The defect
INTERMITTENT DISRUPTION OF THE FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER TOUCH PAD CAN OCCUR CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDHSIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS;" AND NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY THE TOUCH PAD. THE FUNCTION (1) FAILS TO OPERATE; (2) OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY; OR (3) OPERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. A FUNCTION COMES ON WITHOUT BEING SWITCHED ON. ANY OF THESE COULD DISTRACT A DRIVER INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER CONTROL ASSEMBLIES TO ELIMINATE THE ELECTRICAL SHORTING.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan Alpine | 1995, 1996 |
| Spartan Mountain Master | 1995, 1996 |
Components: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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 Alpine | 1995 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Alpine | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Mountain Master | 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Spartan Mountain Master | 1996 | 2 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the steering; SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. filed 45 campaigns in all.
| 96V249000 17 Dec 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V229000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V230000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V195000 8 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V187000 26 Sept 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V171000 24 Sept 1996 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
| 96V180000 23 Sept 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 96V167000 19 Sept 1996 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996