The worst 2018 Spartan 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 13
Service brakes
- What is wrong
- Toyne Inc. (Toyne) is recalling certain vehicles built on 2018-2019 Spartan Emergency Response Metro Star and Gladiator chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may require an extended distance in order to stop the vehicle.
- Risk
- An increase in stopping distance increases the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Toyne will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the valves, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2020. Owners may contact Toyne customer service at 1‑712‑673‑2328.
Recall number 19V925000 · Recall details
Service brakes
- What is wrong
- Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Spartan Gladiator & Metro Star emergency response chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may result in an extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- If additional distance is needed to stop the vehicle, there would be an increased risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Marion Body Works will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261 or Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008.
Recall number 19V874000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tank
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 19V828000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tank
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 19V674000 · Recall details
Suspension: front
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Emergency Response Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles equipped with an independent front suspension and Koni shocks. The front shocks may separate from their upper mount on the front suspension. The loose shock may contact and damage the steering gear housing, possibly causing a steering fluid leak and a loss of power steering assist.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install new shock bolts, and shims if necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19015.
Recall number 19V523000 · Recall details
Service brakes
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Gladiator, MetroStar, K2, K3, and K4 emergency response chassis cabs and motor home chassis. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction, which may result in an extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- An increase in stopping distance increases the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify the vehicle manufacturers that purchased the affected chassis, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the valves, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19012.
Recall number 19V360000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Emergency Response Gladiator and Metro Star vehicles built into fire apparatus and equipped with tandem axles, drum brakes at the rear axles and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Vehicles with this configuration may have a delay in their brake release, preventing them from complying with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- A delay in the brakes releasing may hinder vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will re-route a portion of the brake system to bring the vehicle into compliance, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18038.
Recall number 18V932000 · Recall details
Equipment
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 18V691000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Spartan MetroStar and Gladiator emergency vehicles equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
- Risk
- If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18026.
Recall number 18V654000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Spartan Emergency Response Gladiator vehicles. The protective sleeve for the cable that connects the battery positive terminal to the alternator can become brittle and allow the cable to chafe and arc.
- Risk
- If the battery positive cable arcs, it can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install brackets to move the cable away from any chafe points, and replace any damaged battery positive cables, free of charge. The recall began on August 27, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18020.
Recall number 18V440000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2009-2018 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, thereby increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the solenoids, free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18019.
Recall number 18V424000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tank
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 18V350000 · Recall details
Fuel system, diesel
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2017-2018 K3 and K4 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs equipped with Cummins ISX 15L engines. These engines have a fuel pump whose drive gear could possibly slip on its drive shaft, causing a fuel pump function loss, resulting in an engine stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify the final stage manufacturers that used these chassis or the vehicle purchaser, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on July 12, 2017. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1‑800‑286‑6467 or Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 17015.
Recall number 17V403000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Spartan Gladiator 14
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 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 provides instructions to replace with new height control valves for front IFS height...
- This service bulletin provides instructions for resolving a potential "blank" fuel reading on the LMC panel.
- The federal safety agency Campaign Number 19V-893 Brake Relay Valve Air Flow Restriction / FMVSS 121...
- This service bulletin provides a solution if the pump shift valve exhausts system air pressure when pilot...
- This service bulletin provides instructions on how to proceed with receiving a remedy for a frame crack...
- This service bulletin provides instructions on how to install a support bracket to secure wiring harness.
- This service bulletin provides instructions on adding a protective sleeving to harnesses in the event the...
- This service bulletin provides a solution for superficial cracking at the fascia seam and the main cab
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Questions about the 2018 Spartan Gladiator
Is the 2018 Spartan Gladiator reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2018 Spartan Gladiator.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Spartan Gladiator?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2018 Spartan Gladiator have?
13 recalls, covering service brakes, service brakes, air and suspension.
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