The defect
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.
The risk
A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan Gladiator | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Components: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | SUSPENSION:FRONT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan Gladiator | 2014 | 2 | 28 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2015 | 0 | 26 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2016 | 0 | 14 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2017 | 0 | 15 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2018 | 0 | 13 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2019 | 0 | 14 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 2020 | 1 | 7 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2014 | 0 | 21 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2015 | 0 | 19 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2016 | 0 | 11 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2017 | 1 | 13 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2018 | 0 | 13 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2019 | 0 | 14 |
| Spartan Metrostar | 2020 | 0 | 6 |
Other suspension recalls in 2019
39 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the suspension; Spartan Motors USA filed 55 campaigns in all.
| 19V924000 27 Dec 2019 | Motor Coach Industries |
| 19V897000 17 Dec 2019 | Oliver Travel Trailers, INC. |
| 19V894000 16 Dec 2019 | Maintainer Corporation of Iowa, Inc. |
| 19V773000 28 Oct 2019 | Ford Motor Company |
| 19V747000 18 Oct 2019 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 19V751000 18 Oct 2019 | Vac-Tron Equipment, LLC |
| 19V740000 17 Oct 2019 | Voyager Industries, Inc |
| 19V727000 11 Oct 2019 | Forest River, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019