2008 Spartan GLADIATOR: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2009 GLADIATOR FIRE APPARATUS CLASS 8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEGINNING AUGUST 21, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 8, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES. THE ENGINE MAY SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION IS DETECTED.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTDOWN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD HAMPER RESCUE OPERATIONS AND PLACE THE PUBLIC AT RISK.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DETROIT DIESEL WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE BY REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC TO ILLUMINATE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WITHOUT REQUESTING ENGINE SHUTDOWN. PLEASE SEE DAIMLER TRUCKS' DEFECT REPORT 10E-005. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712 OR SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277 - OPTION 1.

Reported: 2010-05-14 (May 14, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, FURION, AND DIAMOND FIRE APPARATUS AND AMBULANCE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 29, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC). IN CERTAIN CASES, THE ESC MAY INADVERTENTLY INTERPRET VEHICLE INSTABILITY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE MAY BE STABLE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE INTERVENTION OF BRAKE ACTIVATION TO A SELECTED WHEEL.

Consequence: INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION TO A SELECTED WHEEL MAY CAUSE THE DRIVE TO TRY AND OVER CORRECT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS WILL PERFORM THE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-5008, OPTION 5.

Reported: 2010-05-14 (May 14, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2009 GLADIATOR, METROSTAR, ADVANTAGE, AND DIAMOND FIRE APPARATUS CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2007 THROUGH APRIL 15, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSIONS SUPPLIED BY RIDEWELL CORPORATION. BELL CRANK SUPPORT BRACKETS INSTALLED ON THE SUSPENSION CRADLE MAY CRACK, OR SEPARATE, FROM THE MAIN STRUCTURE (CRADLE ASSEMBLY). CERTAIN WELDS THAT ATTACH THE BELL CRANK SUPPORT BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED DURING THE WELDMENT OPERATION OF THE SUSPENSION CRADLE.

Consequence: A COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BELL CRANK SUPPORT BRACKET(S) MAY CAUSE STEERING IMPAIRMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 26, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-4277 - OPTION 1.

Reported: 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 GLADIATOR AND METROSTAR INCOMPLETE FIRE APPARATUS CHASSIS CABS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2008 THROUGH MAY 25, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH TANDEM REAR AXLES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). THE VEHICLES FAIL TO MEET THE SERVICE BRAKE RELEASE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." SPECIFICALLY, ADDITIONAL VALVING REQUIRED FOR THE ESC SYSTEM REDUCED THE AIR FLOW AND VOLUME TO THE BRAKE CHAMBERS RESULTING IN SLOWER SERVICE BRAKE RELEASE TIMING.

Consequence: SERVICE BRAKE RELEASE TIMING THAT DOES MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 121 MAY RESULT IN LESS EFFICIENT BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND WILL PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING MOVED IN A TIMELY FASHION.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE .38 INCH INSIDE DIAMETER BRAKE HOSE TO A .50 INCH INSIDE DIAMETER HOSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-5008 - OPTION 5.

Reported: 2011-03-21 (March 21, 2011)

SPARTAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008, 2010, AND 2011 GLADIATOR, AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2010 METROSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 4, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE "KNITTING" OF THE IRON AT THE TIME OF CASTING, INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOUSING TO BREAK AT THE HANDLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING LOADS.

Consequence: SLACK ADJUSTERS WITH THIS FLOW NOTCH COULD CRACK UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN CHASSIS AT 1-800-543-5008, OPTION 5.

Reported: 2011-10-13 (October 13, 2011)

SPARTAN CHASSIS (SPARTAN), IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 DIAMOND, MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 FURION ALONG WITH MODEL YEAR 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010 FURION R/T, MODEL YEAR 2007-2012 GLADIATOR, MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 METROSTAR AND MODEL YEAR 2012 SPARTAN FORCE EMERGENCY RESCUE TRANSPORT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 12, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2011. THE ESC MODULE MAY CAUSE THE ESC SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE UNNECESSARILY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN A PARTICULAR MANNER ON CERTAIN UNIQUE ROAD CONDITIONS AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SLIP ANGLE CALCULATION BY THE ESC MODULE.

Consequence: THIS MIGHT CAUSE THE ESC TO PERCEIVE AN OVER STEERING SITUATION AND THEREFORE APPLY THE FRONT AXLE OUTER WHEEL SERVICE BRAKE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PERCEIVED TO BE STABLE BY THE ESC. THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SPARTAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-800-543-5008 OPTION 5.

Reported: 2013-12-18 (December 18, 2013)

Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. (Spartan Chassis) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Diamond, model year 2006-2010 Gladiator, model year 2009-2010 Metrostar and one model year 2007 Advantage emergency response vehicles manufactured December 22, 2005, through October 13, 2010, and equipped with independent front suspensions (IFS) by Ridgewell Corporation. In the affected vehicles, welds on the IFS cradles may crack.

