Hi. I also had problems when installing node-red-contrib-canbus via the node-red admin interface / palette manager.

Using node.js v12.9.1

in the actual node-red-contrib-canbus/package.json there is the part :
"dependencies": { "socketcan": "2.1.x", "random-js": "1.0.x" },

So.. what it then does: It installs socketcan v2.1.3 as another "submodule"
~/.node-red/node_modules/node-red-contrib-canbus/node_modules/socketcan

EDIT: (i typed this before my first coffee)

Would it be possible to go to socketcan v2.4.x ? I think this would fix that issue.
I will give it a try this week.
When i downgrade to node.js v8.16.0 it works. No errors compiling socketcan.

bdbc398 should fix this issue.