2018 Spartan Fire Gladiator problems

What is wrong

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Gladiator and 2018-2019 Metro Star fire trucks. The service brake may take longer than expected to engage. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk

A delayed brake engagement can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and either replace the fittings and plumbing or the quick release valve as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2024. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 24009.

Recall number 24V453000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2018-2019, 2021 Gladiator and 2020 MetroStar emergency vehicles. The rope rescue anchor point (hoist ring) may have been improperly assembled, which can allow a hinge pin to separate from the ring.

Risk

Hinge pin separation from the hoist ring can result in hoist ring failure and increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the hoist rings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1-517-543-640. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23011.

Recall number 23V389000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Marion Body Works Inc. is recalling certain 2009-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles. The pump shift solenoid may corrode internally, causing a loss of power to the pump control module.

Risk

A loss of power to the pump control module can cause a loss of water pressure for fighting fires, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the solenoids, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V‑329.

Recall number 21V567000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Marion Body Works Inc. is recalling certain 2017-2020 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot boreholes, allowing the high-pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Risk

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 26, 2021. Owners may contact Marion Body Works' customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261. Marion Body Works' number for this recall is 21V‑032.

Recall number 21V507000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Spartan Fire, LLC is recalling certain 2009-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles. The fire water pump solenoid may corrode internally, causing a loss of power to the pump control module.

Risk

A loss of power to the pump control module can cause a loss of water pressure for fighting fires, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace suspect solenoids, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 9, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400.

Recall number 21V329000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Spartan Fire, LLC is recalling certain 2017-2020 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Risk

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400.

Recall number 21V323000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan) is recalling one 2018 Gladiator vehicle equipped with Code 3 7x9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights. The lights may be too bright, exceeding the maximum light output allowed which may adversely affect the vision of drivers. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk

The excessive brightness may affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Spartan will notify the owner and instruct them to contact Code 3 to obtain a filter kit (part number CZ0199), free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑866‑582‑2376. Spartan's number for this recall is 20-10.

Recall number 20V492000 · Recall details

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA21002