2002 Spartan ADVANTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2002-09-19 (September 19, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL/ACCELERATOR PEDALS SUPPLIED BY WILLIAMS CONTROLS INDUSTRIES, THE WELD ATTACHING THE CLEVIS TO THE PLATE HAS INSUFFICIENT PENETRATION AND COULD ALLOW THE CLEVIS TO SEPARATE FROM THE PLATE.

Consequence: IF THE CLEVIS SEPARATED FROM THE PLATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO IDLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WILLIAMS CONTROLS IS HANDLING THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PEDAL. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT WILLIAMS CONTROL AT 1-503-684-8600 OR SPARTAN AT 1-800-722-3025.

Reported: 2002-04-15 (April 15, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL OPERATION WITH UNITS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: MERITOR WABCO WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERITOR WABCO AT 859-746-5956.

Reported: 2010-02-05 (February 5, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 ADVANTAGE, BARRON, GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, MOUNTAIN STAR, AND TR-1 FIRE APPARATUS CHASSIS CABS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 27, 2003 AND NOVEMBER 17, 2009 AND BELTS SOLD TO VARIOUS VEHICLE ALTERS. CERTAIN SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence: THE SEAT BELT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CAB DURING A VEHICLE CRASH AND FAIL TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. THIS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277 - Option 1.

Reported: 2018-05-29 (May 29, 2018)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2018 Spartan Gladiator, Diamond, MetroStar, and Advantage emergency response vehicles. The affected vehicles may not be equipped with a pressure protection valve installed between the air reservoir and the lubrication control module. If the air line were to become disconnected between the lubrication control module and the air reservoir, a loss of air to the air brake system could occur. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: A loss of air to the air brake system could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install a pressure protection valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18017.