2014 Spartan Gladiator recalls and problems
The 2014 Spartan Gladiator has 28 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Spartan dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2014 Spartan Gladiator vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2014 Spartan Gladiator recalls
Recall 19V-828: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 19V-674: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 19V-523: Suspension, Steering
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 19V-338: Equipment
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct any cracking, and add reinforcements to prevent any possible future cracking, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 19007.
Recall 18V-932: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will re-route a portion of the brake system to bring the vehicle into compliance, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18038.
Recall 18V-691: Equipment
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect size fasteners with the correct fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18030.
Recall 18V-440: Electrical System
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will install brackets to move the cable away from any chafe points, and replace any damaged battery positive cables, free of charge. The recall began on August 27, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18020.
Recall 18V-424: Electrical System
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the solenoids, free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18019.
Recall 18V-350: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and install a pressure protection valve, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 18017.
Recall 17V-722: Equipment
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and Hale service providers will install a remedy kit, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 or Hale customer service at 1-800-533-3569. Spartan's number for this recall is 17028.
Recall 17V-351: Electrical System
Problem: Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain 2010-2014 K2 and K3 motor home chassis and Gladiator emergency response chassis cabs. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.
Risk: A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Spartan will notify the purchasers of the chassis and dealers will replace the starters, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17012.
Recall 17V-294: Parking Brake
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners and supply a new actuator control knob with the correct directions, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number for this recall is 17009.
Recall 17V-160: Suspension
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, and reinstall the properly torqued ball joint, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Spartan's number for this recall is 17004.
Recall 16V-676: Steering
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pumps, free of charge. The recall began on October 11, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16022.
Recall 16V-448: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: 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.
Fix: Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles with a new 3/8" control line, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Spartan's number for this recall is 16017.
Older recalls
| Recall | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V-140 | Mar 8, 2016 | 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. |
| 15V-687 | Oct 21, 2015 | Steering | Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 ER Gladiator and MetroStar vehicles manufactured January 5, 2010, to January 19, 2015. |
| 15V-540 | Aug 25, 2015 | Structure | Spartan Motors USA (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Gladiator and MetroStar emergency vehicles manufactured March 4, 2013, to December 17, 2014. |
| 15V-466 | Jul 27, 2015 | Structure | Spartan ERV (Spartan) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 Gladiator emergency vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2007, through June 10, 2015. |
| 15V-448 | Jul 15, 2015 | Tires | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 15V-403 | Jun 24, 2015 | Engine and Engine Cooling | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V-812 | Dec 23, 2014 | Steering | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V-747 | Nov 24, 2014 | Service Brakes, Air | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V-664 | Oct 22, 2014 | Engine and Engine Cooling | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V-630 | Oct 8, 2014 | Seats, Seat Belts | Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. |
| 14V-513 | Aug 20, 2014 | Equipment | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V-505 | Aug 18, 2014 | Fuel System, Diesel | Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. |
| 14V-359 | Jun 23, 2014 | Fuel System, Other | Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. |
2014 Spartan Gladiator problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 1 | |
| Equipment | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2014 Spartan Gladiator complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Spartan Gladiator years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2014 Spartan Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 28 recalls for the 2014 Spartan Gladiator: 19V-828 (service brakes, air), 19V-674 (service brakes, air), 19V-523 (suspension, steering), 19V-338 (equipment), 18V-932 (service brakes, air) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Spartan Gladiator?
Owners report structure problems most often (1 reports), followed by equipment (1).
Are Spartan recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Spartan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.