The wiper motor on a new fire apparatus fails during use. The wiper motor has been replaced four times in six months. Local dealer has replaced the entire wiper and linkage once. The spartan gladiator chassis was placed in service 11/2019 and the first failure was 2/6/20. The motor was replaced. The next failure was 2/28/20. The motor was replaced again. On 4/1 the truck went to the dealer for another wiper motor for a failure. On 6/18 the truck went out of service again with a faulty wiper motor. The front line fire apparatus will be out of service for nearly a week waiting on a new wiper motor. There is no apparent fix for the issue other than replacing the wiper motor as it fails.
The worst 2020 Spartan Gladiator problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Visibility1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Visibility1
Recalls 7
Equipment
- What is wrong
- Four Guys Stainless Tank & Equip., Inc. (Four Guys) is recalling one 2020 Pumper firetruck equipped with an Akron Bass battery-powered 3600 wireless remote controller. The wireless remote controller's sleep mode is disabled, and results in the batteries discharging faster than normal.
- Risk
- Inability to use the wireless remote controller can hinder firefighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Four Guys will request owners return the affected wireless remote controllers to Akron Brass for a software update, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification. Owners may contact Four Guys customer service at 1‑814‑634‑8373.
Recall number 21V436000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- Marion Body Works Inc. (Marion Body Works) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency Response chassis vehicles modified by Marion Body Works. The park brake control line may loosen and possibly come out the fitting while the vehicle is in motion.
- Risk
- If the air line comes out of the fitting while the vehicle is in motion, the park brake can inadvertently be applied and the vehicle could suddenly decelerate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Marion Body Works dealers will inspect and properly tighten the park brake control line, free of charge. All of the vehicles will be repaired before being delivered to customers, free of charge. Owners may contact Marion Body Works customer service at 1‑715‑754‑5261.
Recall number 20V203000 · Recall details
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- SVI Trucks is recalling certain 2019-2020 Spartan Fire Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency Response vehicles modified by SVI Trucks. The park brake control line may loosen and possibly come out the fitting while the vehicle is in motion. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- If the air line comes out of the fitting while the vehicle is in motion, the park brake can inadvertently be applied and the vehicle could suddenly decelerate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- SVI dealers will inspect and properly tighten the park brake control line, free of charge. All of the vehicles will be repaired before being delivered to customers, free of charge. Owners may contact SVI dealers customer service at 1‑888‑784‑1112. SVI Truck's number for this recall is 20V138.
Recall number 20V163000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional: air
- What is wrong
- Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fire Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency vehicles. The park brake control line may loosen and separate, possibly causing the park brake to be unintentionally applied.
- Risk
- If the park brake is applied while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle may suddenly decelerate and experience a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the fitting control line, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2020. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 20005.
Recall number 20V138000 · 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
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Spartan Gladiator 5
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.
- This service bulletin provides a solution if the pump shift valve exhausts system air pressure when pilot...
What 2020 Spartan Gladiator owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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Questions about the 2020 Spartan Gladiator
Is the 2020 Spartan Gladiator reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2020 Spartan Gladiator, fewer than a typical Gladiator model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Spartan Gladiator?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2020 Spartan Gladiator have?
7 recalls, covering equipment, parking brake and service brakes, air.
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