Consequence: Cracking of the welds could result in difficulty in steering the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan Chassis will notify owners, and dealers will repair any cracks and install reinforcement brackets, free of charge. An interim notification will be sent in January 2014. A second notification will be sent when the remedy parts are available. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 13028.

Reported: 2014-01-28 (January 28, 2014)

Spartan Motors Chassis (Spartan Chassis) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Gladiator emergency vehicles manufactured October 10, 2007, through May 11, 2011, and equipped with an engine cooling fan and a Cummins ISM engine. In the affected vehicles, excessive vibration of the engine cooling fan can result in the fan shattering while spinning.

Consequence: If the fan shatters when the cab is raised, a person in the vicinity of the engine could be struck by pieces of the fan and injured.

Remedy: Spartan Chassis will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine cooling fan with a more robust one, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Customers may contact Spartan at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan Chassis' number for this recall is 14001.

Reported: 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured November 29, 2005, to June 19, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the transmission fluid cooler may fail, allowing the engine coolant to mix with the transmission fluid.

Consequence: If the engine coolant mixes with the transmission fluid, the transmission may not shift properly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners and dealers will install a new transmission fluid cooler, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on November 25, 2014 and will also be mailed a second letter when parts are available. Parts should be available in mid to late January 2015. The recall began on February 9, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 14017.

Reported: 2015-07-15 (July 15, 2015)

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency response vehicles manufactured January 18, 2007 to February 9, 2015. The front wheels of the affected vehicles have valve stems that may rub against the brake caliper.

Consequence: If the valve stems rub against the brake caliper, a hole may develop causing the tire to deflate suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front wheel valve stems and replace any that have wear marks, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 15012.

Reported: 2015-07-27 (July 27, 2015)

Spartan ERV (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Gladiator emergency vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2007, through June 10, 2015. The affected vehicles were built with aerial devices and the torque frames are susceptible to cracking.

Consequence: The supporting frame could fail to support the aerial device, allowing it to fall and strike and injure a bystander, become a road hazard, or startle the vehicle's driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will njotify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles by adding reinforcement sections for each side of the frame, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 15013.

Reported: 2015-09-01 (September 1, 2015)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, to August 6, 2010. The affected vehicles have mirror lenses that may fall off due to vibration.

Consequence: If the mirror lens comes loose and and falls out, the driver's ability to see objects in the mirror would be impaired, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Spartan cutomer service at 1-800-582-3454. Spartan's number for this recall is 15016.

Reported: 2016-06-20 (June 20, 2016)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2004-2016 Gladiator tractor-drawn aerial emergency vehicles manufactured September 12, 2004, to September 30, 2015. The air brakes on these vehicles may have excessive actuation and release timing, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: If a longer distance is needed to stop the vehicle there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles with a new 3/8" control line, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16017.

Reported: 2016-09-23 (September 23, 2016)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) certain model year 2004-2010 Emergency Response Gladiator tractor drawn aerial fire apparatus vehicles manufactured November 18, 2004, to July 26, 2010. The tiller frame of the affected vehicles may crack near the outriggers.

Consequence: If the tiller frame fully cracks, the vehicle may be unstable, increasing the risk of injury to someone on the ladder.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install reinforcements plates, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.

Reported: 2017-05-01 (May 1, 2017)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency response vehicles equipped with a supplemental park brake system (SPBS). The directions to activate the SPBS incorrectly state to "Pull" the actuation knob, when it should say "Push."

Consequence: If the operator follows the incorrect directions and believes that the supplemental front park brake is applied when it is not, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners and supply a new actuator control knob with the correct directions, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 17009.

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.

Reported: 2018-10-03 (October 3, 2018)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2001-2019 Spartan MetroStar and Gladiator emergency vehicles. The mounting fasteners for the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) cabinets may not be the correct size, allowing the cabinets to break free from their mountings in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the EMS cabinets become loose during a crash, the cabinets may become projectiles, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect size fasteners with the correct fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18030.

Reported: 2019-04-30 (April 30, 2019)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2016 Emergency Response Gladiator Tractor Drawn Aerial vehicles. Cracks may develop and extend into the vertical portions of the tiller frame, resulting in instability of the aerial device.

Consequence: If the aerial device becomes unstable, the device may fall, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct any cracking, and add reinforcements to prevent any possible future cracking, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19007.

Reported: 2019-09-23 (September 23, 2019)

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Spartan vehicles equipped with a pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain system. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19017.

Reported: 2019-11-19 (November 19, 2019)

Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2005-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and Metrostar vehicles equipped with pneumatically-controlled automatic tire chain systems. The air pressure control lines may not be pressure-protected.

Consequence: Without the control line being pressure-protected, in the event the control line is severed, air may suddenly be lost from the service reservoir system, causing the brakes to apply unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Marion Body Works will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the control lines, rerouting them into the auxiliary air reservoir as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 22, 2019. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.