2018 Spartan Gladiator

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 13 times.

13 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes19V925000
Filed Dec 30, 20192 vehiclesToyne Inc.

Defect. Toyne Inc. (Toyne) is recalling certain vehicles built on 2018-2019 Spartan Emergency Response Metro Star and Gladiator chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may require an extended distance in order to stop the vehicle.

Risk. An increase in stopping distance increases the risk of crash.

Remedy. Toyne will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the valves, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2020. Owners may contact Toyne customer service at 1-712-673-2328.

Service Brakes19V874000
Filed Dec 10, 20192 vehiclesMarion Body Works Inc.

Defect. Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Spartan Gladiator & Metro Star emergency response chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may result in an extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk. If additional distance is needed to stop the vehicle, there would be an increased risk of crash.

Remedy. Marion Body Works will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1-715-754-5261 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008.

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Reservoir/Tank19V828000
Filed Nov 19, 201994 vehiclesMarion Body Works Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Reservoir/Tank19V674000
Filed Sep 23, 20191,746 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

Suspension › Front19V523000
Filed Jul 12, 2019234 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles equipped with an independent front suspension and Koni shocks. The front shocks may separate from their upper mount on the front suspension. The loose shock may contact and damage the steering gear housing, possibly causing a steering fluid leak and a loss of power steering assist.

Risk. A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install new shock bolts, and shims if necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19015.

Service Brakes19V360000
Filed May 13, 201992 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Gladiator, MetroStar, K2, K3, and K4 emergency response chassis cabs and motor home chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may result in an extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk. An increase in stopping distance increases the risk of crash.

Remedy. Spartan will notify the vehicle manufacturers that purchased the affected chassis, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the valves, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19012.

Service Brakes, Air18V932000
Filed Dec 26, 2018138 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Emergency Response Gladiator and Metro Star vehicles built into fire apparatus and equipped with tandem axles, drum brakes at the rear axles and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Vehicles with this configuration may have a delay in their brake release, preventing them from complying with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk. A delay in the brakes releasing may hinder vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will re-route a portion of the brake system to bring the vehicle into compliance, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18038.

Equipment18V691000
Filed Oct 3, 2018923 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights18V654000
Filed Sep 21, 201895 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Spartan MetroStar and Gladiator emergency vehicles equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

Risk. If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18026.

Electrical System › Wiring18V440000
Filed Jun 29, 2018865 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Spartan Emergency Response Gladiator vehicles. The protective sleeve for the cable that connects the battery positive terminal to the alternator can become brittle and allow the cable to chafe and arc.

Risk. If the battery positive cable arcs, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install brackets to move the cable away from any chafe points, and replace any damaged battery positive cables, free of charge. The recall began on August 27, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18020.

Showing 10 of 13 campaigns, newest first.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20201700Routine
201901400Routine
2018 — this page01300Routine
201701500Routine
201601400Routine
201502600Routine
201422800Routine
201302900Routine
201202400Routine
201102600Routine
201002900Routine
200902300Routine
200802100Routine
200701600Routine
200601200Routine
20050900Routine
20040800Routine
20030300Routine
20020500Routine
20010400Routine
20000100Routine
19990300Routine
19980400Routine
19970400Routine
19961400Routine
19950400Routine
19940400Routine
19930200Routine
19920300Routine
19910300Routine
19900300Routine

Compare every Gladiator year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 30, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.