER PANEL. WHEN THE SPYDER HIT THE TREE THE FLAME JUMPED TO AROUND 3 TO 4 FEET. THE SPYDER HAD RUN OVER MY GARDEN HOSE AND HIT THE WATER LINE SO THAT I COULD NOT GET TO A HOSE OR TURN THE WATER ON. I WAS AFRAID THE GAS TANK WOULD EXPLODE ANY WAY SO I CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE SPYDER WAS APPROXIMATELY 75 % BURNT. THE FIREMAN IN CHARGED STATED HE FELT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MY CAN AM SPYDER IS THE 8TH ONE TO BURN UP THIS WAY. ON
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation