Spartan Motors, Inc.: Suspension
Spartan Motors, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Jan 15, 1999 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 542. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CARPENTER FRONT ENGINE, SPRING SUSPENSION SCHOOL BUSES. DUE TO FRAME FLEXING, BOTH THE FRONT SPRING HANGER MOUNTING BOLTS AND THE STEERING BOX MOUNTING BOLTS CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE OR TORQUE LOSS OF THESE BOLTS.
The risk
THIS WOULD ALLOW THE FRONT AXLE TO MOVE AFFECTING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ADD THREE STRUCTURAL, WELDED CROSS-MEMBERS TO TIE TOGETHER THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS, ALL LOCATED FORWARD OF THE FRONT AXLE.
4 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Spartan SB2142 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Spartan SB2142 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Spartan SB2142 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Spartan SB2142 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 99V008000.
Full record for the 1998 Spartan SB2142 → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →