The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIRE TRUCKS. IF THE DRIVER ACCELERATES IN A TURN ABOVE 20 MPH FORWARD SPEED, THE LOCK PIN IS ACTUATED AND CAUSES THE AXLE TO RESIST RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED BECAUSE THE LOCK PIN IS BINDING ON THE CLAMP PLATE SURFACE.
The risk
ENGAGING THE LOCK PIN IN THE LCMP PLATE HOLE AT HIGH FORWARD SPEEDS CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE LOCK PIN AND/OR THE CLAMP PLATE HOLE. LANE CHANGES AND OTHER VEHICLE MANEUVERS WILL GREATLY INCREASE CONTACT FREQUENCY AND CAUSES WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAG AXLES ON THESE FIRE TRUCKS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan Diamond | 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Spartan LOW Profile Gladiator | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Spartan Monarch | 1995 |
Components: SUSPENSION
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 Diamond | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan Diamond | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan Diamond | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1994 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1995 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1996 | 1 | 4 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1997 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan Gladiator | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan LOW Profile Gladiator | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Spartan LOW Profile Gladiator | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Spartan LOW Profile Gladiator | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan LOW Profile Gladiator | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1993 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1995 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| Spartan Metro Star | 1997 | 0 | 5 |
| Spartan Monarch | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 1998
20 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the suspension; SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. filed 45 campaigns in all.
| 98V322000 16 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V319000 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V314000 11 Dec 1998 | NEWELL COACH CORP. |
| 98V255000 14 Oct 1998 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 98V245000 6 Oct 1998 | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA |
| 98V239000 6 Oct 1998 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 98V247000 5 Oct 1998 | WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES |
| 98V199000 25 Aug 1998 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998