2008 Spartan Metrostar

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 12 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000

12 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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.

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.

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Reservoir/Tank18V350000
Filed May 29, 2018309 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

Parking Brake17V294000
Filed May 1, 201718 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices15V547000
Filed Sep 1, 2015322 vehiclesSpartan Motors Usa

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Tires › Valve15V448000
Filed Jul 15, 2015212 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines14V623000
Filed Oct 6, 2014389 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)11V500000
Filed Oct 13, 2011799 vehiclesSpartan Chassis, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)10V209000
Filed May 14, 2010468 vehiclesSpartan Chassis, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Showing 10 of 12 campaigns, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 1, 20115,848 milesWV

VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (DOES NOT OCCUR FROM A STANDING START); AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN UPON DEPRESSING THROTTLE IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE, THE TRUCK BEGINS A SEVERE HOPPING/JERKING MOTION. SPEED AT WHICH HOPPING/JERKING MOTION OCCURS IS NEAR 35 MILES PER HOUR. INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT DRIVERS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS SOMETIMES ON LEVEL GROUND AND SOMETIMES ON GRADES. HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE RESULT WAS ONLY THAT DRIVERS REQUIRED ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO PREVENT TOE HOPPING. SEVERAL OF THE DRIVERS HAVE DRIVEN SIMILAR SIZE AND WEIGHT TRUCKS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20200600Routine
201901500Routine
201801400Routine
201711300Routine
201601100Routine
201501900Routine
201402100Routine
201302100Routine
201201500Routine
201101600Routine
201002000Routine
200901500Routine
2008 — this page11200Routine
20070700Routine
20060600Routine
20050500Routine
20040400Routine
20030300Routine
20020600Routine
20010400Routine
20000100Routine
19990400Routine
19980400Routine
19970500Routine
19960400Routine
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: Nov 19, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.