1996 Spartan Metrostar

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 4 times.

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage99V118000
Filed May 12, 19991,753 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THESE FIRE TRUCKS ARE ALL 4-DOOR MODELS WHICH CONTAIN DUAL, FORWARD FACING PASSENGER SEATS. THE HARDWARE UTILIZED TO MOUNT THE SEAT BOX TO THE CAB FLOOR AND TO THE BACKWALL STRUCTURE, AND ALSO TO MOUNT THE TYPE 1 SEAT BELT SYSTEMS, WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NOS. 207/210, ""SEATING SYSTEMS" AND "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk. THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING/RESTRAINING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL ALLOWING THE SEAT/SEAT BOX ASSEMBLY TO BREAK FREE OF ITS MOUNTING TO THE CAB FLOOR AND/OR BACKWALL WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THOSE SEATS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BOX MOUNTING FASTENERS.

Structure99V010000
Filed Jan 20, 19993,210 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. THE CAB TILT SYSTEM CONTAINS A 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ASSEMBLY AS AN ACCESSORY TO THE CAB TILT ELECTRIC MOTOR/HYDRAULIC PUMP ASSEMBLY. RAIN, SNOW, SALT SPRAY OR OTHER CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT CAN CORRODE THE SOLENOID OR "BRIDGE" THE ENERGIZING COIL WIRE TERMINAL CAUSING THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO OPERATE UNCONTROLLABLY.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAB TILT SYSTEM TO ACTUATE WITHOUT CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HERMETICALLY SEALED SOLENOID ASSEMBLY.

Suspension98V286000
Filed Nov 6, 199839 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATES IN A TURN ABOVE 20 MPH FORWARD SPEED, THE LOCK PIN IS ACTUATED AND CAUSES THE AXLE TO RESIST RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED BECAUSE THE LOCK PIN IS BINDING ON THE CLAMP PLATE SURFACE.

Risk. ENGAGING THE LOCK PIN IN THE LCMP PLATE HOLE AT HIGH FORWARD SPEEDS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE LOCK PIN AND/OR THE CLAMP PLATE HOLE. LANE CHANGES AND OTHER VEHICLE MANEUVERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE CONTACT FREQUENCY AND CAUSES WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAG AXLES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch98V077000
Filed Apr 24, 1998477 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS WITH OCCUPANT SIDE ENTRY DOORS. A DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING THE SIDE ENTRY DOORS TO THE FULL CLOSED POSITION, AND/OR, THE DOORS MAY RELEASE TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION. ALSO LOOSE RIVETS CAN CAUSE THE LATCH CONTROL MECHANISM TO BIND NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO LATCH PROPERLY WHEN SHUT.

Risk. THE CAB DOOR COULD UNLATCH FROM ITS PRIMARY LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNASSISTED TO THE SECONDARY LATCH POSITION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND ACTUATOR ON THE DOORS.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20200600Routine
201901500Routine
201801400Routine
201711300Routine
201601100Routine
201501900Routine
201402100Routine
201302100Routine
201201500Routine
201101600Routine
201002000Routine
200901500Routine
200811200Routine
20070700Routine
20060600Routine
20050500Routine
20040400Routine
20030300Routine
20020600Routine
20010400Routine
20000100Routine
19990400Routine
19980400Routine
19970500Routine
1996 — this page0400Routine
19950400Routine
19940400Routine
19930400Routine
19920300Routine
19910300Routine

Compare every Metrostar 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: May 12, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.