The worst 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 16
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- Custom Fire Apparatus, Inc (Custom Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Spartan Gladiator, MetroStar, and FC-94 emergency vehicles. A defect in the inversion valve may delay the park brake setting after engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally.
- Risk
- Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Custom Fire will inspect and replace the faulty inversion valve, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2023. Owners may contact Custom Fire customer service at 1‑715‑294‑2555. Custom Fire's number for this recall is 23V‑631/TC 2023-512.
Recall number 23V747000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Gladiator, Metro Star, 2022-2024 FC-94, 2022-2023 KME Panther, and 2023 KME Predator emergency vehicles. A defect in the inversion valve may delay park brake engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the inversion valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2023. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑800‑867‑6478. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 23017.
Recall number 23V631000 · Recall details
Equipment
- 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
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Spartan Fire Gladiator, MetroStar, FC-94 and KME Panther fire trucks. The tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to fail and allowing the tie rods to separate.
- Risk
- Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both tie rod clamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Marion's customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261. Marion's number for this recall is 22V‑778.
Recall number 22V871000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Gladiator, MetroStar, FC-94, and KME Panther emergency vehicles. The tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to fail and allowing the tie rods to separate.
- Risk
- Tie rod separation can result in a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the tie rod clamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 2, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22007.
Recall number 22V778000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar fire trucks. There may be a loose neutral screw connection within the QO Plug-On Neutral Load Center. If that connection is loose, the affected load center can overheat.
- Risk
- An overheated load center can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace or repair the neutral screw connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22003.
Recall number 22V539000 · Recall details
Equipment: emergency: siren/lighting/strobes: wiring
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Gladiator, MetroStar, and 2022-2023 FC-94 fire trucks. An additional resistor was incorrectly installed on the printed circuit board, which can disrupt CAN network communication and cause vehicle lighting to fail.
- Risk
- Inoperable vehicle lighting can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire's customer service at 1‑800‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 22001.
Recall number 22V373000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Spartan Gladiator, MetroStar, and MetroStar-RT vehicles equipped with Meritor 180 series drive pinions. The rear axle drive pinion may fracture.
- Risk
- A fractured drive pinion may contact the brake drop hose, and unintentionally engage the parking brake without detection, or without the brake lights activating, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Meritor will inspect and replace the drive pinion, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V‑899.
Recall number 22V019000 · Recall details
Fuel system, diesel: fuel injection system: fuel rail
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2022 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The fuel tubes between the fuel rail and the injectors for cylinders four, five, and six may fatigue and crack, which can result in a high pressure fuel leak.
- Risk
- A high pressure fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- On engines with 75 miles or less, dealers will install vibration isolators to the fuel tubes. Engines with more than 75 miles will receive new fuel tubes with vibration isolators. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21017.
Recall number 21V967000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Gladiator, MetroStar and FC-94 emergency vehicles. The rear axle drive pinion may fracture.
- Risk
- A fractured drive pinion may contact the brake drop hose, and unintentionally engage the parking brake or activate the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Meritor will inspect and replace the drive pinion, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21016.
Recall number 21V899000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- 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
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump
- What is wrong
- Marion Body Works Inc. is recalling certain 2019-2021 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. Pressure may build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan dealers will replace the power steering pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 24, 2021. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261. Marion Body Works number for this recall is 21V‑252.
Recall number 21V458000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- 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
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. Pressure may build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new power steering pump, free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400.
Recall number 21V252000 · Recall details
Steering: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles. The steering gear mounting bolts may become loose and back out, resulting in difficulty steering.
- Risk
- Difficulty steering, or the inability to steer in both directions, can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and washers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 22, 2021. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400. Spartan Fire's number for this recall is 21-01.
Recall number 21V103000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan Fire) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles equipped with Weldon V-Mux Vista IV Standard LCD displays used for controlling emergency vehicle lighting and HVAC functions. These displays may experience low voltage spikes, and cause the LCD display to lock up or become nonfunctional, due to varying electrical installations.
- Risk
- Operator of vehicle may not be able to read the LCD screen and may not be able to use buttons or both unless they reset the power. If the LCD display appears blank, emergency personnel may not have immediate access to the functions and controls operated by the LCD screen which could delay emergency operations, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Spartan Fire will notify owners, and dealers will replace the unit or apply a retrofit remedy, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact Spartan Fire customer service at 1‑517‑543‑6400.
Recall number 20V762000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator 26
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This service bulletin is about certain vehicles that may experience leaks through the cab roof seams into...
- This service bulletin is about certain vehicles with cab tilt crossbar tubes that may crack adjacent to...
- This service bulletin provides instructions to replace the steering gear cover fasteners if the IFS...
- This service bulletin provides instructions to replace new crossmember gussets if the frame crossmember...
- This service bulletin is about certain vehicles greater than 54k rear GAWR, equipped with an AL-600...
- This service bulletin is about certain vehicles equipped with 92 inch or longer roof mounted light bars...
- This service bulletin is about the power steering fluid level sensor could exhibit leaks where sensor...
- This service bulletin is about potential that the Reyco front IFS cradle may experience a crack in the...
- This service bulletin provides instructions to inspect and rewire 120V box in accordance with diagram
- This service bulletin is about potential for crack at the engine cutout area of the frame rail flanges and...
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Questions about the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator
Is the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2021 Spartan Fire Gladiator have?
16 recalls, covering parking brake, equipment and steering.
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