1996 Spartan Mountain Master

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control96V201000
Filed Nov 25, 19967,633 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. THE ECO-CRUISE ACTUATOR CAN BIND THE THROTTLE.

Risk. IF THE ACTUATOR BINDS, ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE TO THE LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE OPERATOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THESE ACTUATORS UNTIL NEW OR REMANUFACTURED UNITS CAN BE SUPPLIED.

Steering › Linkages › Drag › Link › Connection96V081000
Filed May 17, 1996604 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. THE DRAGLINKS HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-TILT SEAL ON THE PITMAN END THAT CAN AFFECT THE TAPER FIT OF THE BALL STUD TAPER INTO THE PITMAN ARM. THE RECOMMENDED TORQUE ON THE STUD NUT DOES NOT OVERCOME THE COMPRESSION OF THE ANTI-TILT SEAL.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOOSENING OF THE JOINT AND ULTIMATE SEPARATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE WASHERS WITH 90 DEGREE FLANGES WITH WASHERS HAVING A 45 DEGREE FLANGE AND SANDWICH THE RUBBER BUSHING IN THE ANTI-TILT SEAL. THE FLANGES ALLOW THE BUSHING TO PROPERLY EXPAND. IF A BODY HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE CHASSIS, THE PITMAN ARM WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar96V014000
Filed Jan 23, 1996358 vehiclesSpartan Motors, Inc.

Defect. INTERMITTENT DISRUPTION OF THE FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER TOUCH PAD CAN OCCUR CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDHSIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS;" AND NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY THE TOUCH PAD. THE FUNCTION (1) FAILS TO OPERATE; (2) OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY; OR (3) OPERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. A FUNCTION COMES ON WITHOUT BEING SWITCHED ON. ANY OF THESE COULD DISTRACT A DRIVER INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER CONTROL ASSEMBLIES TO ELIMINATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 7, 1997TX

RECALL RELATED, 96V201, THE ECO CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR, DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED REPLACE PARTS, CONTACTED MFR. 1-MAY-97, NO KNOWN DATE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 5, 1997CO

THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO IDEA WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE MADE IN ENGLAND AND THE USA HAS NO PARTS AND CANNOT BUILD THE PARTS IN THE USA. *AK

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20060200Routine
20051100Routine
20040200Routine
20030200Routine
20020300Routine
20010200Routine
20000100Routine
19990100Routine
19980200Routine
19970100Routine
1996 — this page2300Routine
19951400Routine
19940200Routine
19930100Routine

Compare every Mountain Master 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 25, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.