2015 SPARTAN GLADIATOR

EQUIPMENT

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2004-2016 Emergency Response Gladiator Tractor Drawn Aerial vehicles. Cracks may develop and extend into the vertical portions of the tiller frame, resulting in instability of the aerial device.

Risk: If the aerial device becomes unstable, the device may fall, increasing the risk of an injury.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

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.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

EQUIPMENT

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

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.

EQUIPMENT

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling 2014-2017 Spartan Gladiator and MetroStar emergency response vehicles equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.

Risk: A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

PARKING BRAKE

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency response vehicles equipped with a supplemental park brake system (SPBS). The directions to activate the SPBS incorrectly state to "Pull" the actuation knob, when it should say "Push."

Risk: If the operator follows the incorrect directions and believes that the supplemental front park brake is applied when it is not, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Gladiator, 2016-2017 MetroStar, 2012-2018 K2, 2011-2018 K3, 2017-2018 K4, and 2011-2017 MM vehicles. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.

Risk: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

EQUIPMENT

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured from November 18, 2014, through July 9, 2015. Under certain conditions, the fire-suppression-agent tank level pressure sensor may register an incorrect reading. This may result in the reading to indicate more agent (typically water or fire fighting foam) left in the tank than actually is.

Risk: If there is an incorrect reading of agent in the tank, it can increase the risk of injury to the fire fighter if the tank unexpectedly runs out of agent.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2004-2016 Gladiator tractor-drawn aerial emergency vehicles manufactured September 12, 2004, to September 30, 2015. The air brakes on these vehicles may have excessive actuation and release timing, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk: If a longer distance is needed to stop the vehicle there would be an increased risk of a crash.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2010-2017 Emergency Response K3, Metrostar, and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs and motor home chassis manufactured April 12, 2010, to August 31, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power steering pump that may have an occasional loss of output power resulting in reduced or intermittent loss of power steering assist.

Risk: An intermittent loss of power steering assist could increase the risk of a crash.

EQUIPMENT

Spartan Motors (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Gladiator and MetroStar Emergency Response vehicles manufactured June 3, 2015, to March 16, 2016, equipped with pumps to provide pressurized water to aid in fighting fires. These pumps have 6" intake strainers that may have been improperly soldered during production and, as a result, the strainers may come apart during use, allowing parts of the strainer and debris to enter the pump, possibly damaging the pump.

Risk: If the strainer and/or debris enters the pump, and the operator is forced to shut down the pump, reducing firefighting effectiveness, there could be an increased risk of injury.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured March 4, 2013, to December 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the front splay rails may crack.

Risk: If the front splay rails crack, they may separate, causing the cab to collapse when it is being raised, increasing the risk of injury to those nearby.

TIRES:VALVE

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Advantage, Diamond, Gladiator, and MetroStar emergency response vehicles manufactured January 18, 2007 to February 9, 2015. The front wheels of the affected vehicles have valve stems that may rub against the brake caliper.

Risk: If the valve stems rub against the brake caliper, a hole may develop causing the tire to deflate suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Spartan ERV (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Gladiator emergency vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2007, through June 10, 2015. The affected vehicles were built with aerial devices and the torque frames are susceptible to cracking.

Risk: The supporting frame could fail to support the aerial device, allowing it to fall and strike and injure a bystander, become a road hazard, or startle the vehicle's driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Furion, Gladiator, and Metrostar emergency response vehicles manufactured November 10, 2009, to June 16, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine cooling fan may crack and the fan blades may detach while the fan is spinning.

Risk: If the cab is raised, such as during a repair, and the engine cooling fan is operating and comes apart, those in close proximity could be injured from the shattered parts.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Gladiator vehicles manufactured March 25, 2010, to October 16, 2014. The engine cooling fan may break and separate during severe vibration.

Risk: If the hood to the vehicle is open, such as during a repair, and the engine cooling fan is operating and comes apart, those in close proximity could be injured from the shattered parts.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Gladiator emergency vehicles, 2013-2014 Metrostar emergency vehicles, 2015 motorhome chassis, and 2015 school buses chassis. The Cummins ISB or ISL engines in these vehicles may have been equipped with Fleetguard UFF-XT fuel filters, part number FF63009, whose filter shell may separate from the fuel filter nut plate causing the engine to stall without warning.

Risk: If the engine stalls unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of a crash.

STEERING:LINKAGES

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Gladiator, K2, K3, MetroStar, and MM motorhome and emergency response chassis cabs manufactured November 28, 2012, to October 15, 2013. The castle nuts for the steering linkage may loosen, allowing the steering linkage to separate.

Risk: If the steering linkage separates, a loss of steering control would occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Spartan Motors, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Gladiator, DR, K2, K3, MetroStar, MM, and NVS vehicles manufactured December 14, 2011, to October 21, 2014, equipped with certain Wabco Quick Release Valves with Double Check. In the affected valves, the rubber diaphragm may be damaged by sharp edges on the valve seat ribs, reducing the available air pressure in the air tanks.

Risk: The reduced air pressure levels may reduce braking performance and/or the parking brakes could reapply, increasing the risk of a crash.

SEAT BELTS

Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured February 18, 2013, to August 5, 2014. The seats in the affected vehicles have seats belts that may be too long to fit smaller occupants. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: If the seat belt does not properly fit the seat occupant, the seat occupant has an increased risk of being injured in the event of a crash.